Clutch clip...when should I use it?

Fred Deere · Aug 19, 2008

Hey

Just wondering about the clutch clip that came with my John Deere 3005. The manual just says its to be used for storage, does not say if it should be put on if you are away from it for a month or 2, gives no time frame.

I actually called the dealer where I bought it, they put me through to parts. The parts guy said he had never heard of a clutch clip. I explained to him it is just a U clamp and you are supposed to put it on the clutch pedal so it`s depressed for storage. Anyway, he said I guess they mean for a long time storage, but he had never heard of a clutch clip, thought that was kinda funny.

Obviously 1 week away from tractor you would not put it on, nor 2 or three I would guess. Hey they probably mean 6 months away from tractor?

Just wondered what anybody thought

TedLaRue · Aug 19, 2008

Fred,
Why don't you just ask your father John?

I think the answer depends on the weather and where you're storing it. In high humidity or in conditions that cause condensation, the clutch could rust up more quickly than in dry conditions.

Suppose you decide to use the clip any time the tractor will be down for at least four weeks. I can tell you what will probably happen. You'll park the machine and, thinking you're going to use it again next weekend, you won't put the clip on. Then there'll be a week or so of rain, then some light snow off and on for a few weeks, and then a really big snow. And you'll go out there to fire up the tractor to plow off that snow, and there'll be the tractor without the clip. Will the clutch work? Probably, but you can see the problem with trying to predict whether you should put that clip on, or remembering to put it on when prediction is wrong.

If you were meant to tie the clutch down every time you parked it, they'd put a mechanism on it like the parking brake. I've never used one of those clips and have only had a freeze up once in 15 years, and that was during a rainy period during the summer when I didn't use the tractor for a couple of weeks. I've heard of people routinely using a piece of 2x4 to hold the clutch down on a problematic tractor.

Fred Deere · Aug 20, 2008

THANKS TED

I have never used the clip. I thought it was funny that the parts guy at my local JD dealer had never heard of a clutch clip. My guess is they meant it for rust when being stored for a year or more? Just thought I would ask, it`s a slow day

ddivinia · Aug 20, 2008

I think it has to do a lot with conditions. Many people store their tractors out in the weather. That can take a toll on a tractor and just about anything else.

D.

Mech · Aug 20, 2008

My dealer didn't know what a clutch clip was either. I knew there was one becuase I had a gray market Yanmar that had one (it was actually built in like the brake lock) and my manual talked about one. I couldn't find mine so called the dealer. They didn't have a clue. I found mine in the battery compartment. I use my tractor a lot so I rarely use mine.