Ford 3000 water damaged clutch

schumi22 · Aug 8, 2018

I got my 1973 Ford 3000 stuck in water while launching my boat and the bottom of the engine was submerged. The starter was ruined and had to be replaced and now the clutch will not fully engage to be able to
shift the gears, just grinds while trying to put it into gear. Any thoughts on what I need to do to fix this?

Thanks in advance!

Sean in PA · Aug 8, 2018

Hello, and welcome. Sorry to hear about your unfortunate incident. How long has it been since it was submerged? If it was just within the last day or so, then hopefully you can just leave the clutch pedal blocked down for a few days while things dry out. make sure that the hole in the bottom of the bell housing with the cotter pin in it is clear of any dirt or mud so it can drain properly. If it still won't engage smoothly after blocking the clutch down for a few days, get the manual and adjust the clutch linkage to see if that helps, and if that doesn't do it then a new clutch is in your future. Replacing the clutch requires splitting the tractor between the engine and transmission.

Texasmark1 · Aug 9, 2018

If Sean's response doesn't help, after doing what he said, hook it to a good plow and go out and put it to work.......... "with the clutch pedal depressed". I know that is tricky and a lot of starting and stopping and all but it could work. The sooner the better......just a point here, my Branson 6530 has a hook for locking the clutch pedal down taking the pressure off the disc. Seems Korean tractors are used in a lot of rice fields and they are up to their running boards in mud most of the time...I've seen pictures and they aren't pretty. Easy to get a disc stuck to the flywheel or PP.

Once you get it broken loose, drive it around a bit with your foot on the pedal varying the pressure so the ground movement will start and stop.....sands off the rust. Then I'd ensure that I used the tractor frequently for a few days, massaging the clutch, to ensure that you shined up the moving parts of the PP.

schumi22 · Aug 10, 2018

Hi Sean, thanks for your reply. It happened last spring and it did run okay for a few days. The tractor sits for long periods of time because it is up at a vacation property. I can get it into gear if I leave the hi/lo shifter in neutral first and idle at low rpms, and after a bit of running the clutch does seem to fully engage a bit.

I will try the linkage adjustment and see if that works.

schumi22 · Aug 10, 2018

Thanks Texas!

Larry NCKS · Aug 10, 2018

I think you mean the clutch won't fully disengage, which is what it must do to be able to shift gears. Check the adjustments and let her dry out like the others have suggested and see what happens.

schumi22 · Aug 10, 2018

Hi Larry, yes disengage, thanks.

sotxbill · Aug 10, 2018

This model is know for the clutch disc to rust to the flywheel.. and need to be broken loose as others have said.

You can pull the tractor in HIGH range, High gear, with the clutch pushed in..... as the clutch is stuck and its in gear, the engine will spin over. The tires may slide a bit, but as along as it it high/high, the engine will start turning over. Keep the kill knob pulled out so the engine does not start.... and keep pulling the tractor slowly with the engine spinning... as you pull it along, occasionally stomp the brake pedals... it make take a mile or two, but the clutch disc will eventually break loose..

Ford 3000 water damaged clutch

schumi22

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Sean in PA

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Texasmark1

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schumi22

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schumi22

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Larry NCKS

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schumi22

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sotxbill

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