Compact Tractor - noise started today - clutch / throw out bearing? Recomendations?

bazeven · Sep 7, 2013

Developed a noise today while sitting at idle as we hooked up a back implement. It was a buzzing/squealing noise that happened every 5 to 10 seconds, not on a schedule, but just something new. Wondered, is that the clutch? Pulled away with the implement, and with my foot completely off the clutch, the noise is intermittent. If I put my foot on the clutch and barely touch it, the noise stops. If I let off, it may come back in 10 seconds or 2 minutes. Not a fun noise. Did some forum searching - and I thought i read that if it did it at idle, with your foot off the clutch, that it wouldn't be the throw out bearing. But other posts that I read sound like my noise, and they state throw out bearing. Recommendations or troubleshooting? Checked fluids, all look clean and good. IH 244.

Thanks

Brad Z

Cpjlube · Sep 7, 2013

Yep. Sounds like it might be a throw out bearing. Try to locate an area of the tractor that the sound is coming from. I'm assuming you know where the clutch and bearing are.

Other ideas could be a belt, or a hydraulic relief valve. Then there are other more serious squeals like cam bearings.

Chuck

Don87 · Sep 7, 2013

Usually, a throw out bearing will make the noise while you are depressing the clutch pedal. That's when the bearing touches the fingers on the pressure plate.

On a properly adjusted clutch, the throw out bearing does not contact the fingers(on the pressure plate) until you start to depress the clutch pedal. A light press will make a bad throw out bearing squeal, when pressing harder the noise will stop...........until the bearing gets real bad.

Qapla · Sep 8, 2013

Don87 said:
On a properly adjusted clutch, ...

That is a good point. It may just be that your clutch is out of adjustment or the return spring is broken and allowing the bearing to "ride the clutch" while the pedal is not pressed.

I would start with the adjustment and return. Keep in mind that some of the return springs are located inside the bell housing and you will not be able to see if it is broken. You may have to check for "flop" in the pedal and a weak return of the pedal when pressed.

If that is all good, you may, indeed, have a bearing on the way out. An out of adjustment is the easiest to fix since both the return spring and the bearing both may require splitting the tractor.