Farmall B grabby clutch in reverse

fixerupper

Well-known Member
We have this B that's had a belly mower under it since 1975. The clutch has always been grabby in reverse, but is fine in forward gears. Maybe ten years ago I split it and looked the clutch over, it looked good but I replaced the disk anyway, but I don't think I replaced the pressure plate. After I got it together it was still grabby in reverse only. Then I found both final drives were slightly loose from the axle, so I tightened them. It helped a little but not totally. This afternoon I fired it up after it's long winter's sleep and it was terribly grabby in reverse only. There is no way to feather the clutch in reverse to stop the grabbing no matter where the throttle is. After using it a bit to get the rust off the flywheel it was still grabbing. Is this the nature of the beast or is something going on in the pressure plate or is something else worn or what? The way it grabs it can't be good for the tranny. Jim
 
I usually replace the whole clutch, which I did on my SA. Mine is a little more grabby in reverse also, but only when I am slowly backing out of my shop. The throwout bearing was replaced also but is a little loose on the mounting piece, due to wear. I have not taken the time to replace it, but that is what is wrong with mine.
 
That's confusing. Maybe its just the
gearing or something in the trans. I t
seems to me that since the clutch turns
the same way regardless of the direction
of travel of the tractor, then it must be
involving something else but for the life
of me I can't imagine what. I have the
same setup for mowing and I think mine
acted the same way. However I did replace
the seals and bearings in the trans but I
don't know if it changed anything. The
trans input bearing was shot on mine BTW.
 
My BN is like that too.

I've always wondered if it's nothing more then you tend to ride the clutch more in reverse then you do in any forward gears, well that and reveres is different speed wise then any forward gear. All I know is trying to slip in to hook up a cart or something can be tricky at times.

The funny thing is my A doesn't seem to be as bad, then again it's not running right now so it doesn't bother at all!

My SM doesn't seem to grab in reveres but that's apples and oranges.

K
 
It does feel like there is plenty of slop in the tranny, diff, final drives in reverse. The clutch does have a slight almost unnoticeable chatter in the forward gears but in reverse there is a very hard severe grab. Someday when I get the time (hah) I'll probably end up tearing it down, but I'd like to have a target to shoot at first. Jim
 
(quoted from post at 19:26:41 03/30/14) It does feel like there is plenty of slop in the tranny, diff, final drives in reverse. The clutch does have a slight almost unnoticeable chatter in the forward gears but in reverse there is a very hard severe grab. Someday when I get the time (hah) I'll probably end up tearing it down, but I'd like to have a target to shoot at first. Jim

That's how I feel too.

I'm sure my BN needs a clutch, it really needs a little bit of everything... That being said the clutch doesn't slip and seems to work well going forward and it adjusted correctly so I don't feel like replacing it just for the fun of it is a wise thing to do.

Opening up the transmission worries me too, there's a lot going on in there, I'm much less hesitant to open up and engine.

K
 
Just for a trial, drag the side of your foot on something so the motion of the tractor does not affect your rate of release. When backing, the tractor motion causes your foot to depress the clutch as it begins to move allowing it to move less, the cycle repeats and feel way jerky. THere is no difference in drive train slack, and the clutch is turning the same way. Jim
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top