Case 300B - Possible clutch issues

magicoenxxx · Aug 1, 2015

Hi all,

I have a case 300B that has been sitting under cover for approximately 5 years; once my fathers tractor, but left practically untouched since his passing years ago.

I finally had the opportunity to take a look at it this past month and found it in a no-run condition. After much fiddling with the electrical, gas lines and carb, finally got it to turn over.

Unfortunately I cannot get it into gear when started. The gears grind going into any position, including the H/L/D shifter. No issue shifting into all gears with the tractor off. This tractor does not have a hand clutch.

Interestingly, the PTO clutch grinds when engaging without depressing the foot clutch, but seems smooth when I do depress the foot clutch.

When I last ran this thing years ago it had no clutch or shift issues that I can recall. It's been in our family many years and ran very well.

Checked tranny fluid which looks fine. Tried adjusting the foot clutch and verified that the rod is pulling out 1/16" (actually, it's able to pull out approximately 1" or so)

At this point, not sure what else I should be checking?

Joe (Wa) · Aug 1, 2015

Your clutch friction disc may have rusted to the flywheel. That is not uncommon when tractors sit for a long time. My 310 use to do it sometime after only sitting for a winter month or so. It would break loose pretty easy by driving up a moderately steep grade and popping the clutch until it breaks loose.

You could jack up a rear tire turning the drive train with the clutch engaged and disengaged. That will tell you whether the friction disc is actually being released from the flywheel. Give the tire some hard jerks, see if it will come free.

You're probably aware of the following but just in case. The 1/16" is for linkage clearances. The throw out bearing is constant running and is tensioned by a spring against the pressure plate levers with that notch (pic) between any two of the levers to keep it turning. So the extra travel past 1/16" is movement of the throw out bearing depressing the pressure plate levers to release the friction disc from the flywheel.

"Tried adjusting the foot clutch and verified that the rod is pulling out 1/16" (actually, it's able to pull out approximately 1" or so)"

That "1" or so" seems excessive. I just checked my 310 and 311B that have the same drive as your 300B (whatever 300B model you have). The total pull is less than 3/4" on both of them. The pressure plate levers are adjustable so yours doesn't necessarily have to be the same as mine but that could indicate your throw out yoke pivot is separating. I am advised by a long time Case mechanic on this board that yoke failure was common in the day especially on loader tractors with all the necessary clutch duty.

I had that happen on my 310 and it had similar symptoms as the friction disc rusted to the flywheel but was spongy. With the foot clutch pedal full travel down, the drive train slowed enough that it was possible to shift gears with much grinding.

Joe

magicoenxxx · Aug 2, 2015

(quoted from post at 00:35:14 08/02/15) Your clutch friction disc may have rusted to the flywheel. That is not uncommon when tractors sit for a long time. My 310 use to do it sometime after only sitting for a winter month or so. It would break loose pretty easy by driving up a moderately steep grade and popping the clutch until it breaks loose.

You could jack up a rear tire turning the drive train with the clutch engaged and disengaged. That will tell you whether the friction disc is actually being released from the flywheel. Give the tire some hard jerks, see if it will come free.

You're probably aware of the following but just in case. The 1/16" is for linkage clearances. The throw out bearing is constant running and is tensioned by a spring against the pressure plate levers with that notch (pic) between any two of the levers to keep it turning. So the extra travel past 1/16" is movement of the throw out bearing depressing the pressure plate levers to release the friction disc from the flywheel.

"Tried adjusting the foot clutch and verified that the rod is pulling out 1/16" (actually, it's able to pull out approximately 1" or so)"

That "1" or so" seems excessive. I just checked my 310 and 311B that have the same drive as your 300B (whatever 300B model you have). The total pull is less than 3/4" on both of them. The pressure plate levers are adjustable so yours doesn't necessarily have to be the same as mine but that could indicate your throw out yoke pivot is separating. I am advised by a long time Case mechanic on this board that yoke failure was common in the day especially on loader tractors with all the necessary clutch duty.

I had that happen on my 310 and it had similar symptoms as the friction disc rusted to the flywheel but was spongy. With the foot clutch pedal full travel down, the drive train slowed enough that it was possible to shift gears with much grinding.

Joe

Thanks Joe. Tried jacking the left tire up as you prescribed. Tire rotates fine in nuetral and stops when in gear, clutch or no clutch. Tried rocking it as well as spinning the wheel by hand then putting it in drive with the clutch down.

What you described about it being spongy on your 310 sounds similar. I can push the clutch down and feel resistance as i continue to apply pressure.

I will see if the neighbor can haul the tractor out and try to get the clutch free when he is back from vacation.

Case 300B - Possible clutch issues

magicoenxxx

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Joe (Wa)

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magicoenxxx

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