Stuck clutch

[Ed n Northern Va]

Well, I've got more of the issues of my '58 861 worked out. Runs smooths. Starts easily in cold weather, loader goes up. So... time to drive it a around a little.
All the time while I've been playing with it, its been in neutral, sitting where I rolled it off the trailer. Today I go to put it in gear and all I get is resistance and grinding.

The PTO works and turns off when depressing the clutch all the way. There is strong resistance the whole way when stepping on the pedal.
My question- does this sound like a stuck clutch, or a clutch that is gone? Do they usually get stuck in gear or in neutral or either one?
Right now I've got the pedal wedged down. I'll check clutch adjustment at next opportunity. Archives also mentioned hooking the PTO to a load (a bush hog?) and seeing if the inertia of the blades would free things up- do I have that right or would that only apply to a tractor w/o live PTO? Any advice or comments would be appreciated. Humble Ed

 

[Ed in Northern VA]

Well, I've just read another 100 of the 809 archived posts on stuck clutches, so I have a few things I'll try before spending any money.
I'd still welcome any comments or advice. Ed

 

[old]

Stuck clutch is common on any tractor from sitting. Since you have live PTO hooking up a brush hog will not help any. What you need to do is drive it around in a big open area, start it in gear and take it for a drive holding the pedal down
Hobby farm

 

[ro]

I had a 1550 Oliver that sat for a while, that the clutch stuck. I had to take the inspection plate loose and take a screwdriver to unstick it. I don't know if a Ford is the same or if you can get to the clutch. Maybe this will help.

 

[NWMO 901 SOS]

Humble,

Yes that certainly sounds like a "stuck" clutch. Regardless if the tractor is in nuetral or in gear when parked, the clutch plate is left against the fly wheel with the clutch engaged. They say there is usually some moisture present and the two (clutch plate and fly wheel) become "one" by rusting together. It sounds like you have read the different methods to free the stuck clutch and I'm sure you have read these two points many times as well, but they bear repeating:

1) Big open area, nothing in front of the tractor. Be careful, careful, careful!!!

2) Once freed up, block it every time (by blocking the clutch, you keep the clutch plate from resting on the fly wheel) so it doesn't happen again.

Chris

 

[Brenainn]

(quoted from post at 01:34:58 11/24/08)
Humble,

Yes that certainly sounds like a "stuck" clutch. Regardless if the tractor is in nuetral or in gear when parked, the clutch plate is left against the fly wheel with the clutch engaged. They say there is usually some moisture present and the two (clutch plate and fly wheel) become "one" by rusting together. It sounds like you have read the different methods to free the stuck clutch and I'm sure you have read these two points many times as well, but they bear repeating:

1) Big open area, nothing in front of the tractor. Be careful, careful, careful!!!

2) Once freed up, block it every time (by blocking the clutch, you keep the clutch plate from resting on the fly wheel) so it doesn't happen again.

Chris

This is neither here nor there but on my husky dirt bike the clutch always sticks when I park it for a while When I go to ride it I pop start it and then beat on it a little while pulling in the clutch and letting it out. It always frees up and then works fine. Now I wouldnt tell you to disconnect the neutral safety switch and start it in gear and beat on it a little but if it was me,... :lol:

 

[Jim.UT]

Here's one from the N-board archives that was posted a few years ago by the late John Bower (tOTG). I have some of John's old parts, including an NAA transmission housing with a plugged hole in the location he describes in this post.
tOTG sticky clutch fix....from the archives

 

[john_Bud]

Sounds stuck to me too. (sorry about that!)

I'd try to pull a plow or disc with the clutch tied down. That may get it. Also jumping on one brake peddle then the other to put a sharp! shock load on the system.

Getting a clutch unstuck is one of the few things a 861 does worse than an 841!

jb