Massey Ferguson 135 juddering when clutch released

J

James paul

New Member

• Jan 19, 2020

• #1

I was looking at a restored 1965 Massey Ferguson that is for sale. Everything seemed good, however when I let the clutch up on a hill to move from a standing start, the tractor jerked and juddered. It happened later on level ground too. The owner said the clutch had been replaced. Anyone any ideas on what would be the most likely reason for this? Any input would be appreciated.

 

Sharpy

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Ardrossan Ayrshire

• Jan 20, 2020

• #2

Warped clutch plate most likely, possibly broken damper in centre of clutch plate or badly set up clutch cover.

 

Dry Rot

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Scottish Highlands

• Jan 20, 2020

• #3

Probably what he says. I had severe loader judder on the front loader of my 390. Turned out to be perished cab mounts.

 

TheTallGuy

Member

Location

Cambridgeshire

• Jan 21, 2020

• #4

Sharpy said:

Warped clutch plate most likely, possibly broken damper in centre of clutch plate or badly set up clutch cover.

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Could also be down to contamination on the clutch plate/flywheel.

 

Sharpy

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Ardrossan Ayrshire

• Jan 21, 2020

• #5

TheTallGuy said:

Could also be down to contamination on the clutch plate/flywheel.

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Possibly, but will need split regardless.

 

averageguy54

Member

Location

New Brunswick, Canada

• Jan 21, 2020

• #6

I would think someone's got oil or grease on the clutch plate.

 

daveydiesel1

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Co antrim

• Jan 21, 2020

• #7

Ifs oil or grease on clutch it will just slip a bit but it will wear of. Was flywheel replaced or skimmed when clutch was replaced

 

Dry Rot

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Scottish Highlands

• Jan 21, 2020

• #8

Access to the clutch plates is possible through the hole when the starter is removed, so squirt in brake cleaner? Would that help?

 

P

Pennine Ploughing

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

200 miles N,NW of New York

• Jan 21, 2020

• #9

Dry Rot said:

Access to the clutch plates is possible through the hole when the starter is removed, so squirt in brake cleaner? Would that help?

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no its not, all you can get at is the Flywheel and starter ring gear, waste of time looking in there

 

daveydiesel1

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Co antrim

• Jan 21, 2020

• #10

Dry Rot said:

Access to the clutch plates is possible through the hole when the starter is removed, so squirt in brake cleaner? Would that help?

Click to expand...

Access to clutch is via a plate on bottom o clutch housin. Youl be fit to see a bit of whats goin on. Get sum1 on the seat and workin clutch to see whats goin on but make sure to jack rear tyres of ground first and wear eye protection

 

P

Pennine Ploughing

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

200 miles N,NW of New York

• Jan 21, 2020

• #11

lie underneath the bell housing, a plate it removable, could be held on with 4 bolts, look up inside with a touch, you will be able to see if it is damp with oil , only way oil can get on the clutch plates is from the backend through a leaky seal between the inner gearbox drive shaft and outer pto drive shaft if its damp, however oil on clutch plate causes drag on plates when trying to get a gear, and slipping of clutch when under load, the judder your talking about comes about when the plate is bent, or if the realise fingers are not set right, finger distance to thrust bearing must be equal all 3 of them, , easy way to check is, pull stopper out, apply a gentle pressure with one hand to clutch pedal and turn key with other, the clutch pedel should feel still and not wanting to kick back at all, or look at the thrust bearing while someone applies a little pressure to clutch pedal and turns it over, the thrust bearing should not osculate at all, fingers can be adjusted through the hole, but not an easy job

 

Fievel Farmanimal

Member

Location

Salo, Finland

• Jan 21, 2020

• #12

My guess is that the flywheel is worn and in need of some latheing. Or the owner remembers wrong what has been done.

 

Sharpy

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Ardrossan Ayrshire

• Jan 21, 2020

• #13

Or its been drawn together with the bolts and warped/ buckled the plate......

 

TripleSix

Member

Location

Helmsley, North Yorkshire

• Jan 21, 2020

• #14

Could just be a sharp clutch.

Our mf35 has very keen clutch, it's easy to get a bounce on.

Sometimes oil contamination can do this too.
I wouldn't worry too much.

You can sometimes settle them down by selecting top gear, open the throttle 3/4 open, stand on the brakes and give the clutch a good slipping for about 4 seconds.

 

J

James paul

New Member

• Jan 22, 2020

• #15

Thanks for all the replies. The owner phoned me today to say he spilt the 135. He said the juddering was being caused by a warped clutch plate. I’am not sure what he did to fix it but the tractor is moving fine now. I’am going up on Saturday to give it another test run.
If anyone knows what’s involved in repairing a warped clutch plate, I would be interested to hear.

Cheers for the great response to my original question.

 

D

DrWazzock

Member

Arable Farmer

Location

Lincolnshire

• Jan 22, 2020

• #16

James paul said:

Thanks for all the replies. The owner phoned me today to say he spilt the 135. He said the juddering was being caused by a warped clutch plate. I’am not sure what he did to fix it but the tractor is moving fine now. I’am going up on Saturday to give it another test run.
If anyone knows what’s involved in repairing a warped clutch plate, I would be interested to hear.

Cheers for the great response to my original question.

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I'd imagine it would need to be replaced. I don't think it would be easy to repair a warped plate.
Sounds a bit odd that he said the clutch had been replaced but the plate was warped.
How much of the clutch had been replaced? Just the plate? Or the whole unit?
I have sometimes replaced the whole unit if it's suspect as it isn't that much extra cost compared to the labour of splitting a tractor and ensures the springs and mechanism are all back up to spec, particularly on a high houred machine.

 

P

Pennine Ploughing

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

200 miles N,NW of New York

• Jan 23, 2020

• #17

James paul said:

Thanks for all the replies. The owner phoned me today to say he spilt the 135. He said the juddering was being caused by a warped clutch plate. I’am not sure what he did to fix it but the tractor is moving fine now. I’am going up on Saturday to give it another test run.
If anyone knows what’s involved in repairing a warped clutch plate, I would be interested to hear.

Cheers for the great response to my original question.

Click to expand...

Plate will of warped through pulling it together with bolts rather than by hand, or the plate was in the wrong way round the first time they put it together

 

J

James paul

New Member

• Jan 28, 2020

• #18

I had another test drive on the 135, the juddering has stopped and the the tractor pulls away smoothly, however the clutch is now very stiff and difficult to push down. It has the sort of resistance that would give you a sore knee if you had a lot of gear changing to do. The owner said this was because the spring is new and the tension would ease
over time. Is this correct? Is there a way to make the clutch easier to press?
if I buy the 135 and have to put a new clutch in it, how much would this cost? Someone told me it’s not as expensive as it used to be.

 

P

Pennine Ploughing

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

200 miles N,NW of New York

• Jan 28, 2020

• #19

no real way of making it easy to press down, as it needs spring load to drive,
yes a bit hard work if on a loader, but fine in general

 

Mursal

Member

• Jan 28, 2020

• #20

Or it got overheated, all bolts on the housing between engine and gearbox will have been recently disturbed to repair same.