Ford 1920 will not go into gear

[Fawken]

Can you wedge it between something and use a bottle jack and blocks of wood to depress the fingers? Then you can get a peek in there and see if it is stuck, but the disk that rides next to your flywheel is the drive disk.

 

[MOTractor]

Yes I can, I can put it on the shop press.

 

[MOTractor]

I put it in the press last night and could not really see much, what little I could see looks about the e same as the drive disc. The disc was not stuck to either plate.

I did notice something: I could move the clutch fingers of the old clutch by hand about a half inch - I picked up the new clutch tonight (Hy-Capacity) and tried to move the fingers like I did (by hand) the old one and they are tight, could not move them by hand.

 

[Fawken]

I put it in the press last night and could not really see much, what little I could see looks about the e same as the drive disc. The disc was not stuck to either plate.

I did notice something: I could move the clutch fingers of the old clutch by hand about a half inch - I picked up the new clutch tonight (Hy-Capacity) and tried to move the fingers like I did (by hand) the old one and they are tight, could not move them by hand.

You would think that would just cause a slipping clutch. But perhaps they are so loose the clutch was not disengaging. They look to be adjustable in your pics.

 

[Fawken]

I put it in the press last night and could not really see much, what little I could see looks about the e same as the drive disc. The disc was not stuck to either plate.

I did notice something: I could move the clutch fingers of the old clutch by hand about a half inch - I picked up the new clutch tonight (Hy-Capacity) and tried to move the fingers like I did (by hand) the old one and they are tight, could not move them by hand.

You would think that would just cause a slipping clutch. But perhaps they are so loose the clutch was not disengaging. They look to be adjustable in your pics.

 

[MOTractor]

Last weekend I pulled the top cover off the transmission to see if I could see any obvious problems, I did not. Pics below.

What I did find out was that the u-joints on the shift linkages were all but frozen up. I have had them soaking in the parts washer all week. Tonight I will soak them in break-free. Wonder if I had a shifting problem...

So it was then time to install the clutch and put the tractor back together. Look closely at the clutch photo below - notice the bolt that is sticking up? I would not go thru the hole... nested inside 2 of the 6 mounting holes is a sleeve, looks like it is there to help keep the pieces aligned. The sleeve was stopping the bolt from passing thru - done for the day

Called the dealer on Monday who in turn called Hy-Capacity. The pulled one off their shelf and it did the same thing - they took a punch and wacked it thru the hole, it centered / de-burred the hole. Dealer asked me to try the same thing and if that did not work bring it back. I did not have 8mm punch so i used a 5/16 grade 8 bolt. I tapped it back and thru a couple dozen times - i figured (hoped!) the threads would help get rid of any burrs on the sleeve. It worked, the 8mm bolt dropped right thru. I did a test fit (without drive disc) and was able to easily start all 6 bolts - no alignment issues.

 

[egglebl]

I have two tractors that do this. One is the Ford 1920 and the other is a Belarus which has many other problems in addition to this one. I have discovered how to address the problem. The latest occurrence was with the Ford and it was exactly as you describe. I parked it one night. Everything normal. A couple days later I could not get it in gear.

So, if you can set the idle as low as possible and be ready to engage while starting the engine the tractor will go into gear even with the clutch fully to the floor. My tractors are kept outside and I always have clear going. I think I had it in mid range and maybe 3rd gear (reverse will also work). I drive around with the clutch fully depressed until it pops free. I have a slight grade in my yard so if the clutch has not popped free on the way down it always pops free on the way back up under a little load.

Generally this will happen if the tractor sits over the winter without being used. The Ford though did this for the first time today. Thankfully it doesn't happen often but the technique described above always works. Remember that the only way to stop movement when the clutch is stuck is to turn the engine off. Always be aware of people, pets and objects and be ready with for the emergency kill.

 

[Soundguy]

keep the clutch blocked when not in use. see if this helps

 

[HillbillyFab]

Hate I opened this thread. One of our most frequently used tractors on the place is a 1910. Y'all got me gun shy now.

 

[MIkeWard]

pic is from 1920 operators manual
I don't have the block that came with tractor
a 2x3 or small chunk of firewood will do