Cultivator: Tines Stall Under Load
If your cultivator tines stall under load, check the following parts: the cable, bearings, gearbox, clutch, and belt. Our symptom and repair guide can help you identify your exact problem and the best part to replace to fix it. Our repair information is a general guide to help you, but for more specific repair information related to your model, check your owner’s manual.
Bearings
The tine shaft bearing in your cultivator reduces friction, and allows your tine shaft to rotate, in turn rotating the tines during operation. A very badly worn or seized tine shaft bearing in your cultivator may prevent your tine shaft from turning properly, and therefore can cause the tines to stall under load. You will be able to manually inspect the tine shaft bearings to determine if they are seized or not. A seized or worn bearing will not turn properly, and in this case, it will usually need to be replaced.
The tine shaft bearing in your cultivator reduces friction, and allows your tine shaft to rotate, in turn rotating the tines during operation. A very badly worn or seized tine shaft bearing in your cultivator may prevent your tine shaft from turning properly, and therefore can cause the tines to stall under load. You will be able to manually inspect the tine shaft bearings to determine if they are seized or not. A seized or worn bearing will not turn properly, and in this case, it will usually need to be replaced.
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Belts
When your cultivator starts and runs normally, but as soon as you lower the tines it stalls out, you could have an issue with one of the engine’s belts. If your cultivator has a belt drive from the engine to the tines, a worn or loose belt could cause the tines to stall when they are lowered. These belts are made of rubber, and can be loosened or frayed because of friction, or debris.
When your cultivator starts and runs normally, but as soon as you lower the tines it stalls out, you could have an issue with one of the engine’s belts. If your cultivator has a belt drive from the engine to the tines, a worn or loose belt could cause the tines to stall when they are lowered. These belts are made of rubber, and can be loosened or frayed because of friction, or debris.
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Cable
This symptom is more commonly found in tillers than cultivators, but on some units the adjustment of the tine engagement cable controls how much tension is on the drive belt idler pulley. A loose cable would result in a loose drive belt causing slipping. Again, this style of drive is more typical of a tiller than a cultivator. If your tine engagement cable is loose, you may be able to tighten it and solve this problem. However, if it is permanently damaged, you will need to replace it.
This symptom is more commonly found in tillers than cultivators, but on some units the adjustment of the tine engagement cable controls how much tension is on the drive belt idler pulley. A loose cable would result in a loose drive belt causing slipping. Again, this style of drive is more typical of a tiller than a cultivator. If your tine engagement cable is loose, you may be able to tighten it and solve this problem. However, if it is permanently damaged, you will need to replace it.
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Clutches
The clutch in your cultivator engages the clutch drum to start the transmission turning. This results in the tines rotating normally. Worn clutch pads can cause the clutch to slip and not engage, or engage with low power. One way to determine if your clutch is causing this symptom is by checking the clutch drum for excessive dust from the worn pads. If your clutch is worn, it will need to be replaced. If the clutch and drum look good, this problem could be caused by an issue with the gearing in the transmission.
The clutch in your cultivator engages the clutch drum to start the transmission turning. This results in the tines rotating normally. Worn clutch pads can cause the clutch to slip and not engage, or engage with low power. One way to determine if your clutch is causing this symptom is by checking the clutch drum for excessive dust from the worn pads. If your clutch is worn, it will need to be replaced. If the clutch and drum look good, this problem could be caused by an issue with the gearing in the transmission.
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