life span clutch

NHeuro · May 3, 2006

What may i expect of the life span of my clutch.
It is a single dry organic disk in a NH TCE 50
500 h? - 1000h ?...

BTW: I am not abusing it /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
more info:

Shortened Long Link

beenthere · May 3, 2006

Had a good friend who owned a tractor jointly with a neighbor. He always blamed the neighbor for abusing the clutch, and had to put in a new one (IH586 I think) about once a year. However, this guy who thought he wasn't abusing the clutch, would ride the clutch no matter what he was doing. Instead of letting the clutch all the way out, he'd feather it to control his speed. When backing up, or using the FEL, always would feather the clutch.
So abuse is in the mind of the beholder, and it all depends on the use-time and the conditions as to how long it will last.
What I like about HST. No clutch problems. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

SteveInMD · May 3, 2006

A clutch can last a few hundred hours or many thousands of hours.

Soundguy · May 3, 2006

I have a 46 ford 2n that is just now needing a clutch.. Judging from the hundreds of repairs i've found on the tractor, I can only gues this girl say many thousands of hours. I have many other fords from the 50's and later that are likely still on thier original clutch...

Soundguy

hockeyhead · May 3, 2006

A friend of mine just had the clutch replaced this spring on a 6year old TC-25. Struck me as odd because this tractor has not seen that many hours until the last couple of summers. He told me something about a seal, moisture, and rust in the clutch. this tractor was stored outside in the weather for the first few years he owned it. $1800 later he has it back.

Soundguy · May 3, 2006

I'd have to call that a combination of bad luck and.. maybee.. just a lack of robust engineering. Most of my antiques probably sat outside for -decades- judging by how they looked when i got them... narry a one had a stuck or bad clutch. Also.. I might note that the last compact Nh tractor i bought came with a block of wood with which to block the clutch pedal down when in long winter storage.. to prevent the clutch from sticking to the flywheel due to surface rust.. that was a 1997 Nh 1920.. a tad bigger thant he tc 25.. but same concept..

Soundguy

hockeyhead · May 4, 2006

My tc-30 bought new in 2002 "HAD" the same block, and the manual states to block the clutch open for long storage. I still remember reading that from 2002, WOW I'm not that old yet.
I didn't block it open this past winter as I lost the block some time ago I believe when I was field mowing. She does get used at times in the winter when the snow get to deep for the 4-wheeler to push. I'll have to remember to do that.
also that TC-25 and my TC-30 are again basically the same thing

hockeyhead · May 4, 2006

I mean 2003, maybe I am getting old.

rambler · May 4, 2006

All depends on use, but should cover 5000 hours anyhow. Anyhow the big old tractors would go that & beyond.

Abuse could shorten that to 500 hours.

--->Paul

NHeuro · May 4, 2006

thanks
With not abusing i mean:
i shift often sometimes 5 times / hour sometimes 50 times
But most of the time 20 times/hour but at low rpm (1200 rpm)
and in low gears 2-7 mph
and i don't use it to slow down ...