Butler owners: ever had a clutch go bad?

[Steve Lawrence]

I'm hearing an odd scraping sound on my 2008 Butler when truck is idling. The sound seems to be coming from the PTO shaft but when the unit is engaged everything sounds normal--the shaft sounds fine with no noticeable vibration and the scraping sound is gone. This leads me and my mechanic to think that the shaft is fine and that the issue is bearings in the clutch going bad.

Does anyone have any experience with this or input you'd like to offer?

Thanks!
Steve

 

[Desk Jockey]

Yep last month.


We bought a new clutch and put it in and still had the noise. Had to replace the bearings on the shaft and now we've been good every since.

Bawb told me it was probably both.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

The bearings start going first, and usually kill the clutch.
Tight tolerances.

 

[FB7777]

I'm not very mechanical but if the sound exists before the clutch is engaged then wouldn't it be the drive shaft ( bearing ) ?

 

[Desk Jockey]

We could hear the grinding at the clutch and not until we replaced it, was it noticeable that the bearings were also out.

The bearings start going first, and usually kill the clutch.
Tight tolerances.

That's what our distributor said when we told him we had replaced the clutch. He thought we were stoopid for replacing the clutch when it was the shaft.

 

[Steve Lawrence]

Thanks, All. I would like to narrow it down to the problem, of course. I ordered the clutch hoping that will do it. We're using our very old and very reliable back-up Butler for a while until we get this sorted out. Over the years I've replace 2 drive shafts/clutch assemblies for my many Butlers but have never had just the clutch go out. Crossing my fingers that the clutch is the only issue. BTW, my previous 2 PTO shaft replacements were both under warranty. Thank you, Butler!!!!!!! However, this one is 6 years old and out of warranty. Cost of biz. No biggie. But I'd rather my guys were in a newer truck. Ol' Bessie is great and has no rust but kinda old.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Our mechanic just replaced the bearings not the shaft.

 

[Steve Lawrence]

Our mechanic just replaced the bearings not the shaft.[/QUOTE

Bearings in the clutch? Didn't know that was doable.
S

 

[Desk Jockey]

We bought a new clutch from Butler had the auto mechanic install it. When that didn't resolve the issue we took it to our distributor who put in new bearings.

 

[Mark Saiger]

I had the bearings going bad on the 2 pulleys I thought, replaced them and got better....

THAN....found the lower pulley on the Crankshaft was wore enough to also cause some other problems (new style belts they have were slipping and the old Gates were holding better)

Anyway....the noise all went away after replacing the lower pulley (of course after replacing the other pulley parts)

Just a heads up....look to see if there is a lot of paint wore off the lower crank pulley and bit of grooving....

 

[Steve Lawrence]

We bought a new clutch from Butler had the auto mechanic install it. When that didn't resolve the issue we took it to our distributor who put in new bearings.

Bearings in the clutch or shaft?

 

[Desk Jockey]

Shaft. My distributor and Bawb too. Told me the bearing went out in the shaft causing the clutch to go out. Two birds with one stone.

 

[Steve Lawrence]

That's cool, Richard. I wonder if someone around me could provide that service if needed. After all a new shaft is about $1200. Did they remove the shaft to replace the bearings?

 

[Desk Jockey]

I believe so.

It took a couple of days to get the van back so I assume he either sent the shaft out to a drive shaft place or he waited on the bearings so he could do it.

 

[Steve Lawrence]

ignore please

Yep last month.


We bought a new clutch and put it in and still had the noise. Had to replace the bearings on the shaft and now we've been good every since.

Bawb told me it was probably both.[/QUOTE

Shaft. My distributor and Bawb too. Told me the bearing went out in the shaft causing the clutch to go out. Two birds with one stone.

 

[Steve Lawrence]

Okay, thanks man.

 

[Dan]

Never on my Butler but I do have a spare sitting on the shelf. Smoked a couple clutches on my Pro 1200 when it was new, the first time when the machine was brand new was at Yaser Fest..... Ohh, the good old days..

 

[idreadnought]

i have a 2000 butler that i changed the bearings in. I couldn't imagine it would be possible to change bearing while the shaft is still in the truck

 

[Steve Lawrence]

Hey Richard, what kind of shop did that for you?

 

[Desk Jockey]

It was my local distributor. I'm not sure if he did it or sent it out. He was a heavy equipment mechanic orginally then vehicle maintenance supervisor for school district. He has a wide span of knowledge and tools. As well as 20- years working on TM's.

 

[Steve Lawrence]

Thanks, Rich!