Ferguson TO30 Mystery Ring

[OldFart187]

when i split the engine from the transmission on my Ferguson TO30 tractor, I found what looks like a broken large diameter internal snap ring in the transmission housing. The OD is slightly smaller than the flywheel OD, around 11", is 0.071 thick and 0.14" radial thickness. There are signs that it once sat in an internal groove (see photo) but I could find no groove in the bell housing (which isn't round anyway) or flywheel.

The main piece is neary a half circle and the remaining broken pieces are scattered about in the housing. There's no groove in the flywheel and the ring is too large to be associated with the clutch. Wear marks show that It was clearly in an internal groove at one time.

 

[used red MN]

when i split the engine from the transmission on my Ferguson TO30 tractor, I found what looks like a broken large diameter internal snap ring in the transmission housing. The OD is slightly smaller than the flywheel OD, around 11", is 0.071 thick and 0.14" radial thickness. There are signs that it once sat in an internal groove (see photo) but I could find no groove in the bell housing (which isn't round anyway) or flywheel.

The main piece is neary a half circle and the remaining broken pieces are scattered about in the housing. There's no groove in the flywheel and the ring is too large to be associated with the clutch. Wear marks show that It was clearly in an internal groove at one time.

My guess is it is from the clutch pressure plate. It appears to large because when it is in position it is a small diameter. I think these are usually found on diaphragm type clutches that have many small release fingers. I may also be “all wet” with this answer.

 

[OldFart187]

Too stiff to bend down to clutch diameter. It would break. Another look showed that although the OD is smooth and there are signs of contact on the faces near the OD (see photo), the ID is rough all around and looks like it sheared off along a more or less constant diameter. It looks like it was sitting in an ID groove and sheared off.

I'm beginning to wonder if it was part of an old flywheel of a different design and partially hidden by grease covering, was left there after the new flywheel was installed. The fact that it seems to have been in an internal groove is still puzzling. Could it be part of a ring gear shoulder to locate it axially against the flywheel? At 0.071 it seems too thin for that.

 

[Jim.ME]

I seem to remember something about some flywheels have a thin stepped ring machined on the other circumference that would break away. look the edges of the flywheel over closely and see if the large piece matches to it somewhere.

 

[jt candycane]

I'm not sure , it migh part of a old factory original flywheel ??

 

[Jim.ME]

Too stiff to bend down to clutch diameter. It would break. Another look showed that although the OD is smooth and there are signs of contact on the faces near the OD (see photo), the ID is rough all around and looks like it sheared off along a more or less constant diameter. It looks like it was sitting in an ID groove and sheared off.

I'm beginning to wonder if it was part of an old flywheel of a different design and partially hidden by grease covering, was left there after the new flywheel was installed. The fact that it seems to have been in an internal groove is still puzzling. Could it be part of a ring gear shoulder to locate it axially against the flywheel? At 0.071 it seems too thin for that.

Check out the linked thread.

Amateur Hour: TO-30 splitting