help with m clutch reassembly

I removed the clutch assembly to split the tractor and fix the main seal. Can't figure out exactly how the clutch goes back together. Do the three ears on the pressure plate fit over the throwout bearing? or do they fit in the groove on the bearing? Right now I have it put together with the bearing pushing on the ears but it doesn't work. Any help would be appreciated. Had it out and in four times and have about had it.

The bearing should push against the fingers. Are you sure that you have the friction disc in the correct way (if the larger portion of the hub in the center is towards the flywheel then it won't release properly) ? Hope that helped. Sam

The Face of the bearing touches the clutch fingers when the pedal is pushed in. When the pedal is released (not pushed, and against the tractor platform) the fingers should be between 1/8 and 3/16" away from the fingers. The disk in the clutch must be assembled so that the center cushion springs are toward the rear (away from the flywheel as pointed out by tractorsam). if put in wrong, the fingers will be way too far away from the bearing, and adjustment will not be reasonable. The fingers are usually about mid travel or a little less when the disk is correct.
Let us know what you think on this info. Jim

Sounds like I have everything in there correct. Might just have to adjust although I don't know why. Didn't change anything.

If it was working with about an inch of pedal travel befor touching the fingers 9free play at the platform where the pedal touches) it should be very close to thet when put back together.
A bent release fork, or other issue could be the problem. Jim

Related to clutch adjustment. I just completed a front transmission seal replacement on my SM. I took the clutch shaft out completely to get room to work on the seal and seal carrier. Manual says you can remove the clutch plate without splitting tractor, I say no and have the busted knuckles to prove it. My question is, the pressure plate fingers have small bolts that contact the throw out bearing. These do not and never did touch the TO bearing evenly. One hits , then the other two. The clutch works but engagement is not smooth, it is herky-jerky. The linkage is is not binding. I see a lot of talk about adjusting the linkage but none about adjusting these bolts. Should I mess with these? Thanks Mike

(quoted from post at 10:24:18 03/17/10) Related to clutch adjustment. I just completed a front transmission seal replacement on my SM. I took the clutch shaft out completely to get room to work on the seal and seal carrier. Manual says you can remove the clutch plate without splitting tractor, I say no and have the busted knuckles to prove it. My question is, the pressure plate fingers have small bolts that contact the throw out bearing. These do not and never did touch the TO bearing evenly. One hits , then the other two. The clutch works but engagement is not smooth, it is herky-jerky. The linkage is is not binding. I see a lot of talk about adjusting the linkage but none about adjusting these bolts. Should I mess with these? Thanks Mike

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The twelve inch clutch disc is supposed to come out without splitting the tractor but the pressure plate needs to be held in the released position by three screws. Since you posted that your pressure plate has adjustment screws that contact the release bearing instead of the adjustment being on the other end of the lever you have a newer style pressure plate assembly. There is no provision on that style PPA to hold it in the release position but it can be done by using spacers, either under the outer end of the lever or under the pivot pins. Which method you need to use depends on the exact style of PPA that you have.

The adjustment screws that contact the release bearing should never need to be adjusted. They are originally set using a jig that will get the adjustment within a couple of thousands of an inch, much closer than can be done in the tractor.

If the adjustment is off on you tractor I would urge you to split it to replace the clutch. Unless you have a loader or other mounted equipment the amount of work required for the split versus removing the LiftAll pump and clutch shaft is not much different and you can service the flywheel and PPA if it is split.