Foton 404 looses ground speed

[rsisk]

Foton 404 with about 450 hrs. Engine runs good and everything works good for about an hour of mowing. Then the ground speed will begin to drop while engine stays the same. Usually work in Low 3rd or Low 4th when finish mowing. By the time I get it back to the barn it is barely moving. Once it rests for an hour or two its ready to go again. Anybody got an idea of where to start?

 

[Lou66]

Only thing I can think of is maybe the clutch.. but I don't know that much about Foton 404.. Lou

 

[Rich Waugh]

Sounds like it is time for a clutch adjustment.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yep, clutch time.

Chris

 

[dfn13]

Foton 404 with about 450 hrs. Engine runs good and everything works good for about an hour of mowing. Then the ground speed will begin to drop while engine stays the same. Usually work in Low 3rd or Low 4th when finish mowing. By the time I get it back to the barn it is barely moving. Once it rests for an hour or two its ready to go again. Anybody got an idea of where to start?

I have the same problem. How did you resolve the problem? Thanks

 

[zonta223]

I have the same problem. How did you resolve the problem? Thanks

Welcome to TBN. The original post is about 12 months old and the original poster by the looks of it has not been active on here for nearly that long so I doubt sending him a PM will do any good.
Do you have the manual for the tractor?? (If not Tommy from Affordable Tractors can supply them for you and all the spare parts you need). You need to follow the clutch adjustment procedure. The more you use it in this condition the more damage you will do to the clutch.

 

[dfn13]

Welcome to TBN. The original post is about 12 months old and the original poster by the looks of it has not been active on here for nearly that long so I doubt sending him a PM will do any good.
Do you have the manual for the tractor?? (If not Tommy from Affordable Tractors can supply them for you and all the spare parts you need). You need to follow the clutch adjustment procedure. The more you use it in this condition the more damage you will do to the clutch.

OK. thank you. I do have the manuals. I didn't know if there was a simple way to adjust the clutch. It looks like you have to split the tractor to adjust the clutch. The only thing I see you can adjust is a rod linking the pedal to the rod coming out of the tractor.

 

[zonta223]

OK. thank you. I do have the manuals. I didn't know if there was a simple way to adjust the clutch. It looks like you have to split the tractor to adjust the clutch. The only thing I see you can adjust is a rod linking the pedal to the rod coming out of the tractor.

If the pedal free play is not setup correctly it could be in an almost semi engaged condition. The clutch fingers can be reached from memory through the inspection plates in the bell housing. Takes a bit of juggling but it can be done.

 

[Wa11banger]

dfn13, I am headed that way due to a moving clutch engagement point. If you haven't already found what you were looking for in the inspection hole I will try to contribute what I find in the next couple of weeks when I do mine. Clutch is working great but I am chasing the engagement point further and further up the pedal.. It engages now almost at the very end of pedal travel and is getting harder and harder to put into gear

 

[Acky]

dfn13, I am headed that way due to a moving clutch engagement point. If you haven't already found what you were looking for in the inspection hole I will try to contribute what I find in the next couple of weeks when I do mine. Clutch is working great but I am chasing the engagement point further and further up the pedal.. It engages now almost at the very end of pedal travel and is getting harder and harder to put into gear

Rick,

If you can give any tips on how you adjusted your clutch, I'd sure appreciate it. Daughter's Foton engages at the very top of the pedal travel and has virtually no power whatsoever. It barely moves at crawl speed.

Thanks

Acky (Frank)

 

[Wa11banger]

Rick,

If you can give any tips on how you adjusted your clutch, I'd sure appreciate it. Daughter's Foton engages at the very top of the pedal travel and has virtually no power whatsoever. It barely moves at crawl speed.

Thanks

Acky (Frank)

Frank, I have unfortunately gotten way to busy to break into the clutch as of yet, or remove the loader to access the inspection plate. However I did notice I had no free play on my clutch pedal. I simply adjusted the link to give about a half inch of pedal travel. This seems to have halted the clutch engagement points movement from continuing further out. With that said I dont think I fixed anything just stopped the wearing of the plate so fast from here on out. I think this may be what started the decline in your daughters tractor's clutch peformance as well. If I look back on my use and subsequent learning to use the tractor, I did an enormous amount of loader work in the beginning. I am pretty sure I left my foot on the clutch pedal for a quicker reaction should I have gotten into trouble.. similar to how one might drive a car. With the lack of free play I think it was wearing the clutch prematurely. I have since stopped leaving my foot there and do think I can eek out a little more time on the clutch as I am not completely to the top on on engagement but a replacement is coming I have no doubt. I would try to adjust the pedal link for proper end play and see if that helps but I suspect the clutch may be a goner if you can barely get it to move. with that being said. I have a few questions..

Is it barely moving in low gear as in no speed with abnormally high RPM? Or proper RPM? I bet I cant get more that 2-3 mph out of mine in low gear (low-1) at 2k RPM. But if I put it against an immovable object I can churn all 4 tires at any RPM this has ensured me I do not have a clutch problem and am not slipping yet. I usually putz around in low-3 unless am I am using the loader and then I am in low-1with no speed but plenty of power.

Second is it possible the brakes are hung? My left brake hangs sometimes and it does take a lot of power to move it until I figure it out .. usuall figure it out because I am counter steering to go straight, and it just feels funny. I put it in reverse for a second and the brake breaks free and I can continue again. If both are hanging you would have a very severe loss of power but I suspect you might know its happening I just wanted to throw that one out there in case your RPM not really high or you can prove or not the clutch is slipping. If you have a loader do a stump or tree test for slipping.

 

[Acky]

Rick,

Thanks so much for your suggestions. When I get to my daughters house next weekend, the first thing I'll do is look at pedal free play. If it's an issue, I'll do an adjustment. You're right, it's not a permanent fix, but it's below freezing up here and these old bones just don't take to the cold like they used to. Hopefully, it will last till the warmer weather gets here.
The tractor barely moves no matter what RPM. I'll also check and see if a brake(s) might be hanging.

I'm sure I can find a stump or tree somewhere on her property to test for clutch slippage, provided the tractor can make it there.

Why do these issues always raise their ugly heads in the middle of winter??? Although I am somewhat mechanically inclined, the thought of having to split a tractor to get to the clutch is almost beyond my belief system. That's certainly a summer project.

Once again, many thanks for your invaluable input. Have a safe and prosperous New Year.

Acky (Frank)

 

[SPIKER]

Something else to check is the bolts on the bell housing some times can come loose causing these types of issues. if not caught when first loose there can be major issues,. it is easy check to go over all the visible bolts and tighten them.

If not a free play adjustment in the clutch clevis under the floor board then maybe look for other broken parts. how many hours on it again>?

Mine (JINMA 284) broke a clutch (cone style) spring I think as it was a sudden change & mine has been a issue for 3 years & just no time to split it & fix it. I have treated mine as a bulldozer 90% of the hours on it.


Mark

 

[Acky]

Adjusted the pedal free play and that seems to have done the trick. Tractor is performing OK. Many thanks to all for your great suggestions and help with this issue.

The warm weather can't come fast enough for me. Happy New Year to all.

Acky (Frank)

 

[Wa11banger]

Glad you got it fixed Frank and that it was an easy one. I still think my clutch engages and releases a little high so maybe next year I will tear it down and rebuild.. Of course with a full detail of my screw ups and pictures