Clutch brake shoe life...

[MikeEyre74]

I’m surprised I can’t find this on here… But I just can’t? I am curious, what is the life expectancy of a set of clutch brake buttons? I just installed some new ones and they just look so small. About how long do you get out of these things before they get replaced? The previous owner, it look like he got about 20 years… But they were about as thick as a nickel when I swapped them out

[MikeEyre74]

Nobody ever wore them out yet? Good to know!

[outdoors4evr]

Some other forums have discussed this quite extensively. In fact, some others used harder materials to extend the life. I've seen pics of pucks made of brass and such. Since these mods were done recently, I doubt we will get any reports on the longevity (and possible damage to other components) for many years.

[MikeEyre74]

To your recollection, is the puck life measured in years or decades or a few seasons or so? Since I put mine in, if I blow them out by the end of the year I’ll have no yard stick to gauge by if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, so I’m curious to know.

[Eugene]

I don't know how long they will last. I installed a new set when I worked on the 154's creeper shortly after purchasing the tractor. That was perhaps 5 years ago.

The previous owner, I believe never did replace them, and he owned the tractor for at least 10 years before I purchased it.

[MikeEyre74]

But they are still in use? Well five years is an answer then. That’s a good long time...

[Stanton]

Nobody ever wore them out yet? Good to know!

Are you referring to the clutch release bearing (aka, throw out bearing)? Circled in red below:

I'd say many of us still are using the factory bearing. If you do have to buy a replacement, do a search on here before buying. Lots of discussion about where to buy a good one and what to do prior to installation.

[MikeEyre74]

No sir. The clutch brake buttons on a numbered series tractor.

[Stanton]

No sir. The clutch brake buttons on a numbered series tractor.

Sorry! You did post in the LoBoy forum--I missed that important fact.

[outdoors4evr]

No sir. The clutch brake buttons on a numbered series tractor.

- Just the 154 and 185 have clutch brake buttons.
Typical tractor usage is measured in work-use-hours. The cub and numbered series did not come factory equipped with an hourmeter. Some have added this as a feature. Most homeowner use for a mowing application is near 100 hours per year.

A tractor built in 1975 is now 44 years old. If used as a mowing tractor every year, then it would have approximately 4400 hours on it. The engine was most likely rebuilt around 2000 hours and 4000 hours. Measuring the cylinder walls can indicate about how many rebuilds have been done.
.010 over = first rebuild
.020 over = second rebuild
.030 over = third rebuild
and so on.... Serious failures like scored cylinder walls and other issues may cause this "typical" not to be followed. Sometimes one rebuild requires more than .010 to be removed.

I would also expect a similar lifespan out of the clutch brake buttons (~2000 hours) I would guess it is running on a second set of clutch brake buttons and ready for its third set by now. These tractors were the early beginnings of the throw-away tractor.

Hats off to all of you who put the effort into your tractors to keep them going long past their planned expiration date.
Also, thanks to you all who provide services and new parts for our old tractors.

[BigBill]

How to use a clutch on a 154/185. Make sure the rpms are at an idle before you push the clutch pedal down this is less wear on the brake pucks.


My biggest problem with IH tractors so far is lack of maintenance by PO owners.

Hint which applies to every tractor,

Cub cadets I change the oil and run 30wt oil as the owners manual says, with blowby that’s from not changing the air filter. I change the filter and pre filter. When I get a new tractor at home the first thing I change is the headgasket 99.99% on the kohler engines the head gasket is blown. When I see blowby and pull the head I see score marks in the cylinder. I go for the air filter which isn’t there or rotted because it’s never been changed.

The 154/185/184 & fcub tractors,

Change the engine oil and oil filter. I use the mobil delvac 15/40wt. How often do you clean the oil bath air cleaner on your fcub? Paper air filters can look clean just bang lightly the corner of the airfilter on the front tire. I don’t like to blow airfilters clean I’d rather replace them. The taller tractors are less forgiving to get dirty aircleaners. The cc are low and in the heat of the battle when mowing.