HG CLUTCH WON'T RELEASE

[jkoperwas]

Got the HG to run. Rebuilt the carb, timed it up and it runs. Actually starts very easy with the crank. 2-3 quarter turns and it runs.
Problem. The clutch will not release. Pedal moves fine and feels as if it move release bearing. I have driven it around (jammed it into gear at very low [choked] rpm. However the clutch will not engage when I press the pedal down. Any tricks to loosen it without taking it apart. ??
ps. They are nice to drive around. Very easy and quiet compared to a big dozer.
Would one of these pull 2 plows ?

[John Schwiebert]

O. K. How much free travel do you have?The next thing with the engine off and the unit in neutral and someone setting on the seat, if this person pushing the clutch petal down, and you turning the cluch by hand will it release.
I do not know where you are but a 2bottom 14 plow is what they were meant for. I think the narrow one would pull it better, less side draft in the hitch.

[jkoperwas]

1.5 " approx. The pedal seems to rebound ok and have resistance etc. Could the plate be seized on the spline shaft. I can hold the clutch pedal down while driving it and it moves around great (no slippage for sure [I went up some pretty significant hills etc.]).

[John Schwiebert]

I am an Oliver wheel tractor guy, but about every spring we would have at least one farmer who would have the problem of the clutch would not release. Most of the time if the drive disk was seized to the flywheel it would break loose if you backed the tractor up a tree a large tree (at least a foot in diameter). Shut the tractor off. Hook one end of the chain around the tree. the other end to the tractor drawbar. Start tractor put into first gear and hold petal down. If it is rusted fast, it will pop loose. if not time to take it apart and see what is wrong. I would also adjust the free travel to about 3/4 to one inch and see what happens. You may not be moving the release levers far enough to free the drive disk. I think they have a ball bearing for a pilot bearing, it is has seized you will have the same problem because now it locks the clutch to the flywheel and it can not release.

[Eric Severance]

Clutch disc seizing to the flywheel is a fairly common problem on those, especially after they have been sitting around. I have heard many variations to John's idea of how to get it unstuck. They do work, but you need to be carefull. the main idea is to get the tractor moving with some sort of load on it, while depressing the clutch. If it isn't seized real bad, you may be able to spin it free. I had one freeze up, and it came free doing this, but still didn't work well. After disassembling it, I found a huge mouse nest inside the bell housing. Once this was thoughroly cleaned out, it worked fine !!  Good luck.

[rnrupnorth]

I had a ford 8n with the same problem I ended up replacing the clutch disc because oil from a leaking trans seal got on the disc and heat made it bind to the flywheel and pressure plate. Check for oil or to much grease from trowout bearing. You might need a new disc.

[Bill Seal]

First, use 3rd gear, you don't need the torque multiplication of the trans - it works against you!
When all else failed, I removed the starter and, with the clutch pedal down, reached in through the hole with a wrecking bar and pried the clutch disk loose from the flywheel. When you park these things for the winter, you're supposed to block the clutch pedal down so the disk won't rust to the flywheel. I think I read that somewhere.

[pvcarey]

if you need to replace the clutch disk the 73 vaga fits good that is what I have in mine
Ron