Clutch not snapping in to place ,

[Grandadmechanic]

Hello there folks , I live in Scotland so I have got a lot of help from your posts on YouTube as I have progressed the restoration of my 1946 John Deere GM over the last 2 years .
The engine was stuck when I bought it , but finally got the tractor running 2 weeks ago .
Next problem is the clutch , which I have dismantled and replaced the springs , but I cannot get it to snap in to place .
If I have to take the belt drive off completely , I will need to take the tractor out of the garage to pull the wheel , as my garage usually only fits Grey Ferguson tractors .
If I push the lever forwards I can feel the clutch bite , would it be okay to run like this or would it just burn out the clutch plates ?
Also do you think that I will have to take the belt pulley off completely to service the parts in there ?
And would that maybe finally solve the problem and let the clutch click in to place ?
Any advice would be much appreciated , so thanks in advance ,
Ted .

 

[hurleyjd]

You might do an internet search for the clutch adjustment for 2 cylinder john deere tractor a lot of utube posters showing how

 

[JIM MN]

I can feel the clutch bite, can I run it like that? no. the disks are slipping. If you can not adjust the three clutch nuts to get your snap, you will need to take off the pulley and replace the three dogs and three toggles. No clutch snap is wore out dogs and toggles. Need new one. And yes, the pulley does need to come off to service. Do as hurleyjd suggests, You-Tube! Service the clutch in the pulley, get what new parts you need and all will work again. Yesterdays Tractors in Tractor Parts has the parts you need?

 

[a49deere]

You have NOT dismantled the clutch unless you have removed it and inspected, cleaned and lubricated the clutch dogs. Have you checked the drive pin? The operating sleeve? New disk and springs are a must. washers behind nuts help with clutch jump. Is the clutch driver proud of the crank when installed? The clutches on these are simple but everything needs to work together! Feeling it" bite "might move tractor, but under a load, you may smell smoke! not snapping in is sometimes as easy as an adjustment of the three castle nuts on "T" bolts. A little in or out on castle nuts makes a big difference in obtaining snap!

 

[Grandadmechanic]

Thank-you very much for your advice folks , it is much appreciated . It looks like the tractor will have to come out of my small garage , to let me pull the rear wheel allowing me to pull off the pulley completely , and get in to replace the dogs and toggles . All good fun , as I am still learning a lot about this tractor !
Ted

 

[ChrisInPA]

Don't forget to check and pack the pulley bearing with grease when in there. That is a regular maintenance item per the manual.

 

[Grandadmechanic]

Great , thanks for reminding me , will do !

 

[Fixingfarmer]

I’m not sure the width of the garage (it does fit the axles or the tractor would likely be elsewhere) but even on a G I believe you can set them wide enough permanently to sneak the pulley out next time without moving a tire I’ve done it on As and Bs the pulley on the g I believe to be larger.

If you don’t go down 30 inch rows it helps stability a bit as well to have them out on at least 38s I don’t have a choice if I want to play in the field but most I see for other people are not that narrow

 

[Grandadmechanic]

Thanks Fixingfarmer ,
Yes there are just a few inches to spare either side of the axles which extend . I spent Friday afternoon trying to reposition the tractor so that I had enough room to pull the wheel next to the pulley ( tractor is not running at this point , so using a winch ) . Good thing is , I have ordered the parts from the US , so just awaiting their delivery . Getting back to it this morning , after a ret time at the week-end !

 

[a49deere]

Thanks Fixingfarmer ,
Yes there are just a few inches to spare either side of the axles which extend . I spent Friday afternoon trying to reposition the tractor so that I had enough room to pull the wheel next to the pulley ( tractor is not running at this point , so using a winch ) . Good thing is , I have ordered the parts from the US , so just awaiting their delivery . Getting back to it this morning , after a ret time at the week-end !

You might find out that moving the wheel out is more of a job than fixing the clutch! Just the nature of these beast!

 

[Grandadmechanic]

Ha ha , yes my thoughts are now turning to that very matter ! What can I say , apart from all these challenges help keep me active . My strength is not what it used to be after my operation , but I’m an optimistic person !

 

[560Dennis]

Got it fixed ? What was it?

 

[Grandadmechanic]

Thanks Dennis ,
I have not managed to reposition the tractor in my garage yet , but still trying , and getting some help at the week-end , which should help .
Good news on the parts front though as I have just been notified that UPS are delivering one of the packages from the U.S. tomorrow , great service as that is delivery within one week . Some of my deliveries from England , which is just down the road from me can take a lot longer than that !