Cold start tractor lurched forward

RedMF40 · Jan 21, 2019

Around ten degrees here, went to start my Massey. Hadn't been run in 3 weeks. Two-stage clutch, foot on the pedal so clutch was disengaged. Fired it up and it moved forward at least a foot, maybe a little more, then stopped. No, I didn't have the hi/lo shifter in start position and apparently had the trans in low gear. Usually make sure it's all in neutral but must have been excited about seeing it run again and forgot. Never had this happen before. Any ideas? Clutch and trans worked normally after this little episode.

grizz02 · Jan 21, 2019

clutch disc stuck to flywheel ?

old · Jan 21, 2019

Sticky clutch disk or stick pilot bearing either one can/will cause that and in the cold ice/water can and will cause odd problems. That is why one should never start one in gear NO MATTER what

jon f mn · Jan 22, 2019

My DC has a wet clutch and it always
sticks to the flywheel. If I start it
in nuetral I can't get it in gear, so I
always start it in gear with the clutch
in and hold the brakes. Dry clutches
don't usually do that, but if it was
wet from driving in the rain or
something it may stick.

Spook · Jan 22, 2019

Every so often, some guy try’s to start an old tractor from the ground. Often ends up with him being run over.

marloweg · Jan 22, 2019

ya might have oil on the clutch face that made it a little sticky is your drain hole open on the bottom on the bell housing

Clarence Slydell · Jan 22, 2019

(quoted from post at 02:13:21 01/22/19) [b:5820fa6282]I didn't have the hi/lo shifter in start position[/b:5820fa6282]

So how did it start then? Safety switch intentionally bypassed? If so, that's just plain stupid.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 22, 2019

Your post should be a lesson why we should NEVER be standing on
the ground while starting a tractor..

INCase · Jan 22, 2019

had a good friend of the family got run over by his tractor and disk. he lucky to be here.

spent a year or 2 recovering. has to walk with a cane.

2510Paul · Jan 22, 2019

I had my 2510 clutch, dry, stick to the flywheel. The tractor had sat for awhile. I had a heck of a job to get it free. Since your tractor sat even for a short time condensation and rust likely stuck the two together. If you search the forums enough you will find other instances.

Now, if this happens repeatedly even after having been run, you might have a bad clutch plate. That also happened to me an a tractor I had just purchased. On disassembly the clutch plate looked like a potato chip and the curves kept it engaged.

You are really lucky it released at 1 ft.

Get all your safeties working and always start the tractor when your in the seat. If the tractor has sat for awhile be ready for it. I have a whole line of 2510's and 2520's that have sat for awhile. I do a lot to keep them dry for this and other reasons.

Yes, I am guilty of starting a tractor from the ground. The neighbor, former tractor shop supervisor, introduced me to a cheater cord with alligator clips on one end and a starter push button on the other so if you need to jumper the solenoid you can do it from the tractor seat. We just used it this fall when a 2 year old clutch in a 4020 failed at the throw out lever pivot bolts. We put in a low gear, started it in gear and drove it 2-3 miles to get to my shop.

So my recommendation is keep all you safeties in place, never start from the ground, and, my disclaimer, if you use a cheater cord to the solenoid as described think it through and do so at your own risk.

Paul

tomstractorsandtoys · Jan 22, 2019

My son just bought a 2510 that had the clutch stuck. It was sold at auction with a note saying trans was bad. We split it and cleaned the flywheel and plates and installed a new disc as the one in it was worn some. Every thing is fine now. Tom

showcrop · Jan 22, 2019

These guys must take you for some sort of acrobat being able to depress the clutch with your foot while standing on the ground, LOL. Your handle implies that you are referring to your 40 but it would help if you verified that since wet or dry is a major factor here. The main thing is that you need to go for counciling so that you can get on your tractor without being excited, LOL.

BarnyardEngineering · Jan 22, 2019

Is it two different groups of people, one saying "make sure all the safety switches are in place" and another saying "bypass all the safety switches, they're annoying, more to go wrong, and you don't need a Safety Nanny looking out for you at every turn?"

You can never tell which team is going to show up to a thread like this.

rrlund · Jan 22, 2019

I just figured it was cold oil. My Oliver 77 lugs down and moves like that when it's this cold. Not a foot,but it always has the silage cart hooked to it and it's either sitting in loose hay in the hay barn or a dirt floor in the toolshed.

RedMF40 · Jan 22, 2019

(quoted from post at 06:07:21 01/22/19)

(quoted from post at 02:13:21 01/22/19) [b:406cb98608]I didn't have the hi/lo shifter in start position[/b:406cb98608]

Click to expand...

So how did it start then? Safety switch intentionally bypassed? If so, that's just plain stupid.

Thanks for all the replies, probably a temporary issue related to extreme cold. Mostly wanted to know if anyone else experienced same thing at some point.

Clarence--I think my tractor would start if I smiled and winked at it. No, I didn't bypass anything safety-related. This tractor was fairly unsafe the day it rolled off out of the Massey factory in the mid-1950s. Doesn't need any help from me. I can't imagine it had any safety switch that allowed for starting only with clutch pedal depressed. I know the cars I grew up with in the 1970s didn't have such a thing--you could turn the key and away you'd go.

Ellis Kinney · Jan 22, 2019

My parts getter is a 1981 Ford, F100. It has a standard transmission. When near zero, I can let the clutch out in neutral and it will move a few feet across
the garage. It is extra thick 90 wt. Not a problem. Ellis

Clarence Slydell · Jan 22, 2019

(quoted from post at 12:52:58 01/22/19)

(quoted from post at 06:07:21 01/22/19)

(quoted from post at 02:13:21 01/22/19) [b:12e1ffda61]I didn't have the hi/lo shifter in start position[/b:12e1ffda61]

Click to expand...

So how did it start then? Safety switch intentionally bypassed? If so, that's just plain stupid.

Click to expand...

Thanks for all the replies, probably a temporary issue related to extreme cold. Mostly wanted to know if anyone else experienced same thing at some point.

Clarence--I think my tractor would start if I smiled and winked at it. No, I didn't bypass anything safety-related. This tractor was fairly unsafe the day it rolled off out of the Massey factory in the mid-1950s. Doesn't need any help from me. I can't imagine it had any safety switch that allowed for starting only with clutch pedal depressed. I know the cars I grew up with in the 1970s didn't have such a thing--you could turn the key and away you'd go.

Any older MF with Hi - Lo range that I've ever been involved with had the safety switch on the Hi - Lo lever. It had to be in neutral before the starter would engage. None had a switch on the clutch pedal.

Yes, cold oil could explain the forward motion with clutch depressed as could the clutch plate being stuck to the flywheel.

Clarence Slydell · Jan 22, 2019

(quoted from post at 11:34:20 01/22/19)

These guys must take you for some sort of acrobat being able to depress the clutch with your foot while standing on the ground, LOL. Your handle implies that you are referring to your 40 but it would help if you verified that since wet or dry is a major factor here. The main thing is that you need to go for counciling so that you can get on your tractor without being excited, LOL.

Some might have thought that. I didn't. I can read and comprehend what I read.

HuskerLyn · Jan 22, 2019

Probably a good reason not to start one standing on the ground also??

MF#1 · Jan 22, 2019

RedMF40 I enjoy your Iceland pictures so be careful out there. This site sells the safety switch:

Massey Ferguson 40 Neutral Safety Switch
Neutral Safety Switch - This Neutral Safety Switch is for bullet type terminal. Replaces 181140V94, 53208520, 181140M1, 181140M91, 181140M94, 181140M93, 181140M92. (Part No: 181140M94) $12.72

I would highly advise you to get yours working so there are no more "surprises".

old · Jan 22, 2019

When trouble shooting it is hard not to be standing on the ground and starting them. Just got back from doing a bit of trouble shooting on 2 tractors for a guy and both had to be done while trying to start them and both cases also had to be standing beside them

kevinj54 · Jan 22, 2019

(quoted from post at 16:59:28 01/22/19) When trouble shooting it is hard not to be standing on the ground and starting them. Just got back from doing a bit of trouble shooting on 2 tractors for a guy and both had to be done while trying to start them and both cases also had to be standing beside them

Neutral, set brakes, maybe wheel chocks????

It can be done safe, after all we used to stand in front of them to start them!!

RedMF40 · Jan 22, 2019

(quoted from post at 12:34:02 01/22/19) RedMF40 I enjoy your Iceland pictures so be careful out there. This site sells the safety switch:

Massey Ferguson 40 Neutral Safety Switch
Neutral Safety Switch - This Neutral Safety Switch is for bullet type terminal. Replaces 181140V94, 53208520, 181140M1, 181140M91, 181140M94, 181140M93, 181140M92. (Part No: 181140M94) $12.72

I would highly advise you to get yours working so there are no more "surprises".

Thanks.--I really didn't know my tractor came equipped with a safety switch. Glad I posted this. BTW I'm the only operator, wouldn't let anyone else at the controls unless I'd just seen them hop off another vintage tractor ;-)

Leroy · Jan 22, 2019

Did not have the hi-lo shifter in start should tell you there is supposed to be a safty switch that will not let it start without being out of gear. The earlier tractors the gear shift lever was the starter button as it had to be in S position for it to start. I would think the 40 was simular. I still have that comfort cover but it is going out in the next month. Burnt with the steel headed for China.

MF#1 · Jan 22, 2019

Should be around this area, right side just below the air cleaner, thanks to 4play that posted this pic before:
link

Cold start tractor lurched forward

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