2600 No Clutch

JCinKY

Member
I usually reside over on the N board, but a buddy came to me today with a problem on a 2600. No clue on the year, gas tractor.

He was bush hogging a new section of his farm and the front end rode up over a log, he said it bent the linkage. He then stepped on the clutch so the mower didn't follow him over the log.

He got the tractor stopped, but now has ZERO clutch, as in the pedal is free traveling/no resistance at all. The pedal stays down on its own and you can simply pick it up to the engaged position, it will drop back down.

I'm going to take a look at it today, but have never worked on one before.

- Does a 2600 have a 2-Stage clutch? I assume this one does, but he PTO clutch hasn't worked in years.

- Could this be a clutch fork/TOB issue? Sheared bolt/pin holding the fork? Crushed/Trashed TOB?

- Pressure plate springs/fingers destroyed?

- Or maybe the clutch plate has come apart?

He said he didn't hear any pop, pings, or other noise when this occurred.

I figured we would pull the cover and take a look. Just wanted some insight into this model. I usually stick with the stuff made pre 1970. Thanks for the input.
 
first thing i'd look at is to see if the pedal is actually moving anything or freewheeling on the shaft.
 
I recall a similar post a couple of years ago. In his case, the bolt holding the clutch fork to the shaft was sheared.
 
- Does a 2600 have a 2-Stage clutch? I assume this one does, but he PTO clutch hasn't worked in years.

The 2600 was available with a 6 or 8 speed transmission, either of which could have live PTO with the double clutch or non-live PTO with the single clutch, but the 8 speeds were more common with live PTO and the 6 speeds were more common with the non-live PTO, just because the 6 speed was the lower priced transmission they generally got the other lower priced options, but either trans could have either PTO.

Does the clutch actually engage when you lift the pedal?

There should be an external helper spring to help lift the pedal, but even if that's gone completely there should be some pressure from the springs in the clutch itself.

I would check the external linkage first to make sure that it is actually causing the clutch release shaft to turn. Could have lost a cotter pin or something and the linkage is all moving but the shaft just might not be turning. Once you've determined that the pedal is connected properly to the shaft via the linkage and that the shaft is turning, if it still has no resistance I would suspect maybe the shaft itself has broken.
 
(quoted from post at 11:17:16 07/24/14) I recall a similar post a couple of years ago. In his case, the bolt holding the clutch fork to the shaft was sheared.

Thats was our first thought as well.

The pedal is not turning on the shaft, just has no resistance up or down.

Pretty sure a split is in the future, no big deal other than the dirt floor in the barn. Does the 2600 have an inspection plate so that we can take a peak inside the bell housing???
 
I did a clutch job on my 3000 while out in the pasture. It really helps to lay a sheet of 3/4 plywood under so you can roll the floor jack. Mine failed in a similar way, the pedal went completely slack. In my case the friction pads had come loose and got lodged between the clutch and flywheel. Made the pedal go limp.
 
(quoted from post at 12:45:54 07/24/14) guess you could pull the steering box....??

Well, I didn't make it over there last night. Had to put brakes on a Ford Ranger.

I talked to him this morning and he's got a few options...

1. Haul it to my place and I put it towards the top of my list. Not likely since I'm buried right now.

2. Take it to a pro shop at a premium rate.

3. Take it to a friends uncle. He's a good mechanic, but this will take longer.

His 5300 series JD is his main machine, but he doesn't have a suitable cutter for it. I told him to pull the steering box for a look, but I think he just needs it out of his way. Might as well do clutches and adjustments while its split.

Thanks for the responses. I'll post updates when I have them
 
Just an update...

He hauled it to friends place and spilt it. Two pressure plate nuts had fallen OFF. Fingers were relaxed and only one actually hit the TOB.

The bolt that held the fork was intact but bent. So for about $400 sounds like he'll get new clutches and have a working 2 stage again. Kinda glad I didn't get anywhere near it.

Thanks for the responses.
 

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