TC40A clutch won't disengage?

[biggta]

Hi, I'm looking for help. I'm new to tractor ownership and purchased a TC40A (2004) used with 235hrs. I put about 30hrs. on it and enjoy the work I can do. The problem is I went to use it after setting overnight and I can't seem to disengage the clutch. I checked at the local dealers and got a copy out of their shop manual on clutch adjustment and it seems within specs. If I try to go forward or back with or without clutch engaged it wants to grind the gears or move. Any idea what gives?

 

[Soundguy]

I don't have my manuals in front of my, but believe that is a single plate dry clutch and a independent pto setup.

My guesses are that the flywheel and clutch surface rusted together.. or that you have a tranny input shaft seal leak or a rear main seal leak on your engine.. and that the clutch has become sticky.

Block the clutch pedal down for a day.. then check it. If it seems ok.. lok for an oil leak under the bellhousing and try to determin if it is eng. or hydro oil.

If no oil leak.. then normal slipping of the clutch during use that day should surface it pretty good. If this happens again.. considder blocking your clutch down when not in use.

I have 2 tractors that i have to block down.. or they will sometimes get grabby..

soundguy

 

[biggta]

Thanks soundguy, I've got the clutch blocked now, just have to wait. I don't see any leaks under neath at all so hopefully just grabbing after use.

 

[JC-jetro]

Thanks soundguy, I've got the clutch blocked now, just have to wait. I don't see any leaks under neath at all so hopefully just grabbing after use.

You may not see an oil puddle as the seal leak happens in clutch housing. some tractor like my 1700 has a hand hole with a rubber cover. The cover can be taken off for a peak inside. You may have a drain plug on the bell housing that is for inspection purpose. By opening that you can determine if there is a seal leak but can not determine if the oil is from transmission or engine. Inspection of oil type may give a clue to the origin of the leak.

 

[dynasim]

I gotta say, this forum is amazing.

That was probably 500$ and a month of tracor time worth of advice!

Thanks for all you guys past a future help.

Chris

 

[droy]

Few years back, I bought a 1715 with 500 hrs on it. It had a stuck clutch from setting up, so the seller contacted local NH shop. Shop foreman, and mechanic came out and tried to free it by pulling it down a dirt road, which sheared the rivets on the clutch plates. After the new clutch was installed, I had to block the clutch, or I could count on it being stuck. Best way I found to free it was to hook to my shredder, (rotary cutter), bypass the safety switches, put tractor and pto in gear, crank and go. A short time later, the clutch was free.
I know bypassing the safety stuff isn't the best idea, but replacing the clutch every time I forgot to block it would have gotten pretty expensive.

 

[Soundguy]

That won't work on the independent pto units.. as the main drivetrain clutch is a single plate, and the independent pto is driven off an inner shaft.. etc.. so the pto load is never seen by the driveline clutch..

Soundguy

 

[JC-jetro]

That won't work on the independent pto units.. as the main drivetrain clutch is a single plate, and the independent pto is driven off an inner shaft.. etc.. so the pto load is never seen by the driveline clutch..

Soundguy

Soundguy,

Usually inner shaft is the transmission and the outer is PTO on either live or independent ( live having a second clutch plate and independent with a set of wet clutch pack in the rear of transmission).
What happens in a case of independent with a stock PTO clutch if I push the PTO selector to disengage with the tractor off and take a respectable pipe wrench with even more respectable cheater bar and try to slowly turn the PTO shaft? would it not free up the PTO clutch? Conversely ,what happens if I block transmission clutch pedal (pedal pushed down) and attempt to push or pull tractor while transmission is in gears? would that not help to free up the transmission clutch? what do you think?

Thanks,
JC

 

[biggta]

Thanks guys, I tried blocking clutch overnite and still won't disengage. I have a small weep hole in the bell housing under the clutch and show no signs of leakage. I can get it in gear in low without grinding so I tried holding in the clutch with the bucket against a dirt pile, all I did was dig hole with the back wheels.

 

[MikeD74T]

I've freed stuck clutches with a light spray of kerosene. A perpetual problem on an old Farmall A and an old Dodge dumptruck. It penetrates between clutch & flywheel but doesn't have enough lubricity to cause the clutch to slip after it's freed up. An old mechanic told me this was commonly done for vehicles that set between seasons years ago.
Are you sure you don't have any broken linkage, throw out bearing, or clutch finger that's preventing release? I also once bought a tractor with a pressure plate so weak that it would almost release but if you pressed further on the pedal it would re-engage. It had been continually adjusted to take up the slack as the fingers weakened. It got to a point where it wouldn't stop in gear.
On my '43 Cat D7 the splined shaft the clutch plate drives has grease fittings to ensure the plate can slide. If it's not lubed correctly the old Cat won't stop even with the pressure plate fully disengaged. It was a few tense moments when I learned about that. MikeD74T