MF 1085 Questions

Hi guys,
I've owned a 1085 for a few years now and im starting to wonder if the MP is slipping. some info on the tractor, it's got around 4,800 Hr. and it's turned up, probably slightly over 100 HP. was used just for mowing hay and light disk work, but now it's my planting tractor along with baling tractor.

i'm trying to determine if the MP might be getting weak or if the clutch might be starting to slip? the MP still holds back and functions but it seems like i use to remember when i was on the road and hit it the tractor would jolt into high. now it seems to be more of a gradual take off. With that being said I was pulling a 4 row planter the last time i was out so maybe the extra weight was causing it? If i'm on the road and i have a big hill, when i lug the tractor down i get a smell in the cab, almost smells like paint burning or something, i notice it if i'm on the high or low side of the MP. not sure what that might be, but i'm hoping it's not the clutch packs slipping and me smelling that?
Also i'm noticing that if i park the tractor in high range on a steep hill the tractor will want to coast some instead of holding itself. this is what makes me think the clutch could be the problem.

So if the MP is starting to go do you guys have any recommendations on what i can do to get through planting season and most of my hay season?

i have a 2nd question as well, right now my C-IH planter should be running with the hydraulics in the float position for the row markers to keep contact with uneven ground. is there anyway i can upgrade the valve for my remotes to have a float position? I figure if i'm going to need to tear the trans apart i might as well try to work on that while i'm in there if it's possible to run a float valve on these tractors.

Thanks,
Guys!

I doubt you will smell the MP clutch as it runs inside the transmission. If you DO smell it, probably the flywheel dry clutch slipping. When the MP acts up you will lose the high side, I've never seen the low side fail as it's a gear/jaw clutch design, not roller like some IH models use for low. Do you ever smell it with the MP in low? If so that's the dry clutch slipping.

I've smelled it with the tractor on the low side. i don't really understand the mechanics of the MP. so i can't figure if the dry clutch would slip on the high side or low side. seems to me if it should slip at the MP on the low and the dry clutch on high? but i;m making an assumption on that.

is there any sure way to check the MP?

The main dry clutch can slip in EITHER Hi or Lo MP use. The Hi MP clutch is oil pressure applied, so you won't smell it as it's inside the transmission front. I'd suspect your main clutch is slipping when hot.

I'm also interested in knowing if MP fail is a gradual thing- I have noticed a bit more sluggish shift from low to high, not a hard jolt in one of my tractors as well. How does it work, and is it possible to fail gradually?