Hello
Has anybody on here ever encountered a hand clutch that was stuck? My buddy and I brought home a 650 with a hand clutch that is stuck in. We can't disengage the clutch to get it in gear or to stop the tractor. We think that the throwout bearing is stuck on the shaft. Are we thinking correctly? How hard is it to get it unstuck?

Maybe you are.
A stuck clutch is a function of several possible issues.
Assuming from the fact that the clutch does not release, the following are possible.
1]Clutch lever seems normal, moves with pressure where expected, normal travel, no noise, but no release.
2]Clutch lever is stuck does not move as expectsd.
If #1 is the case, the clutch disk may be rusted, or glued with burnt grease, to the flywheel. Even if the pressure plate is working correctly the disk still drives the tractor forward, or will not allow shifting into gear.
Solution is to face the tractor into a open field in 3rd gear and start it with it near full throttle with the clutch lever in the released position, use the brakes to apply force to the disk. If it will run and move in a higher gear (not road gear) do that. If it will not free up in an hour of driving and periodically (about every 5 minutes) trying to stop it with the clutch released, it will need to be split to get at the disk. No solvent can be used, it is recessed into the flywheel.
A second issue could be a destroyed clutch plate, with parts locking the Pressure plate to the disk.
A third is a frozen pilot bearing with it driving the trans input shaft.
If #2, the linkage pivots must be freed and that will take PB Blaster juice, some heat, and modest force on the stick.
The throw out bearing (if missing, or worn through the fingers can cause the problem, but not as likely (I have seen it twice in 50 years of messing with clutches. Jim

If it is a hand clutch, then I believe it will be an "over-center" engagement. Crawlers (T9 or TD9) use the same clutch and they have an adjusting ring that is easy to get to. Perhaps the previous owner did some adjusting or even broke some parts.

Goto CaseIH on-line parts book and look at the drawings. I think it is four bolts that attach the large clutch cover on the 650. Take a look in there too.

Of course, you may not know what you are doing. You might be expecting a "springy" clutch. If you push the lever forward, you might actually have a clutch that is functioning properly.

The tractor was my buddy's father's tractor that has been in storage for 32 years. There is a SWDR9 that has the same problem. His father had 4 tractors: WD9, SWDR9,650, and a 930 case. Two were in a shed and the other 2 were in a Quonset. The tractors sitting so long was the reason we thought the throwout bearings were stuck. We have had other hand clutch WD9's in the past so I am assuming the 650's clutch should be the same. I have a parts book for a WD9, so we were hoping to go off of that. We were able to get the 650 to start by pulling it and then poping it out of gear when it started. I am amazed that it did start after sitting so long. Rod is 68 years old and his father is 93, and you could see that it brought back memeries for him to hear it running again.

Encountered the same thing on my 650 last year. The "stuffing" used to fill the gap between the engine and the flywheel housing came out and MICE got in there and "fowled" up the whole clutch. Filled the whole clutch cavity with nesting material and wheat. Take off the triangle shaped inspection cover (3 bolts) and see if that is the case. May have to split the tractor to loosen up things.

Why is everybody talking splitting a 650 to get at the clutch? You don't. You go in from the top. Remove fuel tank, air cleaner bracket, pulley drive if there is one, main clutch cover and related parts. Everything comes out the top side. I have a W9, SWD9, 600, have done this job more then once.

ya thats a for sure. i guess could split it with a cutting torch!