63 MF 202 - Clutch issues

Diagnosing a problem with clutch & would like a second (3rd etc) opinion.

To be specific this tractor has a speed shuttle to the left of the steering wheel. UP is Reverse & DOWN is Forward. Putting shift into R onto transmission does nothing.

I double checked pedal free-play which appears to be within 1in when not running. Depressing pedal by hand after about 1/2 way it feels like MAYBE there is extra resistance but not sure. I've not had the inspection plate off yet to see if it's a 1 or 2 stage.
PTO engages with little resistance under no load (don't yet own a PTO attachment) with engine running & not touching clutch.

Once started I select the gear I'm going to take off in...usually 2nd or 3rd in LOW. Depress clutch then move shuttle to either F or R. Almost every time it's accompanied by considerable grinding unless I can get that last fraction of an inch out of the pedal. Grinding is not as bad if shuttle is in position & use the shifter. When on the move & shifting up is a little less grinding but still present when starting out in LOW then switching to HIGH to get where I need to go on property faster than a crawl.

Sound like failing pressure plate?

It also likes to pop out of Reverse when backing up if shuttle not held but that's a separate issue that's more annoying than anything.

Tractor used to be a Road Dept rig sometime long ago before even the PO got it where it was used much the same as I do...yard work//cleanup. Has painted-over caked asphalt in places including the bucket. So the clutch no doubt has alot of hours even if not ridden alot.

A working EDIT would be nice.
Need a replacement double boot for the HI//LO//Shuttle as well.

Leave the fwd/rev in gear and just put hi/lo in neutral to start. Once those gears start spinning, they take forever to stop after the clutch is depressed, at least that's s how ours is and my dad's was 45+
years ago. Use the main or hi/lo trans for neutral. Seems like otherwise, main clutch works fine. Does it slip under load? No ideas about your PTO clutch stage.

No slippage. Just seems to be acting like the clutch isn't fully disengaging even with pedal floored. I have a 62 IH Scout that acts the same when its temperamental hyd clutch (that 1 of these days I'll fix) doesn't travel far enough.

The grinding happens even when trying to take off from a stand-still after starting up. Though the grinding is "soft" when changing gears while the F//R is kept in position.

If you have a PTO good chance you have a dual clutch. Take the inspection plate off, and look for rivets or part of the clutch disk.

You should be able to see the condition throughout bearing, it possible those arms that engage the clutch are broken, loose pins or adjustment bolts are worn.

Sounds like you will need to split the tractor to get to the bottom of things.

Bundy Bears has a great video on Fitting and Adjusting the Clutch Assembly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZoe6RGbDl0

Hopefully then it is just an adjuster needing adjusted...if it even can be.

I'm sure it is but to just confirm the inspection plate is on the bottom where the bell attaches to motor?

Unfortunately splitting the tractor anytime soon isn't an option & if adjustment helps to at least minimize grinding then it will do. Otherwise I can make do for now. Doesn't grind quite all the time but most. I wasn't aware of the fact until other searching turned it up...the transmissions in these aren't syncro so gear clash is going to happen unless given a few seconds between shifting to let them spin down which helps explain it but not quite what my 202 experiences.

Sure can't afford a splitter but at work the shop just got one to split a Ford 3910. It's clutch blew up...the disc was worn donw to metal & the fins would look like they were part of a turbine if they were turned a few degrees. So now that I've seen one up close I can build one cheaper for when the time comes. Another dept was supposed to pick it up to do the work but didn't so it sat for 5 months. A local equipment dealer wanted 5k just to open it (not counting parts)...is a fraction of that to buy the splitter & do it in house. Besides have another 3910 that may need it sometime soon.