The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

The clutch on my Super Dexta has not been operating properly, so today I took it apart to see what might be the problem. When I would push the clutch pedal down, many times the tractor would continue to move a foot or so. Also, it was difficult to let the clutch out without it grabbing and taking off. I expected to find oil on it, but that was not the problem. Where the pin goes through the lever is broken at the mount point.





My question now is, can I buy just the broken part and new discs or will I be forced to purchase an entire clutch assembly? Any advice on what else to look for or any tips on assembly of the clutch would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Terry

Terry,
It looks like the piece that is cracked hasn't broken completely out and is still functioning like it should. (I'm wearing some cheap reading glasses with scratches on the lenses, right now, so I may not be seeing everything that you are.) It does look like it has plenty of oil on it, so I think oil is still your problem. I'm pretty cheap, so I think I'd weld up the cracks and then drill a hole in a thin piece of plate and weld it on over the welded part for reinforcement, if there's nothing else wrong with it.

Think I would go with JC about repairing the lever. A washer welded on to the outside and a slightly longer pin works well. I can't see a lot of oil though. In fact the dust on the springs seems quite dry. Usually if you have problems due to oil the whole clutch is black with it.

Check your other links carefully and also look for wear on the adjusters on each link.

Whilst you have it split, check the clutch plates and the thrust bearing arm bolt that goes through the shaft at the bottom of the clutch housing. Careful with the big spring.

I would also fit a new thrust bearing.

I got lucky with my clutch. I found a place that rebuilds clutches in Nashville, about forty miles from me. They had a remanufactured clutch in stock. The clutch, throw out bearing and pilot bearing cost me $232.66 USD. I was very happy with this price! So I have the new parts home and I am going out now to give the bellhousing a closer inspection. I will not get to put her back together until Monday, have to work twelve hours tomorrow.
Terry

Just as a follow up, I got the tractor back together this morning. The big return spring on the clutch fork is a stout fellow! Spent several minutes studying the situation before I figured out that a 5/16 inch deep well socket (1/4 inch drive) would fit over the end of the spring. Then I took the driver handle and pulled the spring down in order to get the bearing out.
When I started mating the transmission to the engine, I had a hard time getting them to align. After much adjustment, measuring, and coaxing everything fell into place.
Adjusted the linkage as the manual instructed and took the tractor for a test drive. No problems other than I had failed to tighten one of the drag links. (tie rod end). When I went into sixth gear, the steering got REALLY loose. Slowed down and fixed the problem. Drove around a while longer, got her warmed up and did not find any other trouble. A good day!
Terry

Hey Terry,
What did you do to get the clutch plates lined up, it was live power wasn't it? I had to use a bench press on mine and lined the clutches up by eye, took me 2 tries before I got it. Was wondering if you knew an easier way.

Mark, my clutch is a live power clutch. I got a remanuctured clutch from a local clutch supply house here in Nashville. It was already lined up and set, ready to go in the tractor. I don't know how the man lined the discs up, I presume he had a clutch alignment tool such as are used on automobiles. I saw the tool on a web site while I was looking for parts, but I don't remember which site.
Terry

There are no alignment tools for the Dexta or Major live clutches. When they were serviced they were assembled on a rig that took care of the disc positions and was also used to set the correct height of the adjusters on the clutch fingers.

As both plates are clamped when the clutch is finally assembled the discs do not move and so it is all lined up when you put it in the tractor.