Clutch pedal blocking while in storage

smithbrl · Feb 7, 2013

Hi

I've read about "blocking" the clutch pedal or tying it down in the "clutch disengaged" mode when not using the tractor for long periods of time so the clutch or pressure plate doesn't rust to the flywheel .

Does anybody know if that causes the springs on the pressure plate to weaken?

Please explain.

Thanks
Cecil

Thomas · Feb 7, 2013

Not sure about your model,but do push the pin to disengage clutch also put transmission in netural after each use.

skylarkguy · Feb 7, 2013

Not sure about the answer to your question but my MT372 manual tells the operator to use the attached clutch holding device if the tractor is to be parked for a long period. Any weakening of the springs isn't as bad as rusting that clutch disc to the flywheel

duwem · Feb 8, 2013

I have bought 3 Mitsubishis that have sat outside for probably 15+ years without the clutch in the locked position and none of them had stuck clutches.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, especially if stored indoors.

Gary Fowler · Feb 8, 2013

I don't think it makes any difference where the tractor is stored. MY BIL's JD 750 was inside his shop for a couple weeks only while he was touching up the paint and the clutch froze up on it. It wasn't too bad and I was able to break it loose by just rocking it by hand but it wouldn't go into gear. I have left my LS P7010 for 4 months setting outside but under a shed and no clutch problems and BILs JD has set outside under a shed for month and months and not rusted but then it rusted shut in a couple of weeks.
It is best if you block it open. If your tractor doesn't have locking pin or rod, usually you can wedge a piece of wood between the clutch pedal an frame somewhere to block it in the down position (disengaged) I have seen folks that didn't do it and would be dragging their tractor around forward and backward with the tires sliding for hours trying to unfreeze the clutch.

94BULLITT · Feb 8, 2013

It relives the pressure off of the pressure plate so the springs will not get weak. A lot of new tractors have a hole in the clutch pedal and a latch to hold them down during storage.

smithbrl · Feb 8, 2013

Thanks for all the input guys. I think I'm gonna rig something up to hold the pedal down.

Cecil

Ilikeurtractor · Feb 9, 2013

I've had mixed results with clutch freezings also. One tractor sat in the garage in a fairly humid environment for 15 months without being touched and it never froze up. Another sat outside for a month and froze up and could not be freed until I popped off the clutch housing plug and slid a putty knife between the disc and the plate. Since then I've been careful to make sure the clutch lock is set on that one. I've heard once they freeze up they have a tendency to re-freeze easier although I don't personally have experience with that.

RoyJackson · Feb 9, 2013

Thomas said:
Not sure about your model,but do push the pin to disengage clutch also put transmission in netural after each use.

Springs weaken when they're cycled (pushing the clutch down repeatedly), but they still last many many hours.
Leaving a dry clutch against the pressure plate for extended periods can result in the clutch assembly rusted together. That's not good and you can't always break it loose...resulting in replacing parts.
So, do block that clutch, if it's a dry type clutch. I've done this for both tractors I've owned (that had dry clutches) as well as a Porsche 911 I'd owned for many years (sold about 15 years ago) with no ill effects.

oliver28472 · Feb 9, 2013

Cecil, look around on your linkage to see if there is some type of flip latch to do this. My tractors are not the same model as yours but both have such a latch.

smithbrl · Feb 9, 2013

oliver28472 said:
Cecil, look around on your linkage to see if there is some type of flip latch to do this. My tractors are not the same model as yours but both have such a latch.

I took a look this morning and saw what looks like a hole with a pin driven through it on the clutch pedal shaft. Went out this evening and took a few pix. Here's what I got. Anybody have any ideas or solutions?

Thanks
Cecil

oliver28472 · Feb 10, 2013

I'll try to get a shot of mine.

Gary Fowler · Feb 10, 2013

Just push in on the clutch and the wedge between the clutch pedal and that piece of angle should work fine. That is similar to what we did with my brother in laws JD.

murphy1244 · Feb 10, 2013

You guy's got me to wedge a block of wood in my MF 135 clutch pedal, I hope I don't screw anything up.

ultrarunner · Feb 10, 2013

I've had a few service calls with antique cars that were parked over winter and the clutch was frozen.

So far, I have been able to get all free... sometimes it was as easy as push starting and driving will clutch fully depressed.

One time, the fellow didn't want to pay for a tear down... he said he poured hot water into the clutch housing and it broke free.

smithbrl · Feb 10, 2013

Lots of great replies and suggestions here-thanks a bunch. Didn't have much going on this afternoon so I played around with it. I drove that piece out of the clutch pedal arm and did a little experimenting.

I welded this together. It's ugly but it's only a starting point.

Pictures of it doing it's job

I need to beef it up a little but I think it'll work. When I do the finished product I'll weld another piece across the top so that when I let it down, it'll rest on top of the arm instead of hanging down.

I set it to hold the pedal down but not far enough to activate the safety switch so the tractor can't be started by turning the key.

The pedal is held down enough that I can push the tractor while it's in gear so I feel like the clutch is disengaged enough.

Thanks for all the info.
Cecil

oliver28472 · Feb 10, 2013

Here is mine on the S-470 Buck

Greenrancher · Feb 10, 2013

On my 790, I use a short block of 5/4 x 6 decking material. It holds the pedal down and fits just right between the pedal and floorboard. Guess I never looked to see if there was a pin or latch on mine.

RoyJackson · Feb 11, 2013

Greenrancher said:
On my 790, I use a short block of 5/4 x 6 decking material. It holds the pedal down and fits just right between the pedal and floorboard. Guess I never looked to see if there was a pin or latch on mine.

If you push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor, you should see a small tab welded to the floor. The tab is probably a pedal stop, but I used it to clamp the pedal down when the tractor was parked for more then a day or so.

smithbrl · Feb 11, 2013

The clutch pedal hold down bracket is complete.

Here it is doing it's job

Here it is when I'm using the tractor

Again, thanks for all the suggestions, pictures and such. It gave me a lot of food for thought. As was suggested, I could have used a block of wood to wedge between the clutch arm and floorboard but I have a lathe, mill/drill, welding machine and time on my hands(laid off). Plus I need practice on all those machines.

My tractor doesn't have a grill so that'll probably be my next project. I'll be in touch.

Cecil