Interesting.
Is there really a need for one ?
Working on a Ditch Witch from the 60's with a manual dog clutch
Got a roller from the 50's with a manual clutch
Just about every drum mower uses a cork clutch and the entire unit is about 1/2 that price.
Most reduction drives come with a clutch of some sort
And the local mower maker Cox has been using a simple cone clutch since 1962
To bertsmobile,
I was trying to find a source for a small engine manual clutch for a 4 cycle horizontal engine up to 30 hp. Small automotive type with dry disc, pressure plate, and adaptable driven disc such as a flywheel. I have several Cushman Motorscooter clutches that could be machined up to a 1" shaft to remove the driven disc taper bore. I think that they would handle up to about 8 hp. That type could be modified into a multidisc type to handle more hp, or a whole new one could be machined with larger dimensions. They work very well for changing gears in a manual transmission after the vehicle is moving, but still start out with centrifugal clutch type engagement at a certain speed above idle. Same as a standard centrifugal or Comet snowmobile or torque coverter drive. Wasted engine rpm and the finesse of an automobile type clutch. Motorcycle and atv clutches are wet multidisc coupled to a sealed manual transmission with only forward gears, no reverse unless you add a f-n-r gear box. 2 cycle engines can be reversed, like in some models of golf carts.
I have a Wisconsin 18hp THD engine with a SAE bell housing, with a heavy driven disc adapted to the Wisconsin horizontal shaft, a small standard auto type disc, Auburn type pressure plate, and throwout bearing. This is coupled to a 2 speed F-N-R manual automobile type transmission. Rare? Perfect setup!. With research I have only found similar drivetrains on 1960s thru early 1970s Bolen Grounds Keeper 9601-1 tractors and maybe rail road speeders. That's why I was trying to contact the people in the original Quote on this website. Simple mulitiple engine adaption.
Cone clutches are simple and easy to make, their only drawback is grabbing in engagement. They will effectually engage massive amounts of power depending on their size. But without modification they do not work well for often gear changes. They are great for slow speed engagement of rototillers, lawn mowers,etc. So are the industrial clutches that use a cam over or toggle engagement such as SAE or Twindisc that use a hand lever.
If I cannot find an off the shelf inexpensive type of dry disc clutch I can adapt Honda 3813 thru 5518 riding mower clutches. Only thing I would need to machine is the driven disc for each engine I want to use. Bilboy
