[Ford-ferguson] Stuck 8N Clutch

[Mike Sloane]

When I finally got my 2N running, the clutch was stuck from sitting at 
least 15 years. I ended up with a neighbor towing the Ford with another 
tractor while I sat on the Ford with the transmission in 3rd and my foot 
holding down the clutch pedal. It finally broke free, but it took a 
while (with the rear wheels dragging in the dirt). After I got it 
running (as well as I could), I purposely let the clutch slip while 
driving in 1st to "polish" the clutch disc and flywheel. If the 
situation is as bad as it sounds, I think Nat would be better off 
splitting the tractor again, going over the flywheel and pressure plate 
with a flap wheel or some other abrasive. 3M sells a mandrel mounted 
soft disk that appears to be made of abrasive bonded to horse hair or 
similar. It is much better at removing rust than a wire wheel and safer 
too. He could use it on the clutch disk too and not cause any damage. It 
is called "Scotch-Brite™ Clean 'n Strip™ XT Disc 27657"

Mike

soffiler at myeastern.com wrote:
> I've got a good buddy (who is not a member of this list)
> that is dealing with the classic 8N stuck clutch problem. 
> In truth, it's been a few years since I owned an 8N so I'm a
> little "rusty" on this subject (pun intended).  Mine used to
> stick lightly once in a while, but I never had all that much
> trouble unsticking it.  I have already told him about
> keeping it depressed with a 2x4 when parked.  I am including
> his message below.  Any comments would be appreciated!  He
> wants to know if there are any foolproof tricks to get it
> unstuck, and whether it's hopeless and will only be fixed by
> replacing the clutch parts.
> 
> Steve O.
> 
> ==============
> 
> Hi Steve, 
>   I have a Ford 8n stuck clutch problem, and was hoping you
> had some advice. 
>   George's 8n is at my house and when I went to move it in
> Nov.(It had sat for 3-4 weeks) the clutch was stuck
> (engaged). The clutch pedal felt normal, I assumed something
> was holding the pressure plate closed or preventing it from
> releasing the disc.  
> 
>  Two weeks ago I towed the tractor in my shop and split it
> apart . The pressure plate/ bearing was fine, but the disc
> was rusted to the flywheel with some surface rust. The
> pressure plate also had some new surface rust on it.  I
> cleaned the rust off the flywheel / disc and lined the
> clutch disc up by eye and had the tractor together and
> working  normal all within a few hours. It seemed like an
> easy fix, but when I went to move it yesterday, the clutch
> was stuck again. I can't believe the disc would stick to the
> flywheel that quick. I could get the tractor in 1st gear
> without the clutch, so I drove it around a bit, uphill with
> the clutch in. I was hoping it would break free, but It
> didn't. I even tried stepping on the brakes and pushing
> against (actually driving into) a tree with the clutch pedal
> depressed. So I guess the disc is really stuck again. 
> 
>  Have you ever heard of this happening? I guessing the
> moisture might have entered the clutch housing when I had
> the steering box off last summer. Would the clutch would be
> this sensitive to a little rust.  Could the fiber part of
> the clutch disc absorb water? 
> 
>  I'm  guessing the only solution now is to split it apart
> again and change the disc/ plate /bearing. 
>  Thanks, Nat
> _______________________________________________
> Ford-ferguson mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/ford-ferguson
> 
> 

-- 
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
mikesloane at verizon.net
Images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>

If it is committed in the name of God or country, there is no crime so
heinous that the public will not forgive it. -Tom Robbins, writer (1936-)


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