870 Stuck Clutch

bobholland · Mar 13, 2025

Unfortunately I left my 870 clutch up (not depressed) for a couple of weeks and it is now "frozen" where it will not engage. I warmed the tractor up for half an hour but it still would not release. I banged it into first gear and drove it around a bit and that did not free it up. I was able to pull it out of gear to park it. I have a 60" brush hog I can hook up to the pto but I am unsure of this method of freeing stuck clutch. Can somebody elborate on the techique?

beenthere · Mar 13, 2025

I think I would get it into a higher gear like 2nd and ride around more until it lets go. At least that would be my first attempt.
Might be an access point to reach the clutch plates with a long flat blade screw driver.

Not sure how the PTO hookup would work, but if the PTO clutch is frozen then it would be a good try. ??

joecdeere · Mar 13, 2025

if I remember correctly a 870 is a dual clutch setup, so the PTO is a separate drive disk. Cranking and driving it around while applying the brakes hard repeatedly many time will break the disc loose. Resist the urge to spray any lubes or penetrates in through the access plate

Tinhack · Mar 13, 2025

Someone had that problem in an earlier post. What worked for him was warming it up by running it for a while then let the tractor cool down to air temp. As I recall, the clutch disengaged after that. Worth a try.

bobholland · Mar 18, 2025

Tinhack's suggested techinque worked! Now I have that clutch pedal strapped down!

grsthegreat · Mar 18, 2025

Thats strange. I owned an 870 for 14 years and live in cold north idaho, and i never had clutch freeze up on me. Glad ya got it resolved

bobholland · Mar 18, 2025

Drier climate? I'm in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, which is currently under water! Had 3.59 inches of rain Sunday alone...

careyo63 · Mar 21, 2025

My Ford the 2 stage was stuck engaged. The shop that split it showed me were someone was in it. We agreed pry bar though the starter. No avail there either.... A lot of signs rust was the cause.

Tinhack · Mar 21, 2025

My Ford lives outdoors 24/7 and has never had the clutch stick. I just moved it a couple of days ago after sitting all winter and was as good as the day I parked it. I'm trying to get it closer to the barn to do some maintenance, but the Kenbota is in the way with two flats.

careyo63 · Mar 22, 2025

The tractors stay under a carport now. Dry and seldom gets cold in Ga.. It's Pollen season though. I've been curious how well the Oil pan air cleaner really does work! Skeptical! Only the Second season in use. Fairly NTM.. It's used mostly in winter so I wasn't all that worried about it. After this season I may put enough Hrs. on it to see if the pollen shows up in it. Heavy above normal it seems this yr, so it maybe interesting?