Massey Ferguson 35 clutch problems

Hi Guys, I am new to the forum, from South Africa and have an issue with my MF 35, I hope someone can give me some decent advice. It is the gas model, pic attached for reference. Just to give you some background, my grandfather bought this tractor about 40 years ago, and we have never had a day's problem with it, always reliable, starts first time and it still does. We only use the tractor to launch our boats that is it. Don't use the PTO at all. It only gets used the odd weekend and over holidays, the rest of the time she just stand in the garage. As of late, the clutch have been giving some problems. It started about a year ago where you cannot shift it into gear when starting her up for the first time after it's been sitting for a while. You would have to start it in gear it will give a light jerk and then the clutch would function normally. Over the last year it became worse and worse, the last time I could only get the clutch lose by starting it in 3rd gear. This past weekend I tried everything but the clutch is gone. Tried adjusting the clutch itself, tried all 3 gears but nothing .... Can anyone please help?
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You say you tried to adjust it so I'm guessing you tried petal adj. by holding petal partially up then turning shaft toward back of tractor.
 
Yes, I tried the adjustments to no success, the pedal is stiff as per normal, you can press it down with your foot as per normal but the gears don't disengage .... I have to turn off the ignition to stop, I didn't want to force it out of gear as I do not want to hurt the gears ...
 
Does it work at all once you get it going? Starting to wonder how deep the tractor was in the water. It could have rusted the flywheel as there's a weep hole underneath the bell housing. Do you have any oil or tranny fluid leaking from underneath? No more than it sounds it's being used I wonder if the pedal may have just slipped on the shaft.
 
Currently the clutch is completely gone, I can push in the clutch but she will run in gear as if I never pushed in the clutch ... but the stiffness of pressing it did not change .... The tractor never gets close to the water nor does it stand outside, my slipway is very steep so it never touches the water. I also do not live in a high rust area as it is next to a freshwater river and not the sea.

Yes it leaks oil, has been for many years, but it is just a slow 1 drop per day kind of leak ....

It is almost like the clutch plate is stuck and doesn't release, if that makes sense ....
 
Some say if it's stuck you can hook a brush mower up and cut heavy grass while stomping the pedal to try and free it up. That didn't work for me and required a split.
 
I don't have any implements that fits onto the PTO, never used it before either .... I was hoping it doesn't need to be split. I haven't opened the inspection hatch yet to see if I can inspect the issue ...
 
Does your Tractor have a Dual Clutch or Single Clutch?

Serial Number clarification. Serial # lets you know some valuable information:

This information can be located on the Internet:

eg. FE-35 SNMY320137

S=Standard / Utility Chassis

N=Perkins Diesel

M=Dual Clutch

Y= Differential lock

Manufactured 1963

Bob.....Owner operator MF FE-35 X
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When and if you remove ITEM # 7, determine if the OIL in the housing area between the AFT of the FLY WHEEL and the INPUTSAHFT area of the Transmission is "ENGINE OIL" or TRANSMISSION OIL".
If you end up replacing the CLUTCH ASSEMBLY you can be assured it will be $$$$$ well spent to rectify the LEAK PROBLEM if there is indeed an oil leak?
Consider verifying the OIL level in the TRANSMISSION /DIFFERENTIAL as per picture:

Bob...
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Thank you for all the replies guys, I will have a proper look over the weekend and report back on Tuesday, we have a long weekend coming up.
 

Unfortunately not, the weather was too bad, it didn't give me a break. I don't have electricity in my garage so I have to get him outside to see properly. I will try again next weekend.
 
Be very vigilant....next time clutch stops working,and you are moving ....you may end up in, on, through, around or on top of some one or thing.....
 

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