Speed variation via clutch

How much variation in speed can you safely get just using a two pulley clutch system?

It's looking like I may be down to the FNR trans for my FrankenAaron build. (The wheels are rusted onto the hydro shafts, and someone has beat the heck out of them, adding mushrooming of the shafts, to the problem.)

I do not want to use the vari-drive pulley system.

I don't need a lot of speed, this is a completely utility build.

My hope is that using pulleys, I can get better speed than a stock FNR... But that I can regulate the speed down some, (without burning up belts too quickly.), using the clutch.

Any other, experience related ideas???

Um, it's a clutch, right? So it's either engaged, and running at whatever speed the engine and pulley setup is, or it's disengaged, and not running, or it's slipping, and wearing out the belt.

Only clutch system I know of that is variable is the MTD FNR's. Even then, you engage the clutch when letting out the pedal, as it moves more, it then varies the pulleys for different speed.

Stretch44875 wrote:

Um, it's a clutch, right?  So it's either engaged, and running at whatever speed the engine and pulley setup is, or it's disengaged, and not running, or it's slipping, and wearing out the belt.

Only clutch system I know of that is variable is the MTD FNR's.  Even then, you engage the clutch when letting out the pedal, as it moves more, it then varies the pulleys for different speed.

You've never let the clutch out only slightly, to make it creep a few feet?

Or given it partial clutch to go somewhere at a lower speed?

Am I the only one who does this?

you can do that yeah but your going to eventually burn up your belt...

Angchor wrote:

Stretch44875 wrote:

Um, it's a clutch, right?  So it's either engaged, and running at whatever speed the engine and pulley setup is, or it's disengaged, and not running, or it's slipping, and wearing out the belt.

Only clutch system I know of that is variable is the MTD FNR's.  Even then, you engage the clutch when letting out the pedal, as it moves more, it then varies the pulleys for different speed.

You've never let the clutch out only slightly, to make it creep a few feet?

Or given it partial clutch to go somewhere at a lower speed?

Am I the only one who does this?

To creep a few feet, sure, all the time. But continuous partial engagement, to move at a slower speed, no. Then you are slipping the belt constantly, and can heat it up, and wear out faster. The less slip, the less wear.

Stretch44875 wrote:

To creep a few feet, sure, all the time.  But continuous partial engagement, to move at a slower speed, no.  Then you are slipping the belt constantly, and can heat it up, and wear out faster.  The less slip, the less wear.

Exactly so.

I suspect that most of the time, having just one speed is going to be just fine. After all, it is meant for crawling up and down and around the steep slopes here on my property.

Trying to think this out logically...

If the speed is too fast, then I'll be in the clutch all the time. Meaning, the belt will wear faster.

Too slow and I'll be frustrated with having to crawl a 1/4 mile just to get something done.

But the latter is likely to happen maybe one time in 60 or so.

I think I'll try it with the FNR. I'll put a slightly larger pulley on the front. And maybe a smaller pulley on the trans. (It's a 5/8 on the trans now, anyway, and a 1/2 on the engine. I'd rather go with 1/2" belts.)

The 'crawl' speed on the fnr is just TOO slow. I'll just have to experiment to find the best 'working' speed.

I really only need two speeds, anyway. One slow enough to work. The other fast enough to get from point "A" to point "B" without dieing of old age or frustration... Maybe I'll work on something later to give me a second speed without having to go back to the vari-drive.


Of course, this means it is back to the drawing board on the 'stretch' to get the axle farther back. Good thing I never welded anything yet.

For a single speed rear end, I'd try to install a comet torque convertor setup. If you set the pulley ratio's for a top speed of 18mph or so, and used a comet, it would have great slow speed, and power.

And they did build two speed FNR MTD rear axles, in larger GT tractors, that may solve all your problems.

Great suggestions.

Only problem is I have neither of those. LOL

This build I am doing, has to be done with what I have or can afford.

The budget for this build is about twenty bucks per month. LOL And I need it done last month!