1st test drive... and last....

[halloween]

Finally got all the new bits onto the power major this morning, steering wheel, new diesel lines, stop switch etc. Got her fired up and went for a drive round the fields checking out each gear, everything hunk dory. Drove her back to the house to park her up and the clutch seems to have packed in. No matter how far I push the pedal, the clutch is not disengaging. I had to put her in neutral and physically push the beast back into her parking space. Left the engine to cool off and tried again, engine starts and runs fine but she just grinds gears when trying to select one.

Any helpful suggestions out there for a very despondent fordson owner?

[Dandy Dave]

Huummmmmm. Nothing is ever easy, is it. Short of a clutch adjustment, it will need to be split in half to correct. Could be a bad pilot bearing, or a shot throwout bearing, clutch pieces breaking off and wedging the clutch plate, or plates, if it is a two stage. It is not that bad of a job if you have a good place to split it. Dandy Dave!

[halloween]

Thanks for that Dave.

Unfortunately, I do not have the equipment, the location, the knowledge or the cash to split and repair. I think she may be going for scrap.

[Kim]

Sorry to hear about your clutch problems. Before you scrap it, could you give your location in case there is a member who would be willing to buy and fix it nearby? I hate to see any of them lost forever.

[Brian]

It could also be a pin dropped out of one clutch operating link, that was the common problem. A split pin would break and the pin would drop out.

This is a far simpler problem and fix than you have done before. A split sounds a large operation but it is really quite simple, you just need a jack and some form of support to move the engine away. I have done it using another tractor and loader, supporting the engine with a chain, have also done it with a pallet fork truck and plenty of wooden blocks. I have also used rails bolted in place of the side channels and slid engine and gearbox just far enough apart to get at the clutch.

The main thing is to be safe. Kim is right that you may find someone close to you who can help. Don't give up now!

[halloween]

Thanks for the encouragement. I may have to give it a go.

Does anyone know a good thread for detailing splitting the tractor for clutch problems?

[Pascal]

Hi Halloween,

I really now how you feel, but please don't give up now.
I had some trouble with my gearbox this winter. Before this, I had never ever seen a gearbox.
With help from this Board I managed to repair the gearbox.
Please see my topic "Pascal's gearbox rebuild". You might find some advices?

Splitting the tractor isn't that hard as it looks. You don't need really need special tools expect from a good/stable lift.
If you are going to do the job, we will give you the necessary advices.
Remember, it's not WHAT you know, but WHO you know!

[halloween]

This is a far simpler problem and fix than you have done before.

I haven't done anything like this before Brian!!

But having seen the following pictures from another site, I am tempted to give it a try.....





I mean, it can't be that hard can it??

[Dandy Dave]

The tractor pictured has a single stage clutch. Do you know if your tractor is a single, or a two stage clutch? Dandy Dave!

[halloween]

I have a feeling it will be two stage, although it has never worked as two stage, ie pushing the clutch pedal all the way down did not stop the PTO. (Even though it may have been supposed to) Is it possible for a different single stage clutch to have been fitted instead?

I just put the pics up to show that if someone can split a tractor with a load of wood and a bottle jack, then there's no reason I can't......

[Pascal]

Hi Halloween,

You will make things easier if you try to keep the engine and gearbox in a straight line.
And at the same height/level.

When splitting the tractor, I splitted the tractor by pushing a iron rod between engine and gearbox and gently pushed to split them,
equally left and right.

When you have a dual clutch, you have to slide over the PTO-gear (the bigger one of the two) first!
When you engage the PTO and turn the PTO shaft slowly, you will be able to get the engine back to the gearbox, over the PTO gear. I used a ratched strap.
For the drive-gear I removed the starter engine and with a rod I turned around the flywheel. I guess you could turn the crankshaft from in front of
the tractor too.

Good luck.
Keep us updated, please

[halloween]

Will do Pascal and everyone else. Although it may take me a while to get things ready, I have to level up the tractor first as she is on a slight slope which won't help, then I need to get tooled up and lastly I need to wait for a break in the bloody awful Irish weather. It has not been 'nice' for more than a day or two since April and I will be working outside. Gives me good light to photograph and document the whole thing though!

[Dandy Dave]

If you have a flat piece of steel, or a concrete area, you can split the tractor with a floor jack under one end. Use a few pieces of wood to wedge the front axle to the left and right of where it pivots so that the engine stays upright. The wheels under the floor jack will make it easer to roll apart, and then back together. Take your time and Don't get ruff and tough with it as you can knock it off of the jack. Keep blocks under it in case something does slip. I use a long pry bar to push the jack along and make minor adjustments as it is slid apart, and back together. It is important to have everything straight and level when sliding it back together. When the two stage clutch failed in my Power Major about 10 years before I owned the tractor, It had the same problem you are describing. Pieces of the PTO clutch lining came apart and wedged between the clutch plates "Locking" them together. I had the task of tearing it down and replacing the clutch disks at the previous owners expense. Nothing like a paid education. Dandy Dave!

[Laurie]

Not sure if it will help but have a look at my post yesterday 8th Oct. I had a few sleepless nights worrying about how I was going to split the tractor safely but with two bottle jacks, some axle stands and a home made trolley it worked fine. The trolley only cost about £35 for the wheels, the rest being scrap timber . The side supports just help to keep everything in place and on my tractor there were two holes in each side rail in exactly the right place for the locating bolts.

Do need to be on fairly level ground though.

Shame to scrap her without giving it a go. Good Luck

Laurie

[halloween]

Not sure if it will help but have a look at my post yesterday 8th Oct. I had a few sleepless nights worrying about how I was going to split the tractor safely but with two bottle jacks, some axle stands and a home made trolley it worked fine. The trolley only cost about £35 for the wheels, the rest being scrap timber . The side supports just help to keep everything in place and on my tractor there were two holes in each side rail in exactly the right place for the locating bolts.

Do need to be on fairly level ground though.

Shame to scrap her without giving it a go. Good Luck

Laurie

I had already seen your trolley Laurie and found it well inspiring! I'll be doing something similar as soon as it stops raining in Ireland! Probably around spring 2012.