Narrow Frame Clutch Shimming

[Colton Stevens]

Is there any way to shim the clutch pressure spring, in order to provide more clamping force? My 71 is starting to really slip starting off in 2nd and 3rd. Living on a very very tight budget right now and I need it to keep mowing for a while before I can afford to get a new clutch. I have fabrication abilities, just didnt know if someone had done this before. The clutch disc really doesnt look very worn, it still has about 1/8 of material left on both sides, so I feel like I should get more life out of it.

 

[dschwandt]

It may be broken.
Inspect closely when in the released position.

 

[hydroharry]

Yup, main spring is probably broken, and you may not be able to see it until removal. Never heard of anyway to shim up a broken one that would actually work. The broken ones I've seen are usually a few inches into the spring. I suppose the most inexpensive fix is finding a used spring, but for what's involved in replacing it and unknown life of a used spring it's not likely a very good approach.

 

[mfrade]

I've made a "shim" that goes between the shoulder at the transmission end and the spring. 1/8" thickness. Gives that little bit more clamping force but doesn't overload the clutch release mechanism. I guess I've been lucky and have never seen the main spring broken but the Teaser spring always seems to be broken. If you need one, let me know and you can have the part - just pay shipping.

 

[Colton Stevens]

I've made a "shim" that goes between the shoulder at the transmission end and the spring. 1/8" thickness. Gives that little bit more clamping force but doesn't overload the clutch release mechanism. I guess I've been lucky and have never seen the main spring broken but the Teaser spring always seems to be broken. If you need one, let me know and you can have the part - just pay shipping.

So my teaser spring flops around when the pedal is pushed down. Not sure if any has broken off of it or not. I am looking at the diagrams online right now, am I understanding it correctly if I say the clutch can only apply as much pressure as the teaser spring will apply, since it is between the main spring and the friction plates?

 

[mfrade]

The teaser collapses more easily and smooths out the engagement of the clutch, makes it less jerky or grabby if that's a word..LOL
but it goes into bind meaning it cannot collapse any more and the main spring applies the final full force. My tractor I suspected was slipping in 3rd, So I created the shim to add some tension / pressure and it proved that the spring was worn and needed replacement.

 

[Colton Stevens]

The teaser collapses more easily and smooths out the engagement of the clutch, makes it less jerky or grabby if that's a word..LOL
but it goes into bind meaning it cannot collapse any more and the main spring applies the final full force. My tractor I suspected was slipping in 3rd, So I created the shim to add some tension / pressure and it proved that the spring was worn and needed replacement.

So you shimmed your main spring or your teaser? I made a shim for the teaser, and I havent tried it yet but honestly I think it is just going to make the clutch fail to disengage fully since it is taking up all the slack between the friction plate and the teaser spring. I examined the teaser and it is definitely not broken. I have a deck on the tractor so I cant easily examine the main spring, but I might just take the deck off and shim the main spring if that is what you did. I noticed it worst in 3rd gear, and now it is becoming pretty noticable in 2nd as well. It almost didnt climb out of the ditch when mowing in 2nd.

 

[mfrade]

Main Spring, I added a shim at the end closest the the read end/ transaxle. It sounds like your clutch is failing to me, When I took mine apart the original driveshaft had a series of dents/indentations from where the spring had been vibrating against it and it had a definite bend in it. So I replaced it and the springs with new. That was in 1989 or 90... I just redid/replaced the shaft this past spring as the teaser spring broke.