1983 Ford 1700 - Clutch stopped working

jpilk99 · Jul 1, 2014

Hi all,

I searched and couldn't find any posts about this issue:

My '83 Ford 1700 has been great since I inherited it about a year ago. GREAT machine. Occasionally, it would be a challenge to 'quietly' either get into a gear or shift from one to another. This past weekend, it stopped allowing me to get it into gear. This is a quick and major change. It just grinds and grinds when I try to get into any of the 1-2-3 or Reverse gears on the right shifter or the 1-2-3-or-4 range on the left.

The clutch pedal feels a little less ...effective than it used to, but, not sure if it's any different. (I didn't pay so much attention to it before).

Any suggestions?

Thank you,

Jay

JC-jetro · Jul 1, 2014

First thing is clutch adjustment. You can easily take the rubber cover on the clutch housing to take a peak inside. Have someone press the clutch all the way and observe movement of release bearing. if it engages all the way you should be able to see pressure plate and clutch separating some. Do not destroy your gears by forcing the issue. most likely fingers (3 ) on the pressure plate is too far from the release bearing and you need to shorten that some.

JC,

Soundguy · Jul 1, 2014

have you adjusted freeplay to minimum.. or a hair under.. but not so low that the finger rub off.. etc..

jpilk99 · Jul 1, 2014

thanks JC and Soundguy. Regrettably, while I do consider myself a bit of a good "driveway mechanic" I am not much of a clutch guy. Soundguy, I wouldn't know what on earth you mean by "but no so low that the finger rub off..". I did read my manual about the "freeplay" and can try to adjust to that spec

. Can also have someone engage it all the way and watch to see how they separate...

Soundguy · Jul 1, 2014

i f you adjust ALL the freeplay out.. the clutch fingers will rub on the throw out bearing, and wear away...

jpilk99 · Jul 1, 2014

You are very nice to try and help, Soundguy, but, I wouldn't know a clutch finger from a chicken finger, a throw out bearing from a thrown out herring... Sad, ain't it. I was hoping I was low on a hydro fluid or something.

Odd that it happened so quick. It was running fine and then pretty much dropped off a cliff, in terms of the clutch working...

JC-jetro · Jul 1, 2014

I have many post and much pictures on this site. unfortunately, the changed the limit of pics I could post and as a result many of my pics are not there any more. It is tremendous work to upload here or different site to bring them all back. Please search the forum under my handle and add clutch disk and you will get many hits. I can later, possibly tomorrow post a few picture to shed some light in to what we're saying. I know it is " clear as mud" now but the procedure of adjusting the clutch is not difficult and we'll walk you thru it. Make sure not to force and damage your gears for now.

JC,

jpilk99 said:
You are very nice to try and help, Soundguy, but, I wouldn't know a clutch finger from a chicken finger, a throw out bearing from a thrown out herring... Sad, ain't it. I was hoping I was low on a hydro fluid or something.

Odd that it happened so quick. It was running fine and then pretty much dropped off a cliff, in terms of the clutch working...

jpilk99 · Jul 1, 2014

Thanks JC-jetro. I will search your handle for "clutch disk" and go from there. I bet I can do this ...I just get a little daunted when I don't understand the terminology

.

JC-jetro · Jul 1, 2014

jpilk99 said:
Thanks JC-jetro. I will search your handle for "clutch disk" and go from there. I bet I can do this ...I just get a little daunted when I don't understand the terminology .

I just dug up an old thread that I have bunch of pics and comments. Pics start from page 4 but I do recommend you read carefully thru the entire thread. Lots of good info, ask questions if you have any.

JC,

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-just-tore-my.html?highlight=ford+1700+clutch

Red State · Jul 17, 2014

jpilk99, I think you'll find that many folks on this forum are TOP NOTCH guys and know volumes of things from tractor repair to making jerky. JC-jetro is such a member and he has helped me tremendously. Why, he's the type to take a tractor down TOP to BOTTOM just to see how clean the insides are. HA!!!! I wish I had more of that know-how and curiosity.

Now, getting back to the topic/thread: had you been a bit rough on the 1700? I have one as well and absolutely LOVE it. I had a bit of a problem with my radiator steaming but that has been about the extent of it.................but I am rough on equipment. I say all of this cuz I have made my lil' 1700 work like a dog moving brushpiles and such and noticed that I would OFTEN go from reverse to forward quickly to get the job done. Sometimes, my gears would seem to stick but that was only because I was not giving it time and would even fail to engage the clutch fully. I'm sure this is not your problem since you guys have pretty much pin-pointed the culprit but I just wanted to know if I should expect the same problems due to my bad shifting habits. ANYONE?

Oh.....by the way, JC-jetro, I solved the problem with the steaming radiator (as you well know) and have enjoyed using my 1700 for over a year now BUT I did notice a slight GREEN trickle of water coming from the top end of my motor two weeks ago while using the finishing mower on the yard. I lucked up and saw this after getting down to move something out of my way. Other than that evidence of a problem, I have NEVER had water in oil or oil in water. I haven't used the thing since and suspect that I need to take the top off and replace a gasket..................what say you, Mr. JC-jetro? As you recall, I'm nowhere near your level of expertise but, as you may recall, I did completely tear my 42" riding lawn more down to unfreeze the motor over 20 years ago. HA! I'm not sure if I still have that sort of gumption now or not. At 46, I know that I don't even have a curiousity of how things work anymore (just as long as they work well for me). HA! I'm certainly nothing like you......the one who tears down their transmission just to see how that particular design works. HA!!!!! I'll PM you if you prefer. May do that anyway just to check on you and yours. ~Michael