sticky clutch solution?

The clutch on my "40 H seems a bit "sticky". The pedal has the correct free travel, but when depressed, it seems to take quite a while for the input shaft to quit turning. You can"t get in a hurry to put it in gear or you"ll clash gears. Its not a problem if you"re going from one gear to another, only when going form engaged clutch in neutral to whatever gear you are starting out in. This tractor is used frequently, and the clutch hasn't stuck to the flywheel or pressure plate from rust or anything like that, and it was out of the tractor and cleaned 3 years ago. It has worked fine until the last month or so and seemed to develop suddenly. Could it be as simple as adjusting the clutch fingers?

If the clutch was "sticky" the tractor would not stop moving when you depressed the pedal. Same for clutch rusted to the flywheel. You couldn't stop without shutting off the engine.

On a newer tractor, the issue you describe would be solved by adjusting the transmission brake. An H does not have a transmission brake.

Pilot bearing. Located in the center of the flywheel.

I don't think it's going to be your clutch, sarge. If your freeplay is set okay, as it soundl you have done, and the pedal can be depressed all the way, adjustment of the fingers is likely not a problem.

It sounds more like a sticky pilot bushing at the rear of the crankshaft, though I'm not sure why that would develop suddenly. I don't remember where you're located, but the problem can become more pronounced in cooler weather when the tranny lube gets stiffer, making the input gears less "willing" to come up to speed against a slowly turning driveshaft.

There is a grease zerk for greasing the pilot bearing located in the flywheel. Turn the engine until the line on the front pulley that is not TDC or advance is under the pointer. There is a hole about an inch in diameter in the bottom of the clutch housing under the flywheel to allow access to the grease zerk.

What about a sticky pilot bearing on a 10-20, 15-30 and a Farmall Regular. I have even tried to go through the felt in the rear of the crankshaft with a needle, and oil the bearing...no luck. Thanks for any suggestions...Thanks...Darald in Sk.

Not sure how to advise, Darald. Maybe somebody else can jump in that know the older tractors.

First thing is to determine whether you have a pilot bushing or a pilot bearing. If a bushing, it doesn't usually take lubrication. YOu really don't want anything there that will accumulate dust or crud (that's what makes it stick and keep turning the driveshaft even with the clutch disengaged). The lubrication is achieved by using an allow (Oilite was one) that has low friction characteristics against steel, but is hard enough to not wear out quickly. If the problem is merely that it is sticky, then it means getting access to it to clean it and the front of the shaft. If excessively worn, it needs to be changed out.

That access is the trick. In the As and Bs, it means splitting the tractor behind the motor to get in there. On the tractors you describe, if they have an exposed driveshaft like the F-series, it MAY be possible to get to it without splitting, perhaps by removing the driveshaft, but again, I don't know. (I'm trying to be encouraging here.)

If it's a bearing (like Owen described) in your case, I should think there ought to be a lube point that would force out any old lube and the grit it picked up.

When I bought my H the clutch would not release properly due to someone over greasing the pilot bearing and the clutch plate was covered with grease. Cleaned and installed a new clutch plate.