What's wrong with my D-17 clutch?

Lately it has been getting harder and harder to get into gear (but wasn't slipping), so yesterday I replaced the clutch.

I bought a rebuilt plate and disc from AGCO with new pilot and release (throw-out) bearings.

Fired it up a few minutes ago, and it is doing the EXACT SAME THING!

What is going on? Could there be something wrong with the throw-out bearing mechanism? I did not look at it close when I had it apart, because I was sure it was the clutch. (The pilot bearing WAS bad)

Before I changed the clutch, I did try to adjust the clutch petal rod out, but that did not help either. According to my book, the D-17 does not have any adjustment for the throw-out clearances.

Help - I don't know what to do now....

The new pressure plate fingers were too far away from the release bearing (1/2"). I think the problem is a worn pivot point on the release bearing throw-out fork.

But, to keep from having to split the tractor again, I screwed in the finger adjustment bolts until I had 3/16" clearance on all three fingers. I used a stack of feeler gauges for the measurement.

I could do this through the bottom inspection hole.

Anyway, it works now. Thanks to those who gave advice!

- Danny

May also be that it needs to be run-in some, before it will cleanly release..