Putting Dexta Back Together After Clutch Install

[Jack Mayers]

I just replaced the 2 stage clutch in my 1957 Dexta Diesel and I'm having trouble getting it back together. I have floor jacks under the front half and back half but I don't want to force it together for fear of damaging something. Is there a trick to this proceedure? I've gotten it so the 2 halves are about 1 1/2 inches apart but I doesn't seem to want to go any farther. The clutch is used and came off of another Dexta, so I assumed I didn't need an alignment tool because the clutch was never dismantled.
 

[Hendrik]

Do not know the Dexta clutch in detail, so may be just a few trivial things...
1.5 inch sounds like either the length of the pilot bearing or the length of the splines.

For the pilot bearing: look towards the front and check whether the splined holes of the clutch disk (or disks?) and the hole of the pilot bearing are in line and concentric.

For the splines to engage: rotate the transmission input shaft (or the engine crank) through, say, 15 degrees while trying to move front and rear half of tractor together.
HTH, Hendrik
 

[swh]

you need to turn engine and engage pto lever and turn pto on back at same time you are trying to put it back together. it should slide together easy . just take your time . good luck and happy tractoring.
 

[terry274]

I"ve had mine apart several times. Each time it is really hard to get it lined up. Do as the previous poster suggested and turn the PTO shaft to get the splines lined up. Then, get down close to the tractor and look through the bolt holes to make sure everything is aligned. It may help to get a long metal rod to go through the bolt holes to make sure they are in line. Having said all this, I usually end up drawing the tractor together with bolts the last inch. It always scares me to do that, but after working on it for hours I give in.
Terry
 

[caitriona]

hi ihave put these together alot of times, once
or twice they have gone in smoothly put mostly
the same trouble , they are probly not linned up correctly although they seem as if they are, putting a thin bar through the holes will show that the holes are not in line, iwould advise NOT TO DRAW THEM TOGETHER WITH BOLTS , AS THIS CAN damage the clutch ect ,how ever fustrating just perserve pushing an shoving it will eventually go together ihave use clamps to help to hold them but be carful not to over tighten these either , just to hold presure on the two edges, good luck
 

[Jack Mayers]

Thanks for the help everyone. I finally got it back together by spinning the flywheel. Now the pto will not disengage. The drive clutch disengages fine but even with the chutch adjusted all the way tight the pto still stays partially engaged. I'm thinking I need to split the tractor again and adjusting the bolts on the pto section of the clutch out more. Any other suggestions?