Clutch won't disengage from flywheel

[fwheat]

I can start the engine on my L2350, but when I try to put it in a gear, the gears grind. I have been using the tractor up until two weeks ago and when I tried to drive it I discovered this problem. I called a local Kubota dealer and he instructed me to put it in gear, depress the clutch, and start the engine in gear. He said to get the tractor moving and rev up the engine and then slam on the brakes. This is supposed to break away the pressure plate from the flywheel, I supposed. I did this 7 or 8 times, but it is still stuck. I have quotes from dealers to replace the clutch for $800 to $1,300. What should be a fair price to replace the clutch?

[Mr. K]

Hello wheat, thank you for signing up to the forum and submitting your inquiry.

Was your equipment sitting for a while, possibly outside? I do know that it is possible for the pressure plate to rust itself a bit to the flywheel which is what you might be experiencing. Vic will know the best remedy - once he's got a connection to the internet again (he's snowed in a the moment), I'll ask him to come on and toss some recommendations out.

Welcome to the site!

[fwheat]

Thanks Mr. K- No, it has not been sitting for a long time, two to three weeks. A couple of days ago, I tried to start it and the clutch's safety switch would not let the starter engage. I tapped on the switch a time or two and then it started up fine. Two hours later, I started to do some work and it started fine, but when I tried to put it into gear, with the clutch in, it would grind the gears. After that I tried the procedure that I explained in my original post.

[Service Dept Vic]

Ok, first, adjust that safety neutral switch, it's needed for safe operation

Next, remove the small 4" square clutch release bearing side cover on the RH side of the bell housing.

Lubricate the release bearing in there if it has a nipple. Some newer serial numbers do not have a zerk.

Have someone operate the clutch pedal while you observe the fork and release bearing acting on the clutch.

The fork should be looked at to make sure that one "tab" is not broken off, causing the bearing to jamb before it can push against the clutch disc.

If all looks ok in there, then it is possible that the disc is rusted to the flywheel, and this is real common!!!

Use caution and common sense when doing the "hump and bump" to free that clutch disc. Try this:

Wrap a good strong chain to the back of your pick up trucks axle or trailer hitch, the base of a solid thick tree etc, and the wrap the other end of the chain around BOTH axle tubes of your tractor so that any "pulling" action will be fairly equal on both sides of the rear axle.

Leave a few feet of slack in the chain and place a heavy coat or folded up tarp over the chain as it's lying on the ground.

(If the chain breaks or comes "un'hooked" it won't fly through the air at you or a bystander as the weight of the heavy coat or tarp will keep the chain "down")

Put the back of the tractor right up against the tree trunk or the bumper of your truck. Using a LOW range and a HIGHER gear, 2WD mode, and a little more throttle than idle, start the tractor in gear and accelerate away in a straight line from your "immoveable" object.

Expect a solid "jolt" when the slack comes out of your chain, and get read to knock the tractor "out of gear" immediatley, if the jolt does not stall the tractor.

Knocking the tractor out of gear is quicker than trying to kill the engine, and will stop the forward momentum of the tractor when the clutch is not working, real fast!

Try this a few times, with a few different gears to "jolt" the disc free from the clutch. If you do it right, it will take one time.

CAUTION: DO NOT INSTALL YOUR CHAIN ANYWHERE ON THE 3 POINT HITCH OF YOUR TRACTOR!

You must keep that chain attached to your tractor as low as possible so that you don't "flip" the tractor backwards when you are "jolting" the clutch. Remove any implements from the 3 Point BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS, and if you have a front end loader, keep the bucket on the ground while doing it.

If you cannot free the disc after a few good, solid attempts, then it's 'splits ville" time.

The clutch probably does not require replacing, it only needs freeing up, cleaning up and reinstallation, however,
Kubota techs are trained to be "parts replacers", which is not a bad thing, especially considering the work that needs to be done to get at that disc in the first place.

Proper procedure for any length of "non-use" of your Kubota tractor is to install a wooden block under the foot rest and on top of the clutch pedal arm.

This will hold the clutch in a "released" position, keeping the disc off the flywheel, your stress level lower and money in your wallet!

Let us know how you make out on this.

[Service Dept Vic]

I had this exact service complaint in the shop yesterday. A frozen clutch disc on a Satoh S370-D.

I started the tractor in 3rd gear, hi range, 2WD and then accelerated the tractor up to full road transport speed.

Making sure I was on hard dry ground I "hammered" on the brakes very hard.

It stalled the tractor, but did not free up the disc. So I did it again. It again stalled the tractor, but when I started it back up, the disc was now free of the flywheel, shifting between gears works like a charm now.

[dusty-t]

My B8200 has a small flip up lever to lock the clutch in. It's a pity the last guy to own the tractor didn't use it cause my clutch is rusted on too.

[sonofliberty]

Is it possible to put a block under the clutch pedal to keep the clutch from freezing onto the flywheel?

Thanks.

[ipz2222]

Just make sure the clutch is depressed when slamming on the brakes or doing the chained to a tree thing.

[Service Dept Vic]

Yep on that small block of wood. Kubota used to ship that item in the toolbox of each new Kubota tractor. Painted black, had a yellow sticker on it showing how to place it as well as a heavy cardbord tag wired onto the clutch pedal explaining it's use.

I'll post a picture of that item in a day or so. Pretty hard to find that item now as most were misplaced, lost, or never used!

[steve01]

Yep on that small block of wood. Kubota used to ship that item in the toolbox of each new Kubota tractor. Painted black, had a yellow sticker on it showing how to place it as well as a heavy cardbord tag wired onto the clutch pedal explaining it's use.

I'll post a picture of that item in a day or so. Pretty hard to find that item now as most were misplaced, lost, or never used!

I bet it looks like this!!! Mine is in French and English.