Case 530 Clutch won't disengage

meburks

New User
After sitting over the winter, the clutch on my 1965 Case 530 Diesel won't disengage. I can see that the pressure plate releases as normal. I'm sure that the friction disc has simply locked to the flywheel due to moisture, rust etc. after having sat engaged for 6 months over the winter, it always worked fine in the past. I have run the tractor to try to jar the plates loose, lots of jerking back and forth in all the gears including 4th and reverse. I'm reluctant to try to load the drive using the bucket or to try to tow something heavy, safety concerns. Does anybody have an idea other than splitting the tractor? Thanks in advance.
 
After sitting over the winter, the clutch on my 1965 Case 530 Diesel won't disengage. I can see that the pressure plate releases as normal. I'm sure that the friction disc has simply locked to the flywheel due to moisture, rust etc. after having sat engaged for 6 months over the winter, it always worked fine in the past. I have run the tractor to try to jar the plates loose, lots of jerking back and forth in all the gears including 4th and reverse. I'm reluctant to try to load the drive using the bucket or to try to tow something heavy, safety concerns. Does anybody have an idea other than splitting the tractor? Thanks in advance.
Can you see in there from a little side cover? spray some wd-40 in there and can you poke a rod in there to tap on it?
 
Can you see in there from a little side cover? spray some wd-40 in there and can you poke a rod in there to tap on it?
I have that cover off so that I can see the throwout bearing and pressure plate assembly, that's how I know that the pressure plate is moving away from the friction disc. I can't see any part of the friction disc or the contact face of the flywheel from there though. I'll look a little closer to see if there is any access to the disc and shaft splines. I'm a little reluctant to put any lubricant in there but maybe WD40 would not be too much of a problem if it gets on the face of the disc. Thanks for the reply.
 
Hello meburks, welcome to YT! What is your safety concern? Unless you have the clutch pedal blocked or tied down nothing will happen, it will just come free and release. Then you let off the pedal and everything will be back to as before. The clutch will engage and all will be right in the world. The only real safety concern is that the tractor will not stop driving forward or back when it is in gear. Since it sounds like you already tried this in an open area get it going in the fastest gear you can. Then get the engine to at least 3/4 of full throttle. Then holding the clutch pedal down apply both brakes sharply as if you want to slide the rear wheels. This is about the most you will be able to “shock” the clutch. If that does not get it to free up you are probably in for taking it apart. Pull what ever you want the high the load on the engine the better, fastest gear etc. block the clutch down. Just be prepared for it to stop suddenly if it releases.
 
One of my thoughts was to chain it to a stout tree, leave some slack, then start it in gear and hope it breaks the clutch loose. If it doesn’t break loose however, there is no way to quickly stop the forward drive. My biggest concern is a ‘terminal wheelie’. I might try towing another tractor around a bit.
 
One of my thoughts was to chain it to a stout tree, leave some slack, then start it in gear and hope it breaks the clutch loose. If it doesn’t break loose however, there is no way to quickly stop the forward drive. My biggest concern is a ‘terminal wheelie’. I might try towing another tractor around a bit.
Block the clutch down so when it releases it will stop. use the loader as a load by digging at part throttle. if it won't release it will kill the engine and no danger, I think that is safe. Jim
 
I’ve been thinking about something like that also, and it sounds like a good plan. That will be my next step. Thanks again to everyone who has responded.
 

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