Woods 42C-4 Overrunning Clutch

[David]

Sorry for asking a stupid question, but what is the purpose of the overrunning clutch in the 42c-4 mower?

I am re-building this mower deck, and found that there is in fact no overrunning clutch installed.

In the manual that I downloaded from Rudi's site, it looks like there is an option for just having the sheave (3a) installed directly with a bushing (3b) instead of 3. See Woods 42C-4 Manual.

(see the shaded parts?)

Is this correct?

I am wondering if it is worth spending some $ to buy an overrunning clutch assembly?

[Bigdog]

David, the over-running clutch allows the deck to freewheel so that the inertial of the turning blades does not push the tractor forward when you push the clutch in. It operates similarly to the coaster brake on a bicycle.

[David]

Probably worth installing right (case I want to stop in a hurry)?

[George Willer]

I was operating the M yesterday with a bush hog without an ORC. The M's brake pedals are frozen to their shaft (round tuit) so it doesn't have brakes. Yep! I ended up tangled up in the autumn olive thicket. No real harm done but it's amazing the power stored up in the spinning blades when operating at fairly high RPM. Just think of the effort required to get them started for a clue.