John Deere Model M

[Joel Dyslin]

All of a sudden my clutch is not disengaging. Throwout bearing seems to not be doing its job. Have to shut off engine to change direction. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[cole in mo.]

The clutch can be adjusted, how much free travel have you got in the petal, if more than 2 to 3 inches, adjust it.

 

[1190 bob]

sounds like clutch is stuck tie the clutch down drive around applying the brakes on & off until it unsticks,worked for me

 

[John B.]

Yes #1 if you have too much free play the clutch will not disengage. Free play is the free movement of the clutch pedal until resistance is felt, thus this is the throw out bearing traveling up to the clutch fingers. Once it makes contact with the fingers resistance is felt on the pedal.
#2. The clutch disc can be stuck to the flywheel or
#3 the clutch disc can be stuck to the shaft and it won't slide away from the flywheel.
#4 if you get it broke loose it will most likely stick again.

 

[Ed the wine farmer]

The original fork that controls the throughout bearing was not of the best design.New can be had from J D. This; however, entails splitting the tractor. It"s one of those jobs that wind up costing some money. Don"t forget to support the front of the tractor so that it dose not roll over on you when you split your M [the first clutch on my M lasted 57 years] Ed

 

[VicS]

I had a JD M which did the same thing. The clutch disc is stuck to the flywheel. Might jack it up put it in high and jerk rear wheel back and forth. Then cut you a 2X4 to hold clutch down a little. Worked for me. Vic

 

[Jeff B.]

I've sold clutches for a living for years, and have seen many various failures. If it was running ok, and then just started doing that, the likely reasons are:
1. Release bearing froze up sometime ago, and has now worn clear through the pressure plate fingers.
2. Release bearing has disintegrated
3. Clutch release fork fingers worn through (less likely)
4. Clutch pivot is worn out or broken, resulting in the fork falling off and loss of pivot leverage to push the release bearing.
5. broken linkage
Since you have to shut off the engine to shift, that indicates that the clutch isn't worn out yet, but since you will be splitting it to fix whatever is wrong, better count on replacing the clutch while you're in there.

 

[Anonymous-0]

If it happened suddenly,and the feel of the clutch pedal is the same as its always been,it's like others said here already.Clutch disc is rusted to the flywheel.If there's an inspection hole in the bell somewhere,sometimes you can get a long screwdriver in there,and with the clutch pedal blocked down,pry slightly between the disc and flywheel,doesn't take much.

 

[Joel Dyslin]

Thanks to all of you guys who offered help last week. The problem turned out to be my own doing. Apparently, the last time I put the front (engine) together with the torque tube I didn't line up the pilot shaft correctly and kind of forced it back together. By doing that I collapsed the center of the clutch disc and had to replace it. Old John is touchy, he'll go back together, just don't force him.