Let's rebuild a 101C Comet clutch

[400brian]

Unless you are seriously into mid-mounts, I doubt most of the guys here have ever messed with one of these.

My JDX8 still has the original 100C clutch on it, but with the odometer showing 1500 miles, the 100C is starting to chatter on engagement. My past experience is that when they start doing that, they are shot. Time to get a replacement lined up.

My options are:

1) new Comet 102C, $350 without spring or arms.

2) used 101C, have this on hand, along with an NOS moveable, NOS bronze bushing for fixed, and plastic cover bushing.

3) NOS 102C I have been saving.

I've decide to start with the 101. It might migrate to the Wife's sled later on.

Removed the bronze bushing from fixed, and installed new one without issue. Waiting on a set of rollers, buttons, bushings and pins, to finish rebuild. "F" arms are installed in moveable, everything is snug.

[skoalmint]

Looks GOOD Brian. Brock

[JDT]

How did the rollers look?

Pins worn also?

[400brian]

The pins and rollers must have been rusty or worn, because it appears I tossed them several years ago when I first disassembled the clutch.

[80spitfire]

So I know this is kind of a noob question, but since you guys know I'm not really a mid-mount guy, whats the big differences in a 101 vs. a 102?

-Brian

[harleysportster]

The bushing improvement on the inner sheave bushing and the face-plate for starters.

[400brian]

Here's a few of the basic differences I've noticed so far:

100C

The fixed shaft is steel, the moveable has a non-replaceable bronze bushing ( I think ), the cover has a bronze bushing.

101C

The fixed shaft has a replaceable bronze bushing, the moveable has a non-replaceable hardened steel bushing, the cover has a plastic bushing. The pins in the spider are around 5/16 in dia., and the rollers are plain steel, with nylon washers.

102C

Deere had input on the design changes of this clutch. It was first used on the 340/S, and with changes is still being produced. The 102C is no doubt a longer life clutch than its predecessors.

The fixed shaft went back to steel, the moveable now has a replaceable bushing of man-made material, the pins in the spider are upgraded to 3/8" dia., the rollers have fiber bushings in them, and are wider. The cover is now the familiar aluminum stamping, with a staked-in bushing, that I believe will fit back to the 100C.

Somewhere around '77, certainly by '78, the spider pins are lengthened from 63/64ths, to 1", the spider rollers are widened again, and the plastic buttons are considerably larger. The cover can was discontinued by '78.

More recently, the spider is re-designed, but it apparently still fits all the way back to the 100C. It is much beefier in appearance, and the pins and rollers have been changed to the 108C style.

[80spitfire]

Here's a few of the basic differences I've noticed so far:

100C

The fixed shaft is steel, the moveable has a non-replaceable bronze bushing ( I think ), the cover has a bronze bushing.

101C

The fixed shaft has a replaceable bronze bushing, the moveable has a non-replaceable bronze bushing, the cover has a plastic bushing.

102C

Deere had input on the design changes of this clutch. It was first used on the 340/S, and with changes is still being produced.

The fixed shaft went back to steel, the moveable now has a replaceable bushing of man-made material, the pins in the spider are upgraded to 3/8" dia. The cover is now the familiar aluminum stamping, with a staked-in bushing, that I believe will fit back to the 100C.

Somewhere around '77, certainly by '78, the spider pins are lengthened from 63/64ths, to 1", the spider rollers are widened, and the plastic buttons are considerably larger. The cover can was discontinued by '78.

More recently, the spider is re-designed, but it apparently still fits all the back to the 100C. It is much beefier in appearance, and the pins and rollers have been changed to the 108C style.

Very interesting. Thanks for the education Brian!

-Brian

[400brian]

Got the roller kit from Randy today. It is installed, so all I have left to do is to polish up the cover, clean and paint the can, and final assembly can commence.

[JDT]

That's a great discription of the learning curve that good engineering and trail and error produces.

Thanks for the post Brian.

[400brian]

Ready for final assembly, all I need to do is find my tube of Locktight!

[JDT]

Now that things shines!

I bet even DA is drooling.

[400brian]

OK, the 101 is as good as I can make it. A few photos, and I'll move on to a couple of 102Cs. The bench is covered with Comet clutches!

[JD600]

101C

The fixed shaft has a replaceable bronze bushing, the movable has a non-replaceable bronze bushing, the cover has a plastic bushing. The pins in the spider are around 5/16 in dia., and the rollers are plain steel, with nylon washers.

Brian, would you happen to know the part number for the bronze bushing on the fixed shaft? I am planning to rebuild a few 101c's in the near future and the parts book does not seem to show a part number for that bushing.

Thanks,

DE

[400brian]

Its in JDParts.com, but it doesn't come up easily, and if you search for that number it comes up nothing.

AM53408 bushing. It is a sub number, the original is not given.