Clutch Issue

[derff96963]

I have been having an issue for the last month or so. Its not so bad when the tractor warms up so it might have been doing the whole time and I just never really noticed it. I have a Farmall A with a Super A engine. The torque tube is from the regular A.

The issue is that I will push in the clutch and it will still grind while going into gear. It will only grind for a second and the transmission will stop. I can then pull it out of gear and put in into another gear without the grinding as long as I don't release the clutch while in neutral. However if I release the clutch while in neutral it will grind again going in to the next gear. I noticed the clutch free play was pretty large over 2 inches so I decided to adjust it back to spec. I adjusted it to just over one inch but when I started the tractor to test it the tractor shook and a there was a terrible metal clanging sound when I depressed the clutch the whole way. I then adjusted it back right at the point it quit clanging. The problem is the gears still grind and I am back to over 2 inches of free play on the clutch.

The clutch is smoother otherwise and no indication of slipping. What could be causing this? Is it possible the clutch disk was installed incorrectly?

[havoc1482]

How long are you waiting between pushing the clutch in and shifting? The main spline needs to slow its rotation before you shift even after you push the clutch in. If you push the clutch in and immediately throw it in gear it will grind every time.

The reason it switches smoothly between gears (ie going from 1st to 2nd) is because the main spline is connected to the counter shaft, which stops it when the wheels stop. If you tried to switch gears while moving the same grinding will result.

[derff96963]

The length of time does not matter. I have held the clutch and waited for a minute before attempting to put in in gear and it still grinds.

[havoc1482]

reduce the freeplay a slight amount. Clutch sounds like its not fully disengaging.

[derff96963]

I tried that, but as soon as I do it you can feel something hitting grinding within the torque tube when I push the clutch the whole way. It also is over 2 inches of free-play and according to the manual I have it is only supposed to be 1 - 1.25 inches.

[havoc1482]

Its finally hit me what is happening. When was the last time you (or anyone) put any grease into the throwout bearing? If you look into the inspection hole I guaranteed your pressure plate fingers are critically worn.

We had a C that started grinding worse and worse even with the clutch depressed. Eventually it would make this awful grinding noise at the torque tube when you pushed the clutch in fully. Eventually within the week that bad noise was followed by the inability to stop the tractor without forcing it out of gear. Had to split and replace the clutch.

[ccaissie]

Just posted "Super A-V clutch noise". Previous reply, this thread, reminds me of another post related to clutch fingers creating a bad rapping noise. In my case, I couldn't get it into any gear w/o grinding, as the clutch was not releasing....something sticking.... disk or pilot bushing. Sprayed brake cleaner on mainshaft in front of TO bearing and it's cured. Park on hill with nose down, so it runs forward through the clutch disk splines, etc.

In my case, I think the disk was sticking on the splines, couldn't 'float" on the splines and just kept rubbing and spinning.

C