Clutch not disengaging on MF135 diesel

80sDweeb · Jun 18, 2016

My '72 MF135 diesel has been stuck in the mud since December, and I finally got it out today with a 12000lb winch that I mounted on the front (I broke an 8000lb comealong trying to move it a few weeks ago.) Getting it out was a little scary, because the clutch stopped working. As soon as I pop it in gear the wheels start spinning, whether the clutch is in or out. What could have happened? My first guess is rust, but I'm not very familiar with these clutches. This model has an independent PTO, so it doesn't have the 2-stage clutch. Any advice or opinions welcome, but don't bother with "shouldn't have left it in the mud all winter, ya moron", that was unavoidable, and broke my heart. This tractor is at our house that burned, and they're building us a new house, but not being there, having many tools and supplies in storage, etc, has been a nightmare.

FWIW, it looks like a little beast with the winch on the front!

Scott in Penfield NY

old · Jun 18, 2016

Yes likely to be a rusted up clutch due to the water/mud.
#1 block the clutch pedal down and leave it that way when it is parked.
#2 Pull the starter off and use brake cleaner spray and try to spray the clutch down real well and if you can turn it over so you can get the whole clutch with that brake cleaner spray.
#3 I you can start it in gear and are able to drive it around holding the clutch down while doing so take it for a drive and the more load you can put on it the better. Between the driving it around and the heat of the engine etc the clutch may pop free. Just remember till it frees up the only way to stop is to shut it off so be safe if you try the driving it around thing

80sDweeb · Jun 18, 2016

Thanks, I'll have to figure out some way to block the pedal down. I did drive it around a while, but only in first gear low, which doesn't put much strain on the clutch. Someone else recommended that I hold in the clutch and rock it back and forth (engine off) in high gear - easier said than done. I'll have to get it to my driveway to try that.

Driving with a load, in a higher gear, with no functioning clutch, would not be fun!

Scott in Penfield NY

old · Jun 18, 2016

Any thing can be a load. If you have say an area you need to plow with a 3 point plow or even an area that would not matter if you plowed would put a good load on it. As for a way to block the pedal down a cement block or 2 works well on many tractors

ptfarmer · Jun 19, 2016

Rather than remove the starter remove the plate on the bottom of the bell housing, and get a few cans of brake clean. Bump the engine over with the starter so you can get the brake cleaner all the way around the clutch.

DavidP, South Wales · Jun 19, 2016

Hi, the likelyhood is that the plate is stuck to the flywheel or pressure plate. There is also the possibility that the plate is seized on the splines. A block of wood can be cut to hold the pedal fully down. Sometimes driving the tractor in 5th or 6th gear where safe to do so and stabbing the brake pedal in hard short applications will free the clutch. The only 'proper' answer is to split it and clean all components.

DavidP, South Wales

Clutch not disengaging on MF135 diesel

80sDweeb

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old

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80sDweeb

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old

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ptfarmer

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DavidP, South Wales

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