I'm stumped and am turning to the collective wisdom on TexAgs. I have a 6' Tarter tiller where the tines stop spinning when I put them down on the ground. It's not a slip clutch issue because the hex drive shaft is still spinning when the tines are on the ground and not moving. Does anybody have an idea what the issue could be?

what model tiller?

It's a County Line from Tractor Supply that was manufactured by Tarter. It's gear driven. I bought it used and thought it would be an easy fix and am now finding out otherwise.

I hate to be the asker of dumb questions, and I mean no offense at all, but, do you know how the slip clutch works and how it is adjusted? Have you disassembled the guards and made sure everything back to the shaft of the gear box is moving when the tines are not?

If the shaft into the machine is turning, but the tines are not, then you have a gearbox issue and you'll have to open it up and take a peek inside. I can't imagine that is an issue though. You'd know if you hit something hard enough to screw that up. I have hit objects with my shredder that broke the blades off and the gearbox and clutch survived.

The part in the picture where the arrow is is 100% turning when the PTO is engaged?

Where are you located?

I'm in Franklin. I'm positive it's not a slip clutch issue and it's not the top gearbox, because the PTO shaft and the hex drive shaft keeps spinning after the tines hit the ground and stop. I've taken apart the side gear box to replace the bottom gear and everything is visually okay there and works when you turn by hand and when it's not under load. It's something in that gear box but I can't figure out what.

Dang . Any chance the gears inside are on the shafts with keys that are sheared off? You'd be looking for a gear that rotates on the shaft. With no load, there could be enough friction to make it work but not when loaded.

Can you turn those by hand or wrench with the tines on the ground? I am not familiar with this particular piece of equipment, just going off of what I know about my other implements. Maybe the shaft/axle where the tines are have a keyway that is sheared. There are only so many attachment means on these. Maybe the tines have a shear bolt??

You might have to drop it on the ground and start turning parts by hand/wrench until you find the part that moves but shouldn't.

Check for a sheared bolt/pin in the shaft going into the gearbox. Even though it has a clutch, there may still be a shear pin in the shaft.

Sounds like stated above-makes enough friction to turn tines when no load is on them, but not enough when load is applied.


May also be a shear pin in the output shaft the tines are mounted on.

ETA a pic of clutch/shaft might help.

This.

4. Slip clutch operational check. After the implement has been stored for thirty days or more perform the following operational check. a. Loosen bolts and lock nuts progressively until tension is relieved. b. To aid in determining slippage, scribe/mark a line across clutch plate and Belleville Spring. c. With tractor at idle speed, engage tractor PTO drive 2-3 seconds. Clutch should slip without turning blades. d. To retighten the slip clutch, tighten the torque spring bolts until the nut makes contact with the flange yoke and further tighten one and a (1-1/2) half turns.

I'll try to get it taken apart again and get a picture this week. After closer inspection it's almost like the hex shaft where it enters the gear box has been worn down and that's what's slipping. Getting all that separated to investigate more closely is not going to be easy.