clutch problems?

Tater_51 · Jan 23, 2017

Hi, went out to start my 961 diesel to run some fuel through it as it's been sitting since fall. It's kept in a heated garage, I don't use it for snow removal. It started fine and it went into reverse but that's about it. Once outside I couldn't move it into any gear from neutral. When I depressed the clutch pedal and tried to move it into gear it would just grind. I tried adjusting the pedal for more travel but that didn't help, would not go into any gear. I'm assuming the clutch is shot? A friend mentioned that the clutch might be stuck. How would I check that? I can start it in neutral but not in any gear to jar it loose. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Terry

old · Jan 23, 2017

#1 block the clutch pedal down and park it that way.
#2 as for starting it in gear why not?? It has the same starting system as a gas tractor doesn't it?? So you just instead of pushing the starter switch since it cannot be pushed in gear is jump around it and short the wire going to the switch to ground and it should start in gear unless it starts super hard

paul · Jan 23, 2017

On my farm you just start in neutral, let go of the brake, and as its rolling you can push into gear pretty easy. I've got hills.....

Do have a plan, if it doesn't jar loose easily, a person can get flustered when the clutch doesn't do anything and the brakes don't kill the engine..... Funny how excited a calm person can get and all rational thought leaves and odd stuff happens.

Blocking the clutch pedal down and leaving it set often lets the plates unstick over time.......

Paul

Destroked 450 · Jan 24, 2017

Jack up one rear wheel, put it in fourth gear, block down the clutch, and rock the tire back and forth.
Same as unsticking a engine only with clutch pedal blocked down your trying to unstick the clutch.

Mike Groom · Jan 24, 2017

Terry,If you have a little hill to get it rolling enough to start it or have someone pull you with a long chain,hold the clutch pedal down and hit the brakes and it will break the stuck clutch loose,I'v done this with tractors and trucks before,has worked every time,you will be able to tell when it breaks loose because it will quit pulling when it breaks loose. (That's why you hold the clutch down when you're being pulled or driving it around.)

Tater_51 · Jan 24, 2017

I guess it has a neutral safety switch, I'm not sure. It won't start unless the shifter is in neutral. Put it in any gear and it won't turn over when you hit the button. I will try blocking down the clutch and letting it sit and see what happens. It ran fine when I put it in the garage last October.

Tater_51 · Jan 24, 2017

Paul, your right, you can get frustrated! I was lucky I had the pole barn door open when it started because somehow I got it into reverse and she took off, I mean TOOK OFF! Of course I tried to clutch it and found no clutch to release it, I just killed the trottle to stop it. Had the door been closed I'd be replacing a very large pole barn door.

old · Jan 24, 2017

Yep safety switch like the common fords have and most are pretty easy to work around wit ha simple jumper wire but one also has to know how to do it or you can run your self over. I could do it with no problem but your there and I'm here LOL

Tater_51 · Jan 24, 2017

Yep, I could see something bad happening. I powerwashed this tractor before I put it away. Reading some other post I assume I may have gotten some moisture in there to lock things up. I'm going to try a few of the suggestions today, jack up one tire, clutch pedal blocked down, 4th gear, and try to rock it loose. Thanks for all the suggestions. I have nothing but time. Terry

old · Jan 24, 2017

#1 make sure the cotter pin on the hole under the bell housing is clear and open so the bell housing can drain
#2 pull the starter off and spray brake cleaner spray in and around the clutch with the pedal held down and turn the engine over if you can so as to get the whole clutch sprayed

Tracy Brown · Jan 24, 2017

How can the clutch be stuck if it went into reverse to back it out of the garage?

Tater_51 · Jan 24, 2017

Well, I think the RPM's were low enough that it slipped into reverse or the timing was perfect when I started it. It all happened so fast I can't be sure how it ended in reverse???

Tater_51 · Jan 26, 2017

I jacked up the rear of the tractor and rocked the tires back and forth (blocked clutch), didn't break loose. I'm going to block the pedal down now and let it sit awhile. I will try the brake cleaner method if nothing happens in a week or so. Thanks for all the input, Terry

old · Jan 26, 2017

Here are a few things to can try but if you do so make 1000% sure it is out of gear so that you do not get hurt and outs do not. Plus block the rear tires front and back before doing this. On the starter should be the solenoid and it is likely to have to big posts and either one or 2 smaller posts. One of the big posts will have the battery cable on it the other goes to the starter. Then on the smaller ones if it has 2 wires then it makes it a bit harder since one will be the start wire from the switch and the other a resister by pass. If it only has the one small wire you can jump from it to the battery cable and it will spin over. So to start it in gear you can run two wire up to the seat area and start it that way but only if you can do so safely and out in the open or you can get hurt and or damage a building etc. So if you try this think safe and stay safe. For a person like me to do this it is easy but I understand for some people this would be very hard to do. STAY SAFE

Tater_51 · Jan 27, 2017

Thanks for the info, I finally got around to checking that "weep hole". It was blocked, stuck a small screwdriver into it and got about a pint of water coming out of it. I still have the clutch blocked and it's just sitting. She must have been wet inside! Hopefully it will dry out and improve things. Terry

old · Jan 27, 2017

Wet like that you stand a good chance the clutch disk is rusted to the flywheel or pressure plate and may well need to be started in gear and taken for a nice ride till if frees up. BTDT many times over the years and it can be a ride that takes while to free up but most of the time they will

Tater_51 · Jan 28, 2017

I'll probably let it sit until the weather breaks here, it's in a nice warm barn, clutch is blocked. On another note, checking prices on the clutch pack for these tractors, how can the price vary so much?? The price is all over the map on these. They run from under $300 to over $600 for the same part number. And some of the vendors are names I have seen on this forum. Are some of them over-seas knock-offs? Seems like a very large price variation.

old · Jan 28, 2017

Its many times called profit and one guy makes 10% and the other guy 25% so if made by the same company buy the cheaper one. Of course there are also some tha tar better made and or have better warranty's so that figures into cost also

clutch problems?

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Destroked 450

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