Clutch chattering

[pickerandsinger]

Hey Guys, I got a chattering clutch problem on the 53...It doesn't slip (yet) but it shakes moderately when I take off etc....I bought it late last year and just changed all the fluids etc. and didn't get time to look into the clutch....I did grease the throwout bearing...Anyhow any advice will be appreciated....Thanks..Dave

[Eugene]

Check the condition of the throwout bearing and that the pressure plate fingers are evenly adjusted. Check to see if the throwout bearing carrier is hitting the pressure plate fingers when clutch pedal applied.

I wouldn't use the tractor until I had repaired the clutch.

[pickerandsinger]

Thanks Eugene....I'm changing rear tires and getting ready to put a C2 belly mower on it so I intend on making sure the clutch is OK before I put the mower on....I wasn't sure if I would have to split the tractor so I wanted to get some opinions....I'll check the TO bearing etc thru the inspection cover...Thanks again, Dave

[Boss Hog]

May only need to adjust the fingers on the pressure plate call me if needed

[SONNY]

All 4 of mine are grabby!!!,, always have been!---so are the 185's and 154!--- I just runum!! LOL! thanks; sonny

[pickerandsinger]

Thanks Boss....I've got to look up one of the measuring do-hickeys on the how to site, to check the pressure plate fingers and make up one...I probably won't get into the project till next week as I got to be a plumber at the house here for a few days....In any event I'll certainly give you a call if I need to...Hope all is well with you and yours....Dave....PS Diana says howdy.....

[pickerandsinger]

Yeh Sonny, I been putting up with it just driving it to the Garage from the barn, but its the wife's tractor and she's pretty fussy about her shake rattle and roll....LOL...Seriously it does shake pretty good when taking off, so it is pretty much past the point of not fixing it...Probably why I bought it reasonably cheap....(for up here)....Thanks for your reply....Dave

[pickerandsinger]

Well I had one finger that wasn't touching, so I readjusted them all to 1 1/4 inch and adjusted the pedal with 1 inch free play....Got rid of some of the chatter but still have 50 to 60 % of it....I greased the TO bearing but I need to check out my grease gun, I think it may be malfunctioning....The TO bearing seems to have a bit of slop in it....I''m going to give it another go-round tomorrow....The TO bearing doesn't squeal and the clutch doesn't slip, it just vibrates when you let the clutch out and then the tractor continues on its merry way...Although both rear tires were 8.3 , one had considerably less tread than the other....Tomorrow I'm going to put on some tires, readjust the fingers again, make sure the throw out bearing is getting grease...The adjustment screws are even or slightly indented with the lock nut........If anyone has anything to add, I'm all ears...And Boss I'll be calling you if it don't get straightened out on this next go round, just hate to bother anyone on Sunday....Dave....

[Boss Hog]

no problem after church I get home at 12:30

[pickerandsinger]

OK Boss I'll give you a call 12:30/1:00 or so....I do believe I'm missing something...Haven't done any clutching since 1964... Dave

[pickerandsinger]

Hey Boss, I got to looking at some old posts this morning and found someone who had the same problem and who's tolerances on the fingers were off by a 1/16 th of an inch......Anyhow I readjusted the fingers actually by sight on the TO bearing after I had an approximate 1 1/4 and now 98% of the chatter is gone...When I put the cover on, I'll give it another look see (maybe 2% worth)...I'll probably give you a jingle and let you know in case you have some other knowledge to share but thats where the problem was...(There was no cover on it when I bought it...I suspect someone was diddling around with the fingers and got them out of sync)...Thanks, Dave..... PS...Thanks to Eugene and Sonny for responding to my post also....

[SONNY]

Glad it was a simple fix!! ---HATE them major teardowns just to fix a 2 cent part!!LOL!! thanks; sonny