John Deere 2510 Clutch Adjustment

[smokinjoe57]

I have a John Deere 2510 syncro. The clutch has always engaged towards the top of the pedal since I've owned it. I had the engine overhauled about 5 years ago and asked about the clutch and they said it was in good shape. While using the tractor this fall for one final bushhog, I noticed that the clutch was slipping. I checked the clutch pedal free travel and I had none. It felt like the pedal was holding the clutch and I'm out of adjustment on the pedal. I opened the inspection cover underneath saw that I had about 1/8 - 1/4 play between the throwout bearing and the clutch fingers. I pulled the pedal and clutch arm off of the clutch shaft to see if it had been a spline off the whole time, but the splines are too course for that to work. My clutch arm sits pretty close to straight up and down when installed. The clutch arm on my 3020 and 4020 are more forward - like 10:00 position. I really don't want to split the tractor, so what else can I try to get this adjusted while installed? Increase the gap between the clutch fingers and the throwout bearing? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jim.ME]

Welcome to the forums.

Do you have the Operator's Manual for your tractor, which has the clutch adjustment procedure in it? You should have between 3/4" and 1-1/2" free travel this is measured from the top of pedal travel down. If you have free travel and the clutch is slipping, it most likely needs a clutch.

 

[smokinjoe57]

My problem is that I don't have any free travel and the adjustment screw that you have in you picture is already at the top of the travel. No adjustment left. Thats why I was thinking the clutch isnt adjusted right.

 

[Jim.ME]

You say you have a gap between the fingers and throw out bearing. If the throw out bearing pushes on the fingers of the pressure plate to disengage the clutch; the 1/8' to 1/4" play (gap?) between the pressure plate fingers and throw out bearing is free play and should be felt at the pedal. It indicates to me it needs a clutch, if it is slipping and there is a gap between the fingers and throw out bearing. The gap indicates the fingers have no travel left.

 

[JIM MN]

Are all three fingers contacting the throw-out bearing at the same time?? Sure, you can back off the three finger adjusting screws to get your free travel, but if the clutch slips, you know what you have to do!

 

[Jim.ME]

Are all three fingers contacting the throw-out bearing at the same time?? Sure, you can back off the three finger adjusting screws to get your free travel, but if the clutch slips, you know what you have to do!

In his first post he posted: "I opened the inspection cover underneath saw that I had about 1/8 - 1/4 play between the throwout bearing and the clutch fingers." That sounds to me like there is a gap there and I can't see that backing the fingers off will help.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

You will have to split it and use the correct tool to check adjustment it will be different than 4020 3020 tool

 

[smokinjoe57]

Well.. you are right. The way I described it, yes there is a gap between the clutch fingers and the throwout bearing. I failed to mention that I measured that with foot pedal removed. With the foot pedal installed and the set screw (bolt) adjusted all the way up, there is no free travel on the pedal. I need to reinstall the pedal and report back to you guys. My mistake, but you guys made me rethink it. With the pedal reinstalled and the set screw set midway in the adjustment, what should the gap be between the fingers and the throwout bearing?

 

[Jim.ME]

Maybe about 1/8" . Whatever it takes to give you 1-1/2" or a bit less measured free play at the pedal.