VAC clutch

[Dingo3]

I was told to always to lock the clutch pedal down when ever it sits for a while. Im guessing to keep it from sticking (rusting). Good advice or not?

 

[J Hamilton]

I do the same on mine when it's not going to be used for a while. But I wonder if that is bad for the pressure plate springs?

 

[Dingo3]

I was wondering the same thing.

 

[r.w.b.]

id say hard on springs. only reason i use the lockout is my vac's are all 6 volt.when cooler weather its lots easier on starter not turning inpit shaft running in stiff 90 wt oil
when i milked i used 1 vac daily no matter the weather. its always started first turn over. and with clutch out it would run 5 seconds n die then hard to start,lock clutch out let er run a minute n all was well.

 

[Richard G.]

I never do that on my VAC.
It has stuck a couple of times, but releases with a bump of the starter with it in gear.
I also think it weakens springs.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Is this for tractors left outside? Central NY is a very damp climate. I never lock a clutch down. But nothing ever sits out in the rain. I've had no issues.

 

[kenbob]

I always wondered why you could lock the clutch in place like you could the brake. I tried to envision a situation when you would need to do that when you were using the tractor. Was that lock made to keep the clutch from sticking, or was there another purpose.

 

[rfdmn]

(quoted from post at 11:18:46 01/13/23) I always wondered why you could lock the clutch in place like you could the brake. I tried to envision a situation when you would need to do that when you were using the tractor. Was that lock made to keep the clutch from sticking, or was there another purpose.

The only reason other than the clutch sticking,and I have one that has done that more than once two others have never done it, would be for belt work that's the only way to disengage the belt pulley on the older vac's. D or S you could pull the hand clutch.

 

[Dingo3]

I keep it in a garage but it is not temp. controlled.
I live in MD near the water so it gets pretty damp here too.
The guy I bought it from did leave it outside but it was always covered with a heavy duty tarp. Maybe Ill start leaving it up.

 

[Glenn F.]

My SC foot clutch stuck after sitting two years in my NEWI garage. Both clutches are blocked open now.

Glenn

 

[Bruce from Can.]

My dads VA had a small lever on the side of the clutch pedal that you could swing around when the pedal was depressed, and lick it there with the lever against the floor pan. Dad said it was for doing belt work, if you need to disengage the belt pulley to make an adjustment in the piece of equipment you were powering, but didnt want to shut down the tractor engine.

 

[kenbob]

I never thought about belt work. Does the belt run even if pto is not engaged on the VAC?

 

[J Hamilton]

Yes, on mine it does. 1949 with belt pulley hyd pump, you can also adjust it so it is not engaged with clutch out

 

[r.w.b.]

look on bottom of clutch housing.there is a little very little drain spot in the casting where it meets engine block. im thinkin its plugged with grease n crud mixed.
i forgot but 1 time milking days only tractor on the dary rest were in fields we got a fast hard rain. waterway swelled up n cows wouldnt cross it. i drove the vac across n got cows to follow it,water was up to top of platform. was flowing slow.
next morning went to use vac n cloutc was stuck. looked under n seen water making a drip bead. ran a baling wire in that area n water drained a half hour. jacked a rear wheel up put in 4th gear locked pedal down n after about half hours time it broke loose

 

[chcase]

What I was taught that was for belt work. For a few years the silo I filled we used my dad's old case belt driven silo filler.I kept the vac hooked to the belt. When starting vac and not wanting belt to run I would use the lever to hold the clutch peddle in.

 

[rfdmn]

(quoted from post at 14:27:51 01/14/23) What I was taught that was for belt work. For a few years the silo I filled we used my dad's old case belt driven silo filler.I kept the vac hooked to the belt. When starting vac and not wanting belt to run I would use the lever to hold the clutch peddle in.

n the older vac's with the hyd pump on the belt pulley you could disengage the hyd by turning in a large set screw. On my vac 14 the belt pulley can be disengaged by loosening a set screw and pulling out on the pulley.