JD 1050 clutch concerns

Conservation · Apr 19, 2009

I have not torn into the clutch on my 1050, so I admittedly do not know as much as I need to about them. The clutch went out last September, and I knew I needed it to finish mowing an move snow, and I had no time to do it myself, nor the stands to split the tractor, so I had it replaced. All was well for mowing and pushing snow. Then yesterday, I put the brushhog back on for the first time this season, and could not engage the pto without grinding. This is what the last clutch did shortly before failure.

Do I need to adjust the pedal? There is probabaly 5/8" of travel beween the stop and where you feel the clutch. Is this needed after the new clutch takes a seat? Need some experienced advice on this one.

jgbanshee · Apr 19, 2009

What all was replaced when the clutch was replaced? Maybe your PTO clutch disk is worn and it was never replaced with a new one assuming you have a two-stage clutch. How is the clutch otherwise for stopping the tractor?

Conservation · Apr 19, 2009

Left that info out. Entire assembly, including pto disk was replaced. Stopping/starting tractor is fine with no slipping right now. With this two stage, you have a long bit of travel after gear disengage before you hit bottom, since you go through the pto clutch after the gear clutch.
Round about answer to the question. Everything else if fine right now.

jgbanshee · Apr 19, 2009

My 1050 manual says that the free play at the clutch pedal should be between 15-25mm (~1/2"-~1") you seem to be right in that range with 5/8". When I replaced the clutch in my '89 1050 last summer, I bought the entire clutch unit (preset) with new disks, throw-out bearing, and pilot bearing. All I had to do once installed was adjust the pedal to within the range and I have had no problems with clutch at all. Just a thought but are you getting oil from your engine in the clutch housing?

Conservation · Apr 19, 2009

Hmm. Don't know. It's weird that disengaging is the trouble. The thing was perfect last fall the one time that I mowed. I can disengage the gear, but not the pto. Sounds like the adjustment is right there. Thanks for that info. This is one of those times I wish I would have done the job myself, because I would know more about it now. I think the mechanic did a good job, but this is the first symptom it had last time around.

jimmysisson · Apr 19, 2009

Mebbe your PTO clutch disc is rusted to the plate from no use over the winter. Try with the brush hog on (or some other implement where you can load the PTO). Dive into some thick growth with the hog spinning and push the clutch pedal all the way down. Maybe the torque on the driveshaft will kick the disc free. Tiller or auger or some such would work too.
Jim