Clutch plate seized to flywheel, any tricks to release?

docmirror · May 1, 2018

I don't want to split the tractor. The clutch has been working just fine. I haven't moved the tractor for 4 months, and now the clutch is frozen to the flywheel, and maybe the PP.

I've started the engine, put the clutch in, set in 3 gear and rocked the throttle. I've also tried rocking the tires back and forth in gear with the clutch in and so far no luck.

Any other ideas?

Mike M · May 1, 2018

Get it going in as high as gear as you can in an open flat area as you can. Then once up to a decent speed while holding the clutch pedal down STAB ONE brake pedal and if that doesn't get it try the other one. Only one at a time not both ! I have used this method with good results on 2 tractors now. Make sure you hang on and are prepared for the tractor to jerk to the side.

Janicholson · May 1, 2018

Get it outside in a clear area block the clutch pedal down, and drive around in 3rd gear with some throttle on. use the brakes to shock the clutch. Be safe. Jim

mite-help · May 1, 2018

Some say hook up to implement-[mower] block clutch pedal down, find wide-open area, drive it around while working the throttle-load up the mower--helps to be in a little higher gear---

Ozlander · May 1, 2018

(quoted from post at 12:44:01 05/01/18)
I've started the engine, put the clutch in, set in 3 gear and rocked the throttle. I've also tried rocking the tires back and forth in gear with the clutch in and so far no luck.
Any other ideas?

How did you get it in 3rd if the engine is running and the clutch is stuck?

old · May 1, 2018

When ever you park it block the clutch pedal down and do so from now on. Fire it up in gear and take it for a long drive out where you cannot hit any thing. If you can put as much of a load on it as you can so as to load down the clutch while driving it with the pedal down. You can also pull the starter off and then spray brake cleaner spay on the cultch disk and some times depending on what tractor it is you can get to the disk with a screw driver and free it up

grayrider · May 1, 2018

I?ve always had good luck just blocking the clutch pedal down,
leave it sitting a few days and come back to it, usually
releases on its own that way

Doug-Iowa · May 1, 2018

My Ford does that occasionally. I drilled a 1/4 hole in the clutch housing located so I could get a good shot at it, and spray it with a can of brake cleaner and it pops loose. Got a little plastic body plug to cover the hole.

jacksun65 · May 1, 2018

Push start in gear or if a strong starter start in gear.

used red MN · May 1, 2018

Your wording is a little confusing about what you have tried the ...set in 3rd.. is what I don?t understand so I am not sure if you had the tractor out in motion. As others have said get it out in the open and make sure you remember to give some room to stop because your going to have to shut off the engine to stop. Let it idle a bit so the engine is somewhat at operating temp. Then shut it off place it in 2nd gear and start the engine. Rev the engine up and get moving. Then deaccelerate and shift to third. Now get up to 3/4 throttle then start rocking the throttle as you say up and down to create sort of a ...bucking bronco... motion. All through these steps the clutch should be held or blocked down. Applying some brake as you raise the engine rpm may be helpful but let off them when you are deaccelerating the engine. I really don?t see what stepping on one brake at a time as Mike suggested would add to the outcome of this other than adding to the challenge of controlling the tractor. I realize it worked for him but I suspect the clutch would have came loose just as well if he had used both brakes. Good luck and above all be safe.

grizz02 · May 1, 2018

I've had good luck with taking the starter out spraying brake clean down the face (might have to bend a tube at 90 degrees) and then taking a brass drift and hammer to the back of the flywheel with clutch pedal blocked down it rings the flywheel like a bell and brakes the bond

RJ-AZ · May 1, 2018

I had a car that the clutch would hang up on. It was a front wheel drive and had an inspection hole in the top of the bell housing and with the engine running I got a garden hose and started a small stream of water into the clutch housing. wasn't pretty but it worked. Wasn't a pretty car anyways.

docmirror · May 1, 2018

(quoted from post at 12:04:16 05/01/18)

(quoted from post at 12:44:01 05/01/18)
I've started the engine, put the clutch in, set in 3 gear and rocked the throttle. I've also tried rocking the tires back and forth in gear with the clutch in and so far no luck.
Any other ideas?

Click to expand...

How did you get it in 3rd if the engine is running and the clutch is stuck?

I started in N then jammed it into 1st while rolling slow, then sped up a bit, and went to N, then reduced throttle and jammed into 3rd.

docmirror · May 1, 2018

(quoted from post at 12:11:50 05/01/18) When ever you park it block the clutch pedal down and do so from now on. Fire it up in gear and take it for a long drive out where you cannot hit any thing. If you can put as much of a load on it as you can so as to load down the clutch while driving it with the pedal down. You can also pull the starter off and then spray brake cleaner spay on the cultch disk and some times depending on what tractor it is you can get to the disk with a screw driver and free it up

Aha, didn't think of the starter. Good idea if other options fail.

thx

rrc300 u · May 1, 2018

Get it running and drive it crossways
on the end of a cut corn field or
something that will get a rocking
motion going. You do not have to be
going fast or even with much power
just make sure the clutch is pushed
and it will release. Never had one of
mine e do it but helped my unvle with
one on a massey Harris 44 he had
bought that had been sitting outside
but covered for years. About 50 yards
of cut corn rows and she broke free.

Mark - IN. · May 1, 2018

As stated before, brake cleaner should do it.

True story. Some years back I left one of the hogs setting in the barn all winter and it's clutch and pressure plate got sticky. I rolled it outside up onto the driveway and cleaned it up and got it running. I pulled the clutch lever in, put it into gear and released the clutch but it wouldn't engage. Hmm? I ran it through some gears, nothing doing. Hmm? By then I got up off of it and was standing next to it...like a moron...and revved it up. Harleys are known to vibrate and guess what happened while it was still in gear. The pressure plate became unstuck and engaged and it did a burnout while I was standing next to it with my hand still on the throttle. The garage door was open, the Buick was setting inside and my hog took aim at the Buick. It didn't make it though because I tackled it. Did some damage that I fixed up, but it didn't touch the Buick. I will never ever...

Mark

coshoo · May 2, 2018

If you bend a kitchen knife at a 90 degree angle about 2 inches from the tip, you can work it in between the clutch disc and flywheel through the starter hole, in the spaces in the pressure plate. Keep your new tool in your tool box for next time.

Mike M · May 2, 2018

Believe me stepping on only one brake at a time is THE KEY to success. It must send a shock wave up through the drive train or something ? I first tried both brakes and it didn't work. One brake at a time is the key. I learned this reading on this forum this trick was on the 8N board a lot.

INCase · May 2, 2018

this won't help you much unless it gives you an idea. a short laugh maybe

'
FIL's 9N Ford never started worth a darn with the starter even with 12V and everything cleaned up.

anyway, it sits a lot and one day we pull started it with his fairly new pickup. pulled it a bit and got it started.

didn't realize the clutch was stuck until i couldn't stop He had stopped the truck to unhitch the chain and BAMM right in the back of the truck. hit the hitch and only scuffed a little plastic. one of many things we've never told the MIL or my wife about with our tractor adventures.

anyway, the impact of hitting the truck broke the clutch free.

ChrisNy · May 2, 2018

I tried all the tricks mentioned and the only one that worked for me was the bent butterknife through the starter hole to gently pry the clutch plate away from the flywheel. Only took 30 minutes to remove
the starter,unstuck the clutch, and reinstall the starter.

Clutch plate seized to flywheel, any tricks to release?

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