MF135 clutch release fingers won't adjust close to gauge

Levibooty

Member
I have a MF135 split and have replaced the dual clutch discs. I bought the tractor and do not know it's history other than the maintenance was not performed by a MF mechanic, a lot of telltale signs throughout the tractor. I made the finger height adjustment gauge with a 1" recess as shown in manual. When I went to adjust the fingers I screwed the bolts into the fingers until the bottom of the bolt met the bottom of the hole in the finger. The bolts which are new will not get within a 1/4" to the gauge. That seems like a lot of freeplay before the release bearing will contact the release fingers. I am concerned about this before I bring the tractor back together and was hoping somebody could offer some insight on why the gap to the gauge is so far off. Is it possible the 9" pressure plate is too thin? The clutch is a Spicer 130252.
 
I would assume that your release levers have a very large amount of "play". By that I mean that the levers, links and pins have quite a deal of wear in them. This allows the springs to "pull" the levers down a lot closer to the clutch assembly than they would normally sit. Try pulling your release lever up with you finger against the spring tension, you should have very minimal travel movement if the release lever assemblies are in good condition,
just a thought, Evan.
 
I put in new fingers and checked the pins for wear and have replaced the long ones that the fingers pivots on. That took a lot of the play out. Even so I cannot pull the fingers up to the gauge.
 
If the tractor is fitted with the 9"/11" dual stage clutch, just check the "pot depth" of the flywheel. It should be 44.5 m.m.
It should also have either a one piece or a three piece "air ring" installed between the shoulder of the flywheel and the mounting face of the clutch cover.
If your dual clutch is a 10"/12" dual stage, no air ring is fitted, but the pot depth should be 39.5 m.m.
regards, Evan.
 
Hello,
Silly question perhaps but have you removed the 3 slave screws in the clutch cover. These are normally 2 1/4" x 1/4unc to remove pressure from the clutch plates prior to removal of the clutch unit.
Just to add a little to Evan's words.It is not uncommon to have to fit a second set of air rings on occasions like this. The extra thickmess under the clutch housing will allow the release arm adjusters to travel out further. If you can confirm that the gauge you have made is correct and the tips are resting on the air ring, if a 9/11" clutch then again it is not uncommon to set the adjusters using a packing piece between the domed head and gauge. It should be no thicker than 1/8"....thinner if you can. The important thing is that all release arms are the same height. If they are too low there is a very real possibility that the arms will hit the rivets in the PTO plate when the pedal is fully pressed. This eventuality can be largely adjusted out by the 3 peripheral adjusters or pedal adjustment.
If this is a 10/12" plate check the shoulder height on the flywheel as Evan has given. If that is satisfactory check the thickness of the clutch plate.
DavidP, South Wales
 
I will be removing the clutch for the fourth time today checking the flywheel but in regards to your post here could I use copper shim stock between the air ring and the clutch cover?
 
It is a 9"/11" clutch. I will be removing the clutch again today and measure the pot depth per your suggestion. Am I correct thinking my problem would arise if I measure less than 44.5?
 
I loosened the cover and measured the gap to the flywheel as the cover moved out and the fingers moved out to the gauge. It appears a 2-3mm shim would solve all the problems with the finger adjustment.
 
Hi,
I can't see any reason why you could not use copper as long as it is of similar thickness to the original metal air ring sections. Perhaps the only downside is that they will be very fragile in the dimensions required. It is unlikely that your flywheel will measure less than 44.5mm. Wear on the flywheel face will increase the depth and will bring the release arms out.
DavidP
 
My flywheel depth actually measured 43.75 I had the machinist resurface the face to 44.00mm will try again tommorrow.
 

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