A new problem!

[Texas Tony]

I don't mean to hog the board, but I've unleashed a new problem this evening!

I plumbed in the new fuel line and cranked it, but I have a suspicious "knock" somewhere in the bellhousing area around the clutch. I thought, "Well, the armature isn't disengaging," so I pulled the starter out and sprayed a little WD-40 on the shaft just to make sure the starter was working alright. So it's not that. This sounds like somebody's hitting the bellhousing with a ball peen hammer while the tractor is running... something with the clutch maybe. When I heard it and realized it wasn't the starter, I got a cold chill up by spine when I realized I'm probably splitting the tractor Friday evening.

Ideas? Comments? Criticisms?

[Jim Becker]

The noise stop as you push the clutch pedal down?

Probably uneven adjustment of the clutch fingers. You may be able to readjust through the hand hole in the bottom of the bell housing.

Edit: Also possible the noise is really coming from the transmission, in which case it should stop when the clutch is held completely down.

[Texas Tony]

I didn't try pushing the clutch down. Soon as I heard it, so didn't let it run long enough to really play around with it. I'll try that this evening if I have time. This is a new pressure plate I had built and the clutch is original to the tractor that I had resurfaced. New TO bearing, too.

I'll experiment asap and report back. And thanks for the input.

[Urbish]

How long ago was the clutch work done? Do you have a hand crank? Pull the coil wire and have someone slowly hand crank while you peer up through the clutch inspection hand hole with a light. Maybe one of the bolts into the flywheel backed out and is hitting the bell housing from the inside?

[Texas Tony]

How long ago was the clutch work done? Do you have a hand crank? Pull the coil wire and have someone slowly hand crank while you peer up through the clutch inspection hand hole with a light. Maybe one of the bolts into the flywheel backed out and is hitting the bell housing from the inside?

The clutch work was done about two weeks ago. Took it to a place in Waco that's been in business since the 30's and always do good work, so I don't believe it's a quality issue; more likely it's the quality of the mechanic who put it together (me)! I have a hand crank and can get some help to turn it for me. What exactly am I looking for? I put all of the flywheel bolts in myself, torqed them to 30 lbs, and can't imagine one of them backing out since the tractor has not run until last night. I suppose I'll look for anything out of the ordinary and see if I can see or feel what's hitting the bellhousing. All things considered, this is not a bad problem when you consider the many opportunities for failure with a tractor on a daily basis.

[Urbish]

What exactly am I looking for?

You're looking to see if the noise is still present when it is being slowly cranked over and, if so, to see if you can determine what it is coming from.

[Jim Becker]

What exactly am I looking for?

You're looking to see if the noise is still present when it is being slowly cranked over and, if so, to see if you can determine what it is coming from.

Look for any spots that look beat up or have unusual shine from bumping into another part. Look for something out of place, like a clutch finger at a different angle than the other 2.

[Urbish]

Look for any spots that look beat up or have unusual shine from bumping into another part. Look for something out of place, like a clutch finger at a different angle than the other 2.

Or a dead rodent entangled in the clutch fingers, still grasping your missing 3/8" wrench while being twirled around.

[Texas Tony]

Look for any spots that look beat up or have unusual shine from bumping into another part. Look for something out of place, like a clutch finger at a different angle than the other 2.

Or a dead rodent entangled in the clutch fingers, still grasping your missing 3/8" wrench while being twirled around.

[Texas Tony]

What exactly am I looking for?

You're looking to see if the noise is still present when it is being slowly cranked over and, if so, to see if you can determine what it is coming from.

Look for any spots that look beat up or have unusual shine from bumping into another part. Look for something out of place, like a clutch finger at a different angle than the other 2.

Will do. And thanks for the input.

[Texas Tony]

What exactly am I looking for?

You're looking to see if the noise is still present when it is being slowly cranked over and, if so, to see if you can determine what it is coming from.

Roger that.

[ricky racer]

Did you use an alignment tool when installing the clutch?

[Texas Tony]

Did you use an alignment tool when installing the clutch?

I did not have one, so I had to eyeball it. I have a feeling you're going to reply back and tell me that is the problem.

[Urbish]

More than likely. You'll be able to see if the shaft and the clutch friction disc are running out of center if you get under there with a flashlight while someone else cranks it over.

[ShawnAgne]

If you don't have an alignment tool take a steel rod and wrap tap around it till it fits rather snug. That will line up the plate. What I had to do when I swapped motors on the Cub. I can't believe you can put the B back together with the clutch misaligned unless it has more play than a Cub.