Clutch throwout bearing gave out

[Lt.Mike]

I was out plowing snow yesterday with the Lo-Boy and the clutch pedal became useless.
The clutch hold power fine so I’m sure that’s good. I did split the tractor about 8(?) years back replacing the clutch pressure plate, disc, and TO bearing. About two years back I had to adjust the fingers again as I couldn’t push the pedal far enough to disengage it. Well I’m back there again and if I remember correctly there wasn’t much of any adjustment left that I can make now.
In that the clutch holds power I have to assume the TO bearing is shot. Either they don’t last or I’m rough on them. It’s got me looking at the modern steel roller TO bearing.
Has anyone tried one of these?

[Don McCombs]

Snow plowing is probably one of the hardest things on the clutch system.

[inairam]

Snow plowing is probably one of the hardest things on the clutch system.

And using a loader. I know this is against the general agreement of the members but I admit I switched to the auto-style TO bearing in my Club with a loader. Like with snow plowing, with a loader you are on the clutch a great deal and holding it down for longer periods. The graphite was not holding up in how I was using it.

8 years I think is a good run on the TO bearing. Stick with the graphite.

[Lt.Mike]

Snow plowing is probably one of the hardest things on the clutch system.

And using a loader. I know this is against the general agreement of the members but I admit I switched to the auto-style TO bearing in my Club with a loader. Like with snow plowing, with a loader you are on the clutch a great deal and holding it down for longer periods. The graphite was not holding up in how I was using it.

8 years I think is a good run on the TO bearing. Stick with the graphite.

? You switched to the auto style but say stick with graphite??? How’s the auto style working working for you?

[inairam]

It worked well on the loader. I had no problems with it. From what I read here I think some members who bought those early one when they first came out had problems But I did not.

I did go through two graphites in about 12 -15 months. I bought the tractor with the loader and a weak clutch. So I know I had a clutch job coming. I took an auto-style out to put the graphite when I did the clutch in but did not soak it in oil for 24 hours as recommended. that went in a few months. I put the second one in that was soaking for a few days that lasted about a year. That is when I switched.

It puts less of a load on the engine so you can put the clutch in when you startup. My other cubs have graphite but I think the 130 and 140 I have do have the auto style. I moved my loader to the 130 which did well-moving snow piles yesterday so we will see how it goes.

Again with a loader or plowing snow all of the time you use the clutch very differently than cutting grass or farming. one is to put it in gear and go and the other is on and off and hold the clutch in for longer periods. I do think in those applications it makes sense to use the auto style.

[Lt.Mike]

Do you notice any additional wear to the fingers?

[Lt.Mike]

Okey-doke, I just ordered a new TO bearing and clutch disc. I went with the auto roller style this time to give it a try. I’ve had that Cub split a couple times so I don’t expect this to be more than an afternoons work. Hopefully I can get the parts and installed before the next snow.

[inairam]

I have not split it since I put it in. When the ih 1000 loader was on, it is really impossible to use the access hole for anything.

[Lt.Mike]

I have not split it since I put it in. When the ih 1000 loader was on, it is really impossible to use the access hole for anything.

I can see with all that bolted up if you replace a clutch and components you really don’t want to get back into it to soon.

[sevy]

We got only about 12" of snow in North Creek NY, where my Cub is located. I was plowing snow for a couple of hours on Thursday after the storm slowed down a bit, and then I re-plowed the spots where the town plow had refilled the end of my mother-in-law's driveway on Friday morning. Just before I finished, my clutch pedal began vibrating really badly, and the clutch stopped working. By shutting it off, putting it in either 1st or reverse and then restarting it, I was able to limp it back into my shop. Pulling off the inspection cover, I found a piece of graphite laying on the inside of it.
The bummer is that this was a new throwout bearing, properly soaked and greased, and all the other components renewed this past summer. It had no more than 20? hours on it, including two days of cutting hay with a sickle bar mower, and then this first plowing job of the season. The second bummer is that my shop is unheated, and I think this repair will have to wait until warm weather.
Based upon the use of this cub, with two days of haying every year and just light duty pulling a trailer on occasion in the summer, maybe I should try the roller type because of the snow plowing in the winter? I don't pound the cub at all into snowbanks, and most of my runs are quite long, so there isn't a bunch of quick forward/back plowing to be done. I do have chains and wheel weights, but until my old clutch wore out from many years use, I had no issues.
Any thoughts?

[inairam]

Check the finger height, the tOB holder, and clutch adjustment as well. I only had TO bearing problems on the one club with the loader. My 75 with graphic plows and cuts grass and is fine

[sevy]

Thanks. Tim set the fingers perfectly on the bench for me, and everything was new and correctly adjusted.

[Eugene]

The bummer is that this was a new throwout bearing, properly soaked and greased, and all the other components renewed this past summer. It had no more than 20? hours on it

I had a brand new throwout bearing last about an hour. Poor quality product?

I would install another graphite throwout bearing.

[sevy]

Thank you for the post Eugene. I appreciate your experience.

[Lt.Mike]

Check the finger height, the tOB holder, and clutch adjustment as well. I only had TO bearing problems on the one club with the loader. My 75 with graphic plows and cuts grass and is fine

Ya already adjusted it to the max and now it’s not enough. The bearing hanger and rod were replaced with new when I did the clutch some 8 years ago.
Hoping to get enough out of it to get it from the shed to the barn when the parts arrive.