Clutch Problem JD 4310

[funkuncle]

I have a 2002 JD 4310 E-power -reverser transmission with 120 hours. Just bought it used from original owner two weeks ago. Worked fine for two weeeks. Then I pulled some stumps this past Sunday. Worked her a little hard for an hour or so. Shut her down fine that evening. Next day, clutch seems messed up. It does not pop all the way back up after it's depressed. Transmission does not engage with precision. Any possible trouble shooting ideas? Where do I start?

[jgbanshee]

I have a 2000 JD4300 and my clutch did the same thing while mowing my lawn one day. I was able to drive it but the pedal would never return to the top and every time I left it out the tractor would hop. There is a spring attached to the clutch pedal about half way up. The spring end broke and had to replace it for about $7. I did have to take off the one small side panel around the dash on the left side (the one with SyncReverse) to get to it. If that is it, it is an easy fix.

[beenthere]

Welcome to the forum

Would you describe what you mean by 'working it hard' pulling stumps?

Jerking at the stumps?
Slipping the clutch rather than letting it fully engage?

Some ideas, but the 'spring' mentioned might be the problem and it will be easy to fix.

Does it jerk when in gear and you let out the clutch?

[funkuncle]

Thanks for replies...I will check the spring tonight as this may well be the problem since it also slips when the clutch is not brought all the way back up.

By working it hard pulling stumps...this is what I mean: I have a 30 foot chain which I affix to the stump and the front bumper. Then I put it in a low to medium range gear and fully engage the reverse. By the time the slack is used upo I'm fully in reverse and then the stump gets yanked. On some trees however, the tractor get's haulted and the tires spin and then I depress the clutch pedal and lower the throttle. I did this approximately 20 times on Sunday. Afterwards the clutch worked fine. It was the next morning when I noticed the clutch would not pop all the way back up.

Would you consider this stump pulling as I describe it working this tractor too hard. The trees are between 5 and 8 inches in diameter. Sometimes it takes 6 or 7 tries to break the root system. .

[joecdeere]

I don't really think that's what they had in mind for your tractor when they designed it!. My moto at work however is feel free to break what ever you wish to pay for. All joking aside- thats what crawlers and backhoes are for. That's a mighty expensive tranny, and the strain on the front end will cost you more later than the rental of the correct equipment.
If you have to do it with your tractor, go purchase a "sub-soiler" it's a single point heave plow, and use it to cut all four ways around each stump to cut the roots. They are only about $135.00 and a great extra tool to own.

[beenthere]

Seems jerking the chain this way would be similar (although opposite direction) shock stress as just driving your tractor into a brick wall.

Sorry, but I would say that is bigtime abuse of your tractor, and a good way to end up 'eating' the chain when it breaks loose from the stump. I think there is a casting over the axle that may break doing this, but hopefully not yet.

Jerking anything to get it to move is hard on the machinery.

Not the way I would do it. I'd get enough roots loose or severed to attach the chain and pull from the drawbar. That is where the tractor is designed to pull from, and if the stump is going to come out, it will. I would tighten against the chain and then in a low gear, let the clutch out and pull. IF the stump is loose enough, it will come out. If not, the tractor tires will spin. No abuse however doing it this way.

Sorry, don't mean to preach or lecture to you here, but thinking maybe others will read and learn how best to treat their equipment.

I have things to learn from this forum too. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I hope the spring is all that is wrong with the clutch.

[MMM]

Sounds like you wore disc down some and clutch isn't fully disengaging. Does that model have freeplay? If so check it out and adjust to about 1" If not, a lot of press plates have adjustable fingers. Just a shot in the dark.