PTO Featured Products
- Why all the interest in Ogura PTO clutches?
- Double your belt life (Be a Smooth Operator)
- Why Ogura clutches give your machine more run time
- How Ogura Helps you Make the Cut
- What is the best speed to engage my PTO clutch?
- Why do blades determine clutch life?
- What is the proper clamping force on my PTO clutch end bolt?
- Need a PTO clutch brake for a 27-40HP engine?
- Watching your step? Why it is important to buy genuine OEM replacement PTO clutches.
- What special PTO clutch considerations are made for diesel engines?
- Want to Avoid a Wobbly Clutch?
- What causes belts to wear out faster?
- Why might integral connectors improve your machine?
- How hot can a PTO clutch brake get?
- What is a Flip-Set brake plate?
- Investing in Safety? Remote on/off control and stopping of your rotating blades.
- What happens to my clutch when my machine falls into water or gets caught in a flood?
- PTO clutch brakes are vital to your machines.
- When Every Day is a Grind, Safety isn’t expensive, it’s priceless.
- Get the most out of your PTO clutch brake.
- What happens to my PTO clutch in freezing temperatures?
- Why is my PTO clutch making a growling noise?
- What is the Ogura value and experience?
- Enjoy your hobbies, make more money with reliable autonomous mowing
- Why Ogura Clutches are The Right Choice for Autonomous Mowers?
- What is the five second rule of mowing?
- Can my PTO clutch get wet?
- What happens if oil gets spilled on my clutch?
- What products does Ogura make for the lawn and garden industry?
What is the five second rule of mowing?
Your PTO clutch brake is designed for safety.
If you dropped your ice cream cone on the ground and then picked it up within five seconds, some say it is still safe to eat. That's the five second rule. However, there is another rule that applies for mowers, specifically consumer mowers. The PTO clutch brake on mowers is a safety device and 5 seconds becomes a critical number.
As an industry, guidelines developed over the years to promote safe equipment operation. ANSI B71.1:2012 standard sub clause 22.2 was established. Concisely, it says that new machines are recommended to have a braking device that will help slow the rotating cutting blades to a stop within 5 seconds after the clutch is disengaged. More specifically, it says that it should stop within that time limit for at least the first five thousand cycles.
For commercial mowers, the guidelines are a little less stringent. For those, the seven second rule applies. Again, this is aimed at keeping the operator safe as the blades come to a stop. The ANSI B71.4 standard applies. These machines are typically used by turf care professionals and the machines and decks tend to be larger with higher inertia which leads to slightly longer stop times.
The Ogura PTO clutch brake serves two functions. First, when power is applied to the coil, it becomes an electromagnet and engages the clutch. The torque from the engine is transmitted to the clutch and pulley and it then turns the blades through a belt connection. When the power is removed from the clutch, the magnetic field collapses and leaf springs inside the clutch brake pull the clutch armature plate against the brake shroud. This results in braking torque. It is purely mechanical, steel on steel contact. Another engagement of the clutch compresses those leaf springs and creates an air gap between the armature and brake shroud, allowing free rotation while actively mowing.
Ogura GT series PTO clutch-brakes are made in a variety of configurations and typically mount on gas and diesel engines rated up to 40 HP. Bore sizes match the typical engine shaft sizes. Pulley sizes can vary based on machine requirements. Some have hub outputs to mount your own pulley, sprocket or coupling half. Clutch torque is rated up to 400 lb-ft on the larger units. These clutches typically operate on 12 or 24VDC.
Benefits of using an Ogura PTO clutch brake:
- Long life
- Safety
- Fuel and energy savings
- Built for outdoor operation
- Many years of proven success
- For use with operator presence controls
- Available with a soft start controller
- Custom designs available based on minimum order quantities