MF 481 Clutch

[Kipling]

MF481 S/N 4814400071

2002

8 Speed Shuttle



Mechanic replaced clutch 6 months ago.

Hard to shift into gear now, when you shift it into gear with the clutch pedal down in engages and moves. I have it in 1st so it is slow. Do not seem to be able to engage the PTO.

The clutch pedal is not in spec. It is to be 6.5-7.5” off the floor it is probably and inch more which should disengage the clutch more.

So now I wonder if the lever is not installed correctly on the cross shaft or if it has moved. I think I read that the lever should be loosened from the cross shaft, the cross shaft turned CW until it stops and then with the cross shaft in this position ant the pedal 3/8” off its stop tighten the lever on the cross shaft.

Thoughts?

Something worse wrong? Operator :-(

 

[Bob NY]

MF481 S/N 4814400071

2002

8 Speed Shuttle



Mechanic replaced clutch 6 months ago.

Hard to shift into gear now, when you shift it into gear with the clutch pedal down in engages and moves. I have it in 1st so it is slow. Do not seem to be able to engage the PTO.

The clutch pedal is not in spec. It is to be 6.5-7.5” off the floor it is probably and inch more which should disengage the clutch more.

So now I wonder if the lever is not installed correctly on the cross shaft or if it has moved. I think I read that the lever should be loosened from the cross shaft, the cross shaft turned CW until it stops and then with the cross shaft in this position ant the pedal 3/8” off its stop tighten the lever on the cross shaft.

Thoughts?

Something worse wrong? Operator :-(

How much free travel do you have on the clutch pedal and what does the manual call for?

 

[Kipling]

Good question, I thought the same. It has no free play, it is a two stage clutch. The first part of the stroke disengages the transmission from the engine and the second part the pto. Neither the Operators manual nor the service manual talk about free play like I'd expect. Only pedal position.

I can not find in the service manual where it addresses how to locate the lever/pedal mechanism on the clutch cross shaft. Not in the clutch area or the transmission area is it noted. From a mechanic on one of the online services I read 'the lever should be loosened from the cross shaft, the cross shaft turned CW until it stops and then with the cross shaft in this position and the pedal 3/8” off its stop tighten the lever on the cross shaft.'

The drawings in the manual show the lever considerably below the deck for what that is worth. My lever is flush with the deck with the pedal up.

The lever is mounted to the clutch cross shaft and the shafts forks engage the release bearing. I am just thinking the whole mechanism is out of adjustment and that is why the pedal was adjusted way too high to get enough stroke to release the release bearing.

I am just brainstorming. It just seems like the pedal is not allowing the release bearing enough stroke to release. I played with this a few months back and brought the pedal closer to the 6.5-7.5" spec and I'm now thinking I made it worse...although I'm not perfect clear.

 

[Jim.ME]

Good question, I thought the same. It has no free play, it is a two stage clutch. The first part of the stroke disengages the transmission from the engine and the second part the pto. Neither the Operators manual nor the service manual talk about free play like I'd expect. Only pedal position.

I can not find in the service manual where it addresses how to locate the lever/pedal mechanism on the clutch cross shaft. Not in the clutch area or the transmission area is it noted. From a mechanic on one of the online services I read 'the lever should be loosened from the cross shaft, the cross shaft turned CW until it stops and then with the cross shaft in this position and the pedal 3/8” off its stop tighten the lever on the cross shaft.'

The drawings in the manual show the lever considerably below the deck for what that is worth. My lever is flush with the deck with the pedal up.

The lever is mounted to the clutch cross shaft and the shafts forks engage the release bearing. I am just thinking the whole mechanism is out of adjustment and that is why the pedal was adjusted way too high to get enough stroke to release the release bearing.

I am just brainstorming. It just seems like the pedal is not allowing the release bearing enough stroke to release. I played with this a few months back and brought the pedal closer to the 6.5-7.5" spec and I'm now thinking I made it worse...although I'm not perfect clear.

Following the clutch adjustment, you said you found online, will set free play. When you turn the shaft clockwise until you feel it touch the pressure plate fingers (don't try to force it further), the throwout bearing is contacting the pressure plate fingers. Holding it touching the fingers and locking the pedal position with the pedal 3/8" off the stop gives you the free play when the pedal travels the 3/8" back to the stop. Measure the travel at the pedal when set as described and you may find pedal travel is a couple inches.

 

[Bob NY]

Following the clutch adjustment, you said you found online, will set free play. When you turn the shaft clockwise until you feel it touch the pressure plate fingers (don't try to force it further), the throwout bearing is contacting the pressure plate fingers. Holding it touching the fingers and locking the pedal position with the pedal 3/8" off the stop gives you the free play when the pedal travels the 3/8" back to the stop. Measure the travel at the pedal when set as described and you may find pedal travel is a couple inches.

I concur.

 

[Kipling]

Thanks guys, Good to have someone confirm. Then do I adjust the pedal height to spec?

 

[Jim.ME]

Thanks guys, Good to have someone confirm. Then do I adjust the pedal height to spec?

If it works after that I would leave it alone, without having hands on it and the manual to see how that pedal height figures in and is set. Sounds like you tried that before and you think you made it worse.

You have the advantage of having the manual to look at and see all the info in it. We only have the pieces you have passed on, sometimes seeing the entire write up reads different to different people, just like you didn't see a free play setting for the clutch pedal. Not faulting you, just saying.

 

[Ray,IN]

Good question, I thought the same. It has no free play, it is a two stage clutch. The first part of the stroke disengages the transmission from the engine and the second part the pto. Neither the Operators manual nor the service manual talk about free play like I'd expect. Only pedal position.

I can not find in the service manual where it addresses how to locate the lever/pedal mechanism on the clutch cross shaft. Not in the clutch area or the transmission area is it noted. From a mechanic on one of the online services I read 'the lever should be loosened from the cross shaft, the cross shaft turned CW until it stops and then with the cross shaft in this position and the pedal 3/8” off its stop tighten the lever on the cross shaft.'

The drawings in the manual show the lever considerably below the deck for what that is worth. My lever is flush with the deck with the pedal up.

The lever is mounted to the clutch cross shaft and the shafts forks engage the release bearing. I am just thinking the whole mechanism is out of adjustment and that is why the pedal was adjusted way too high to get enough stroke to release the release bearing.

I am just brainstorming. It just seems like the pedal is not allowing the release bearing enough stroke to release. I played with this a few months back and brought the pedal closer to the 6.5-7.5" spec and I'm now thinking I made it worse...although I'm not perfect clear.

The clutch adjustment processes are addressed in detail in my 451 operators manual. This is yours. After you get the correct clutch adjustments made, the PTO clutch requires adjustment -spacing.

 

[Kipling]

I think part of my problem is that you are supposed to have the half shaft rotated full CW with the pedal held up against the stop. But when I move the pedal the whole way up it is ridiculously high. I suspect that is because the stop is part of the black metal side plate which my tractor is missing. So my pedal was adjusted about 9" off the deck and I assume the shaft was rotated fully CW as the half shaft is what holds the pedal up. Spec is 6.5-7.5" off the deck. So it would seem I should have plenty of travel to disengage the transmission and shift.

Does anyone actually put the down pedal stop in Stage 1 so they don't clutch the PTO? Is that just a safety?

Ray, what acts as the pedal up stop on yours?