MF 1532, 500 hours and almost 4 years. Clutch problem

[ponyuk]

I had a problem with the clutch on my tractor last year where it would slip.
I took it in for warranty repair, and it turns out it was a simple adjustment of the pedal. I had to pay labor for the adjustment - my fault as this info was in the manual.
The clutch recently started slipping again, but I have no adjustment left. I can't even go up a small incline in 1st gear of 'Hare'. I'd have no chance pulling any implements this coming season.

I contacted the dealer to get a guestimate on cost, and they say "To put a new clutch assy, labor and all it will run 1750.00.".
They have not looked at it yet, but I plan to drop it off on Saturday.
Like most of us, I just don't have $1,750 to throw down on a new clutch.
Does anyone know of any other adjustments I should be looking at, or if this price is even a fair one.

Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

 

[blueriver]

Similar story on a Branson ... I felt the clutch slipping, the dealer said all it needed was adjustment. I questions why at 540 hrs it would need that since I have other tractors with no clutch problems ... he stated the freeplay may have never been set right at the dealership when it sold new, maybe just got past the pre delivery inspection ... I suggested he contact Branson and explain that ... he did and Branson toted the repair under warranty no cost to me.

May want to discuss that with the dealer.

 

[ponyuk]

Similar story on a Branson ... I felt the clutch slipping, the dealer said all it needed was adjustment. I questions why at 540 hrs it would need that since I have other tractors with no clutch problems ... he stated the freeplay may have never been set right at the dealership when it sold new, maybe just got past the pre delivery inspection ... I suggested he contact Branson and explain that ... he did and Branson toted the repair under warranty no cost to me.

May want to discuss that with the dealer.

Sadly, I'm out of warranty now.

 

[ponyuk]

I've ordered the service manuals from agcopubs.com
I'm going to have to see if I can do this repair myself, or maybe a local repair shop who aren't charging so much.
I'm not having luck finding parts for the MF1532, maybe I'll have better luck searching for part numbers once I have the manuals.

 

[IndyIan]

Sadly, I'm out of warranty now.

Were you out of warranty when the dealer adjusted the clutch? I suspect dry single plate clutches even in tractors don't have alot of adjustment available. Like brakes, clutches are "wear" items and I'd think it would take some goodwill from a dealer and MF to get one done on warranty.
If you didn't abuse it, ask them to cover the job if the dealers inspection shows no signs of abuse. If you did abuse it, then I guess learn to use lower gears and use the clutch more like an on/off switch...
A single plate dry clutch can't be used like a multiplate wet clutch.

 

[ponyuk]

I was out of warranty, unless its classed as "power train".

I did use the tractor a lot, with lots of back and forwards changes. I used it to level and move a lot of earth over those 500 hours. I'm not sure it would be abused, but it was certainly used.

Would a slipping clutch really need a whole new clutch? Would it not just be a worn plate?
The clutch disengages when pressed in and I can change gears easily. Its just when I depress the clutch it acts as though the clutch is not fully released.

 

[IndyIan]

You mean the clutch pedal isn't coming all the way back up? Is the linkage sticky somewhere? Maybe just the springs are shot?
If you're not in a big hurry I'd wait until you find a shop manual somewhere(hopefully online) and then you know what you are dealing with.
Does some other company sell your tractor in a different colour? You could get another quote for getting the clutch done too, maybe an independent repair shop is more reasonable?

 

[Jerry/MT]

I was out of warranty, unless its classed as "power train".

I did use the tractor a lot, with lots of back and forwards changes. I used it to level and move a lot of earth over those 500 hours. I'm not sure it would be abused, but it was certainly used.

Would a slipping clutch really need a whole new clutch? Would it not just be a worn plate?
The clutch disengages when pressed in and I can change gears easily. Its just when I depress the clutch it acts as though the clutch is not fully released.

Are you sure it's adjusted correctly?

 

[ponyuk]

Are you sure it's adjusted correctly?

Absolutely not

The user manual is not very specific. It has a turnbuckle to adjust. The turnbuckle appears, to my novice eye, to regulate how far the clutch lever will lift when you take your foot off the clutch. I adjusted it all the way so the it had the most amount of travel when I took my foot off the clutch.

 

[MFRED]

Is there any freeplay in the pedal before it hits resistance? That's when it would start to release.There should be probably an inch of freeplay then feel the pressure change, if there is no resistance difference felt there needs to be more freeplay.

Keep in mind that usually you need to take freeplay out of the pedal not add. As the clutch wears, the pedal goes lower to the floor to engage. Adding more means the clutch has probably been used a little too aggresive and got heated from slipping. In which case the flywheel & pressure plate probably have heat cracks in them.

I think if you check your warranty, as with most, the clutch would be a wear item and not be covered anyway. Unless there was a flaw that caused a failure. If you were under warranty, they would probably cover it in good faith.