Clutch

[AndrewSpencer]

Thank you all! New pressure plate and throwout bearing ordered. Will set it correctly on the bench before install, then double check again.

[Eugene]

Thank you all! New pressure plate and throwout bearing ordered. Will set it correctly on the bench before install, then double check again.

Pressure plate has to be installed on the flywheel to set the finger height.

Research how to properly adjust the clutch free play.

[Glen]

Hi,
The finger height is set with the pressure plate and clutch disc fully assembled on the flywheel, and the bolts tightened. The finger height changes as the 6 pressure plate bolts are tightened.
The finger height then should be 1 3/16", measured to the flat surface below the fingers.
If you set the finger height with the pressure plate off the flywheel, the finger height will be wrong when assembled on the flywheel.
They have said on here that some new pressure plates come with the fingers set too low for a Cub.
Someone said the pressure plate may be used on another brand of tractor that uses the lower finger height.
They said even new pressure plates need the finger height checked, and set if not right.
Below is a picture of where to measure the finger height to, when the pressure plate is assembled on the flywheel, not off, like the pic is.
I sent you a PM.

[Dale Finch]

Also, it is advisable to soak your new throwout bearing in oil for a few days (my spare had been soaking a year!).
Then pump it full of cheap grease before installation. I also wipe the face of the TOB with some grease.

[AndrewSpencer]

Thank you all for the amazing words of wisdom!
Made it back last night from a week of volunteering at a christian camp in PA. I have greased more wheel bearing and changed more oil than I thought possible in a week!

We decided we had enough of people so we stayed home from church and worked on the tractor instead.
Got it split and wow! The fingers were really bent! And yes that throwout bearing was so dry it actually split!

Planning to re-use the friction disc and it only looks like the flywheel was worn on the inside edge.

Before re-assembly I want to double check input shaft and bearing clearance.
And do a better job setting the pressure plate arms.
There was a bit of oil from what I am assuming is a rear main leak. Certainly less than a model A Ford, so I wasn't too worried about it unless you all think otherwise.

Anything else to check while I am in there?

[AndrewSpencer]

And a few more that didnt attach last time.

[Peter Person]

Andrew,
You have it split, get one of Tim's (tst) reworked rear seals and be done with that leak.

[Bill Hudson]

I appreciate that the grass is growing and the problems presented by your mowing machine being down. The rear main seal leak is only going to get worse, so that raises a proverbial question -- "Why is there never enough time to fix it right, but always enough time to do it over?" Peter is right; Andrew, you have it split, get one of Tim's (tst) reworked rear seals and be done with that leak.

[Glen]

Anything else to check while I am in there?

Hi,
I would read the message I sent you again.

In the pics of your throwout bearing holder it looks like the upper sides of it are bent in. It might be the pic making it look that way. If they are bent in, they need to be bent out so the holder fits right in the clutch housing, and the holder doesn't move side to side on the long pin.
The sides of the holder should be out so they almost touch the sides of the casting, with the pin in place.
If you bend the sides of the holder out, it has to be so it holds the sides of the bearing tight, and the upper part of the bearing can't fall down against the fingers. It may take time to bend it to the right shape.
The bearing has to be centered on the 3 pressure plate fingers. Check that after putting the Cub together, before running the engine, and pushing the clutch pedal down.
You can put the Cub together with 1 bolt on each side of the clutch housing, with the nuts tightened on them.
Get under the Cub and check the contact of the bearing on the fingers. Push the pedal down until the bearing contacts the fingers. Use a light to see it. If the contact isn't centered, split the Cub again, and change the bend in the holder side to side.
Put in all the clutch housing bolts when done adjusting the holder. DON'T run the Cub without all the bolts in place.
Below is a pic of a new holder from TM Tractor Parts.

[Glen]

If the clutch disc is only touching in the center area of the place for it on the flywheel, the flywheel may need to go to an engine shop that can resurface it so it is flat. The disc needs to make good contact on the full area for it on the flywheel, and on the pressure plate.
If it looks like the disc or pressure plate were hot, it may have been slipping, I don't know if they were from here.
You don't want the clutch slipping using a rotary mower.
You can use a long straight edge that you know is straight, and put it across the flywheel and see if the surface is flat.
Check the disc and pressure plate and see if they are flat too.
They have said on here that the oil seal sold nowadays is too small to fit tight in the older Cub engine rear seal retainers. tst machines used retainers and puts in a seal that fits tight in the retainer.
tst may have an ad for the repaired rear oil seal retainers in The Vine on here.

[Dale Finch]

I assume you are replacing the TOB...it is recommended that the new one be soaked in engine oil for several days, then pump it full of "cheap" grease. After installing, wipe the face of the TOB with grease, as well.

Here is Tim's (tst) ad for the new TOB:
https://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=223&t=116548

A reminder, clutch fingers should be adjusted to between 1-1/8" & 1-1/4" AFTER it is installed on the flywheel. Read through the HOW TO's on adjusting the fingers.

And it is worth taking the flywheel to a machine shop for resurfacing. Perhaps sand the clutch disc to remove any glazing.

[AndrewSpencer]

Glen,
Morning! I finally figured out how to read the private messages. And yes, i did make sure that the throwout bearing holder was centered, “tight” and in good shape.

I believe that the biggest issue was that the neighbor just rode the clutch till it overheated and it all failed and failed it did!

Looking at the rear main and the seal, i clearly did something with it. It looks like it is just leaking on the od of the seal. Why not just put it on with rtv on the exterior?

[Bob McCarty]

The RTV might be a temporary fix but will eventually leak again. Tst bores the retainer to accommodate a larger seal that is a press fit.

[AndrewSpencer]

Measured the flywheel and we are less than .001 out.

I suppose this far in we might as well dress it. Or is this also a symptom of the pressure plate not always seating properly, therefore only grabbing that inner 1/4”?