How to tell when a clutch is worn

I have noticed of late that the clutch pedal in my H feels funny and even after I adjusted the free play per the manual it seems like there is very little space between clutch in and clutch out. Is there a way to check how much of the clutch disk is left without taking the whole thing apart? I have a couple of good used clutch disks for spares. The clutch does not slip, as far as I can tell. Any advice will be much appreciated.
Zach

Zack, if the pressure plate is weak the clutch may slip. If the disc is worn the clutch might grab or slip. I'm thinking you might have worn linkage, worn pins, worn throwout yoke or bearing. Just my thoughts.
Charlie

keep it adjusted, run it till it slips and then repair it. it may run a long, long time yet.

you wont get it to slip without a load. need to put it underload and see. if the disc is worn to the rivets it will slip. also if its grabbing at the end of clutch travel the disc is worn.

Driven disks are cushioned between the friction surfaces with the structure of the metal part being spring steel formed into a wave shape. When the driven disk is squeezed by the Pressure plate, the metal of the cushion spring flattens. This action allows the friction surfaces to make ever increasing force of contact as the pedal is released over a distance of about one to one and a half inches.
As a driven disk wears, one thing that happens is that the Wavy cushion spring can flatten and also wear into the back of the friction material. The net result of this is a narrowing of the compressibility of the disk. The outcome is a substantial "thinning" of the stroke of engagement. The pedal feels like it is traveling only 1/4" between fully disengaged, and fully engaged.
This abrupt feel to the clutch is somewhat annoying in that the action is often jerky and less predictable. If there is plenty of grab to it there is no issue of usefulness, just the feel, and sometimes chatter.
If the tractor will kill the engine in less than one second if it is put in 5th, and is wide open, and the clutch is abruptly let out, the clutch is holding as well as needed.
If the tractor does not kill the engine, it is getting worn, and will begin to slip radically in short order.
Glazed disks, or gummy disks will also jerk into motion, but this is from stickieness not lack of cushion spring. Jim

You can swap out the clutch and pressure plate on your H through the belly pump hole. No split required.

Thank you for the explanation, that makes it all make sense. I will try it in 5th as you described. I have not had any issue with it grabbing, it is just that there is very little movement between fully engaged and fully disengaged.
Zach

(quoted from post at 08:41:15 02/25/12) Thank you for the explanation, that makes it all make sense. I will try it in 5th as you described. I have not had any issue with it grabbing, it is just that there is very little movement between fully engaged and fully disengaged.
Zach

Click to expand...

If the free travel is adjusted as close as you can get it, and you still have very little movement between fully engaged and fully released, then it IS time to replace the clutch, or at least drop the belly pump out and do a thorough inspection.

If you don't mind getting a face full of dirt and other crud, the entire operation can be done from underneath. No need to split.

Zack, For what it's worth, check the fingers on the pressure plate in relation to the throwout bearing. I had a finger that was way out on one of my H's. They are adjustable. It had nothing to do with clutch slipping, just free play in the pedal.

Thank you, I'll check on it.
Zach