TO30 clutch not engaging

51 model and the gears grind and wont allow me to put in gear. The PTO can go into gear and spin with a little grinding before it goes into gear but I cant put transmission gears into gear. I have tried adjusting clutch lever and was able to get her into gear once but next time I cranked it to check her performance she wouldn't go into gear. Like I said, I have adjusted the clutch pedal to where there is a little play it lever but nothing. I need some advice PLEASE!
 
Has this tractor been in storage? If so clutch plate maybe stuck to flywheel or pressure plate. Do you feel normal resistance on clutch pedal when you push it down?
 
Yes it is a tight clutch and I can adjust it at lever to make it have a little bit of play prior to it going to floor but gears grind and wont allow me to put into gear.
 
It has been used quite a bit last year but not this season. The problem seems to come and go. It worked fine for a few minutes one day and then a couple days later feels like clutch is sticking or something and then it wont do anything but grind when attempting to put in gear. Like I said earlier, the PTO will engage with minimum grinding until gears mesh.
 
You say the problem seems to come and go...

When it does work, does it work normally? Clutch fully disengages, operates smoothly?

Then when it sits a while the clutch will not release at all?

If yes to both, the clutch is "rusting" to the flywheel and pressure plate. Is the tractor stored in a high
humidity condition? If so, water may be getting into other components. A simple solution to the clutch
rusting to the flywheel is to cut a wood block and wedge the clutch in the down position when stored.

However, if the clutch never works properly, always drags somewhat, chatters, or slips, there is a problem
in the pressure plate and the clutch assy will need to be replaced.
 
It feels more like it is sticking while driving it. I suspect that maybe dried gunk on shaft splines not allowing it to slide smoothly while engaging or disengaging because it seems to work better once good and warm. I wonder if I can pull starter and spray some brake cleaner around shaft of flywheel and try to free it?
 
This is going to sound like nonsense, but here goes...

The symptom you are describing sounds like the clutch disc is being held to the flywheel or pressure plate
by vacuum! How? When looking at a clutch disc, you will see shallow grooves cut in a spiral pattern across
the friction material. The purpose of those grooves is to break the vacuum to allow the disc to separate
when the clutch is released. When the disc is worn, the groves are gone, causing a glass-flat surface that
tends to stick to the surface with vacuum.

Whatever it is, there is really nothing that can be done to correct it other than going in. You can try
spraying cleaner in, but it could wash the grease out of the release bearing, or causing the dripping
grease to get on the friction disc.
 
I can completely understand your logic and it doesn't sound crazy. I locked the clutch lever down all day yesterday and this morning cranked her up and tried to engage but had grinding so I let it run to warm up and then it went into gear smoothly and I drove it around the yard and it still feels like the clutch is spinning causing tractor to move even with clutch depressed. I may not have the lever adjusted properly but it seems that no matter what I do it still operates as stated above.
 

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