anickode
Active member
Alright so here's the deal. I'm working on the engine swap for the Gator and I've hit a bit of a snag with the Clutch. I have a few options in mind, but I just wanted to bounce my ideas off some other heads first.
My issue: The primary clutch was originally designed for an engine with a starter/generator. The engagement speed is 600 rpm and its fully shifted out at ~2000 rpm. My Big Briggs will happily idle at 1000, thanks to the big iron flywheel, but not much lower than that. Original engine rated to 3600 rpm, but the governor was in the transaxle to control the speed of the vehicle, not the rpm of the engine (just like a golf cart) Short of buying a clutch for a 6x4 (same clutch, but set up differently), my options are limited. The whole point of the salvaged gator project is to do it on the cheap, otherwise I'd have just bought a used, working gator.
Option 1: Buy Parts and service manuals for both my gator and the 6x4. Cross reference part numbers to find out exactly what the differences are and buy the parts to rebuild as a 6x4 clutch. JD parts are stupid expensive.
Option 2: Start grinding down the weights, taking care to keep them identical both in dimension and weight, working my way down until I get a ~1300 rpm engagement speed and cross my fingers that it can still fully shift out at 3600
Option 3: Pull the spring out and start pouring through charts to find a compatible, heavier spring.
Option 4: Buy an aftermarket primary clutch that is 1-3/16" top width, 26 degree and matching diameter (Haven't measured it yet). Comet 780 might be an option if the right diameter is available. But again, I'd like to not have to spend the money if I dont have to.
Option 5: I;m open to suggestions.
My issue: The primary clutch was originally designed for an engine with a starter/generator. The engagement speed is 600 rpm and its fully shifted out at ~2000 rpm. My Big Briggs will happily idle at 1000, thanks to the big iron flywheel, but not much lower than that. Original engine rated to 3600 rpm, but the governor was in the transaxle to control the speed of the vehicle, not the rpm of the engine (just like a golf cart) Short of buying a clutch for a 6x4 (same clutch, but set up differently), my options are limited. The whole point of the salvaged gator project is to do it on the cheap, otherwise I'd have just bought a used, working gator.
Option 1: Buy Parts and service manuals for both my gator and the 6x4. Cross reference part numbers to find out exactly what the differences are and buy the parts to rebuild as a 6x4 clutch. JD parts are stupid expensive.
Option 2: Start grinding down the weights, taking care to keep them identical both in dimension and weight, working my way down until I get a ~1300 rpm engagement speed and cross my fingers that it can still fully shift out at 3600
Option 3: Pull the spring out and start pouring through charts to find a compatible, heavier spring.
Option 4: Buy an aftermarket primary clutch that is 1-3/16" top width, 26 degree and matching diameter (Haven't measured it yet). Comet 780 might be an option if the right diameter is available. But again, I'd like to not have to spend the money if I dont have to.
Option 5: I;m open to suggestions.
