Clutch pedal travel gone?

bbse · Jul 18, 2009

LK3054 Clutch Problem?
I picked up my 3054 today from my trailer park and the clutch has lost all of it's travel. It seems to have happened suddenly (over a period of 2 days) which is of a great concern to me and this clutch only has about 200 hrs on it. Normally, it engages from the top and the first half of travel disengages the drive and the second have of travel disengages the PTO. Now the clutch engages at the very bottom of the pedal travel and even then the tractor wants to slide forward/reverse and I get a little gear grinding. The clutch is not slipping,,,,it is not disengaging the drive.

dqdave1 · Jul 18, 2009

Is it possible it is rusted up and Not releasing

KennyV · Jul 18, 2009

Is there any free travel at the top... Movement of the petal before you make contact with the throw out bearing? If there is too much, the adjusting rod length was not locked when the new clutch was installed and it has vibrated loose.... KennyV.

bbse · Jul 18, 2009

KennyV said:
Is there any free travel at the top... Movement of the petal before you make contact with the throw out bearing? If there is too much, the adjusting rod length was not locked when the new clutch was installed and it has vibrated loose.... KennyV.

There is hardly any adjustment on the outside linkage, plus, you can tell that it has not moved also. There is nearly complete travel of the pedal before it makes contact with the bearing. I am afraid this means that I am going to have to spit the tractor. Not the end of the world as I have done it before but a royal pain none the less. I just wanted to know what may be wrong inside once I get it apart.

KennyV · Jul 19, 2009

Was the pressure plate replaced with the clutch disc?
Springs twisted or laying sideways will do as you describe... also if someone used the clutch petal for a foot rest while working it the 2 days you referred to, wearing the disc out will drop the petal, that can also over heat the pressure plate to cause spring problem....
When you do look inside check the fly wheel for hot spots and checking, if damaged have it machined. KennyV.

Conservation · Jul 19, 2009

Weird one I found with my jd: Thought the clutch had gone again, but when we split the tractor, the clutch was fine. A close look at the drift pin that holds the throwout fork to the pedal shaft showed that it was actually in three pieces. Aggrivating to split the tractor to replace a $.50 part, but at least it only cost $.50!

bbse · Jul 21, 2009

Update:

Found the problem and it is a simple fix. The lever that the clutch linkage attached to had the weld break on the inside where you could not see it.

Long answer. The clutch pedal goes way back and looks like it goes into the transmission. After looking at the parts breakdown, it is only pivoting on the brake shaft that goes thru the tranny. The linkage is actually in the front nearly under the dash area and is rather smallish. Looks like someone cut this linkage and redesigned it to eliminate the clutch safety switch. The link did not break just bent back as the front edge weld cracked but the rear edge didn't. All I have to do is bend it back, reinforce the joint and weld it. This restores my faith in the 3054. I had bragged it was tougher than wood pecker lips and it is like a little bull dozer so I thought it may have let me down.