1949 John Deere B Eating clutch facings

MoHawk Dad · May 8, 2019

I am a campground owner that loves antique tractors but am not an expert on their mechanics. I know enough to be dangerous, or fix the basic issues.

I seem to be going through clutch facings quicker then I might expect (maybe my expectations are wrong). I have to replace them every year.

My tractor pulls a hay ride for my campers. It is pulling an 8ft wide 20ft long hay-wagon that generally has about 25-30 people on it. The campground is not level but no steep grades. I place the new clutch facings on and seem to have to continually tighten the clutch through the summer season and get to where there is no more room to tighten by the end of the summer.

Is there more I should be doing, or looking at to her pulling my campers along?

any help is welcome. thanks in advance.

MoHawk Campground Owner

Bob · May 8, 2019

When the tractor is not moving and the engine is running, do you shift the transmission into neutral, then engage the clutch?

Also, clutch facings used to contain woven asbestos fibers and brass, and were a lot more durable than the "politically correct" facings sold today.

Mike M · May 8, 2019

Just wondering if you are constantly starting and stopping ? and doing it on the hills in too high of gear and have to slip the clutch really bad ?
Usually these are really a durable clutch. Just a little slipping to get going and then snap them in tight. When tight no wear should occur.
Wonder if you have some ruff or rusted steel faces that are causing it to wear way faster than normal ?

KL in Wi · May 8, 2019

When you adjust the clutch, do you set it tight enough so it isn't slipping under a light load? I
never wore a facing out. Look in the owners manual, it will tell you how to set it.

PJH · May 8, 2019

It's not snapping in tight enough. I have a JD 50 that has to be set to snap TIGHT or it will need too frequent adjustment. My 630 is the opposite - it's a soft snap and never slips.

The old timers said that a JD hand clutch was a good teacher. Lock it in at daylight and release it when the sun does down. There's entirely too much clutching going on.

fixerupper · May 8, 2019

Knowing how to run a tractor can help extend the life of the wear parts. At shows and parades I see two cylinder Deeres being driven around with the engine running way too fast and in too high of a gear. The driver sits there and slips the clutch in order to go slow instead of throttling back and shifting into a lower gear. Deeres run slow and most people arent accustomed to the feel and torque of a long stroke slow running engine such as is in your B. Your B should be able to get the load going with the throttle just a little above idle. If you have to run half throttle or more to get the load going in the kind of frequent stop and go job you do you might be in too high of a gear. If the engine dies when you try to run it slow the carb needs to be cleaned or adjusted properly. One of the benefits to running a Deere in situations that create a lot of clutch wear is the clutch disks are super easy to replace.

1949 John Deere B Eating clutch facings

MoHawk Dad

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Bob

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Mike M

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KL in Wi

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PJH

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fixerupper

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