Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Clutch smell pushing snow

[farmtrac360]

While moving snow with my Farmtrac 360 I noticed a strong odor from the clutch. I do not "ride" the clutch but as with all snow removal I was going back-and-forth like a mad man. Or like some guy playing in 2 feet of snow. I had all four wheels spinning quite a bit just getting up the driveways (bucket up), it was a real fight. Did I "glaze" the clutch or is this normal. It was a pretty strong smell, tractor has 27 hours, and I was working the **** out of it.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

This is not normal. If you keep using it this way you will burn up the clutch. Is there any free play in the petal. There should be an inch or two. If not adjust it. If there is freeplay try using a lower gear so your not putting as much load on the clutch.
Bill

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Are you using the foot throttle or the hand throttle. When I am going back and forth alot I use the foot throttle so thr rpms come down when changing directions. This saves a lot of wear on the clutch.
Bill

 

[tugboat-2]

Farmtrac 360 : A warm WELCOME ABOARD to you! Sure doesn't sound good to me. You should NOT be smelling the clutch!! You say you don't "ride" it and perhaps you are very careful with it, but I would remind you just in case,...to get your foot OFF completely AND immediately (but smoothly).

The advice immediately above regarding using the foot accelerator is a very good tip. If you don't have a foot accelerator, then use your hand throttle in the same way, (a pain prolly, but a good tip) to lower the revs and save wear on the clutch. Constant clutch use in back and forth action, NEEDS all the help you can give it in order to NOT be smelling it!!!!!!

Hopefully you have not harmed it but the "smell-factor",.... is never a good one.

CHEERS! .....good luck and Merry Christmas!!
. . tug

 

[Reg]

NOT normal, with so few hours I would suspect an initial set up problem, i.e. free play - perhaps NONE !

The other thing, already mentioned, is DO drop the revs when shifting fwd/reverse.
Try to engage the clutch fairly quickly, but at engine idle or only slightly above.
If you "need" to slip the clutch and/or rev the engine to avoid stalling you are probably in too high a gear for what you are trying to do.
BTW, don't lower the bucket until the clutch is engaged and you are MOVING - then LOWER it, don't DROP it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think its a improper set up clutch from the get go. With that few hours I would make them give me a loaner and tear down mine an put in a new clutch.

Chris

 

[farmtrac360]

No problem at all today, I'm going to just write this one off as one of those strange things that happens. It was the last of the six or so driveway's that myself and a neighbor cleared so I could blame it on my frozen left foot. Well in excess of 20", MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

[Reg]

No problem at all today, I'm going to just write this one off as one of those strange things that happens. It was the last of the six or so driveway's that myself and a neighbor cleared so I could blame it on my frozen left foot. Well in excess of 20", MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Well,,, your tractor, your decision ...I guess.
I would AT LEAST check the clutch free play, should take less than 5 seconds.

 

[tugboat-2]

. . . . er, . . ah,...I think he is admitting to have ridden the clutch extensively and now that he's had that pointed out,..he's saying, I promise not to do it again!

However, from the way he first described it,...I think he has done it some damage. Either way, with those few hours, its possible the clutch was not set up properly and I agree with others that he should return to the dealer right away while the hours are few and get it reported rather than wait for the warranty to expire.

Sure wouldn't hurt to get the clutch replaced NOW !

CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[Reg]

. . . . er, . . ah,...I think he is admitting to have ridden the clutch extensively and now that he's had that pointed out,..he's saying, I promise not to do it again!

However, from the way he first described it,...I think he has done it some damage. Either way, with those few hours, its possible the clutch was not set up properly and I agree with others that he should return to the dealer right away while the hours are few and get it reported rather than wait for the warranty to expire.

Sure wouldn't hurt to get the clutch replaced NOW !

CHEERS!
. . tug

I shall NOT be judgmental on this.
Howeverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,,,
If it was ME taking in a tractor for a "burned clutch smell" warranty claim at 30 or so hours the service report might have words such as;
"Clutch free play adjustment checked - OK"
"Clutch operates normally when operated normally"
"Possible owner/operator operational error, unable to verify"
"No valid reason for warranty work found".
"Logging of incident as a potential defect denied"

Yeah, something like that.

or something different if I found there to be a maladjustment or likely manufacturing defect.