VAC clutch problem?

I am finishing up the engine rebuild on my 1944 VAC. It is a first production model with chicken roost steering. I know there are quite a few differences in parts all over the tractor, but the books say the engine parts all interchange. The crank was bad so I put one in from a 1947 VAC. Put everything together, put on a flywheel and clutch, slid it in and the throwout bearing doesn't touch the clutch, rod is almost out of adjustment. Took the engine back out, changed to a different flywheel and clutch a couple times, same thing. Took it to another VAC that is waiting for an engine and same thing. Is the first production block machined different? Crank longer? I had a VT328 engine in this tractor for a couple years from a parts tractor, everything ran and worked fine but wanted to put it back to original. I laid 3 flywheels side by side and took my caliper and checked all the dimensions and all were close. Only variable I can figure out is the crank is shorter. I put the flywheel on from the 1947 donor tractor and same results. I have both versions of a VT149 block on the floor and a couple VT328's too, all external dimensions seem similar. Anyone else have a similar problem???

Parts manual has 2 cranks, don't know what the difference is.

VTA838 before engine s/n VAC-124-22884

VTA869 after engine s/n VAC-124-22884

S/n will be stamped in the block above the starter just under the head gsk.

Joe

Well, they have forging #VT3201 and VT5200. The VT5200 has a lot larger counter weights on it and I have taken them out of post 1950 VAC's, all the 1949 and earlier seem to have the other style with almost zero counter weight. I can post pictures if anybody wants. Can you shim the throw-out bearing out? Get a thicker one? Also, the engines made VAC124-22884 and earlier were made by Continental motors for CASE.

Did you check face of crank flange to block dimension? Just checked several consisting of both blocks and they all were within .010" (.900"). Wonder if you don't have a pressure plate problem. Maybe the fingers need to be adjusted. If you tried it on a different tractor rules out release fork. Lee

Both early crank VTA838 & forging #VT3201 = A28983.

Don't have a cross-ref p/n either way for VT5200.

Late crank VTA869 = A30261.


Joe

So here we go further for whatever it's worth:

Later crank VTA869 = A30261 = A28983.

A28983 is the latest p/n as of 7-89 for both early & late cranks. Must be interchangeable???

Joe

Fulcrum shorter in the torque tube, bent, worn or out of place?

Well, crank sticks out the back of the block .917". I have always half @ssed the clutch setting tool by using a clutch plate that is worn and a large nut and bolt stuck in the splined hole. May have to make one and go from there. Thing is I have 3 different pressure plates and two are at opposite ends of the adjustment(one tight and one loose) and the other in the middle, all the same results with all 3. Thing has me stumped. I have a spare non-eagle hitch torque tube I am thinking of cutting a chunk out of the side and using it at a cutaway since there is no way to see inside a VA series bell housing when it's together.

If the counter weights are that much difference then they are
for different pistons. Check this out.
Walt

The pistons are the same, all cast iron, all the same part number and close weights. The lighter one was made by Continental Motors and the heavier one was made by CASE and best I can tell the numbers cross into each other. Come to find out the early model flywheels are offset a little different than the others. It also has an eagle and PN cast into the back whereas the others don't. Tractor is back together with a nice tight clutch.