Clutch...what is it good for?

[fredoroberts]

Well I haven't started this post and already I'm feeling pretty stupid, but this is a forgiving group for dumb questions so here goes. When I bought my B2150 used from a dealer (1300 hrs), he drove it out to my place and spent about an hour going over it with me. with no operator's manual to go by, I followed his instructions and was soon racking up the hours grading and moving stones etc. Finally after waiting for about 2 months and (70 hours)I received the operators manual in the mail from Kubota.
The first thing I noticed reading it was that you are supposed to use the clutch every time you shift the HST 3 speed (see what I mean about the dumb question). Well the salesman told me you only had to depress the clutch to start the engine, said that after that just come to a stop and shift ranges (no clutch).
This has worked well, like I said for 70 hours, but now that I know that you are supposed to use the clutch I have tried that and find that it makes a nasty scraping noise when the clutch is pushed in. Also it doesn't seem to improve ease of shifting with the clutch engaged.
I have gone back to not using the clutch until I get some feed back from you folks.
Should I definately use the clutch? What might the problem with the clutch be? Might lubing the zerk (!) for the clutch pedal help?
Clutches (with HST that is)........what are they good for?

 

[MChalkley]

fredoroberts - I would guess from what you said that the scraping sound is the pedal itself and that greasing or oiling it, as appropriate will correct that.

As for needing the clutch when you shift the differential, there shouldn't be any reason for it. If the wheels are turning, you can't shift the differential because it's not synchronized, whether you use the clutch or not. If the wheels aren't turning, you can certainly take it out of gear. As for getting it back into gear, there shouldn't be any problem at all as long as you aren't pressing on the HST pedal. Which brings us to the one scenario where the clutch would be handy: If your HST isn't adjusted properly and the neutral position doesn't center correctly, then the clutch would disengage the pump so it couldn't put the output shaft in motion.

There's still a purpose for your clutch though: engaging the PTO!

MarkC

 

[Bird]

Aaah, fredoroberts, I wonder how much response this will get and whether there will be disagreement, but I think if you search the archives, you'll find this subject has been discussed in the past. The manual on both the Kubotas I've owned says to use the clutch to shift ranges. The manual on the New Holland TC29D that my cousin has says to use the clutch, but the salesman that delivered it to him said it wasn't necessary. I generally believe in following the manual; however, sometimes I use the clutch; sometimes I don't. But you do want to be completely stopped when you shift ranges. They are not synchromesh gears, so you need to be stopped, and have the hydro pedal in the neutral position. As for the "nasty scraping noise"; is it when you depress the clutch, or when you move the range selector lever after depressing the clutch, and does it continue when the clutch pedal is fully depressed or just a noise it makes as you depress it? If it has a grease zerk for the clutch pedal, by all means, grease it. I was surprised to find that my B2710 does not have one.

And otherwise, what is the clutch for on the HST? To engage the PTO, you definitely want to depress the clutch, move the lever, then ease out on the clutch to start turning whatever implement you are powering. And of course, depress the clutch to turn off the PTO.

Bird

 

[Bird]

Sychronized responding again, Mark; don't know whether you started before me or just typed faster./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird

 

[MChalkley]

I'm just glad we told him the same thing. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Mark

 

[Bird]

Yeah, me too./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[DarrylG]

hmmmm...didn't know there was a clutch on a HST. I sure don't have one on my JD 855. How is it that JD gets by without having one?

 

[PaulB]

My B1700 HST certainly has a clutch, and I can feel that it is in fact easier to engage from 2 wheel drive into 4 wheel when I use it. No difference I can feel going from hi to lo with or without clutch, but I use it just because the manual says to.

 

[Bird]

DarrylG, I'm not familiar with the JD 855, but I'm guessing your PTO "clutch" is like some of my neighbors big John Deere and Oliver tractors. And I don't know enough about them to explain it all, but you simply engage the PTO by mowing the lever into position, and instead of grinding gears, or having a foot pedal for a clutch, it has a built-in clutch that engages (and releases) the PTO when the lever is moved. That does have some advantages over the foot clutch arrangement that Kubota uses. Does your 855 have multiple "ranges" for the hydro, or is it a single range like John Deere (and other) riding mowers?

Bird

 

[W5FL]

Bird, The M Series Kubotas have the hand engaged PTO hydraulic clutch lever that also contains a brake and stops the PTO in short order when you release the lever. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif