John Deere B clutch

J.T. Blanton · May 1, 2023

I am working on a 1952 John Deere B, serial number 246,579. Oil is wetting the inner disc. When it is under load, oil vapor seeps out from between the clutch hub and the
gear box housing. My parts book indicates that there is a dust shield and oil seal but it stops at serial number 200,999. Is there any type felt or seal that keeps oil
from entering the clutch? When it is engaged, it jerks and makes a lot of noise.

a49deere · May 1, 2023

sounds to me like you have an issue with pressure building up from engine blow by more than a seal issue on clutch. I'm not familiar with the b so much but if like an A there is a ventilator pump on fan shaft

J.T. Blanton · May 1, 2023

I'll check the ventilator pump. It doesn't use a lot of oil. I can work it hard all day and it will use about 1/5th of a quart.

wore out · May 1, 2023

Ventilator pump works OPPOSITE of what most people think, pulls in clean air after the air cleaner and forces into the crankcase pushing crankcase vapors out the vent.

rustcollector · May 1, 2023

J.T.

Like the reply below, check for crankcase ventilation. Just remove the oil fill cap with the engine running and look for vapors/smoke out it. Put a piece of paper over the fill pipe and see if it is being pushed upward. The other suggestion I'll offer is that those tractors have an oil slinger on the back of the clutch drum for sealing. The clutch drum should not be stationary except when you change gears. By this I mean that you should take the tractor out of gear and engage the clutch to keep the clutch drum/oil slinger rotating if you are idling in a stopped mode for more than changing gears.

J.T. Blanton · May 1, 2023

Thanks guys. I've worked on Johnnie poppers but its been a while and not one this old. I had a 630 and 530 and had to sell them in the farm crisis. I was in my early twenties when I started farming and double digit interest along with 30 cent cotton wiped me out. I have a 520 and this B now... at the age of sixty. I still use them.

Gene Davis (Ga) · May 1, 2023

A loose main bearing will allow too much oil to pass through and a lot of it will wind up on the clutch disks if this tractor has babbit poured main bearings. Somewhere along that year was the last of the babbit mains and they were replaced by non adjustable insert bearings.

Gene Davis (Ga) · May 1, 2023

If the crankcase vent pump goes bad, it will be blowing raw oil out of the exhaust stack.

J.T. Blanton · May 1, 2023

I have to replace the clutch. I am going to replace the bearings and bushings while I am at it.

J.T. Blanton · May 1, 2023

That may be a problem. I hear they main bearings are practically impossible to find.

JIM MN · May 1, 2023

By serial-number; 246579 your tractor is a 1949... Oil into the clutch; your tractor has way too much piston blow-by; building too much pressure into the crankcase. And then I would say your right side main bearing is wore-out; too much clearance; pushing oil out into the clutch.. Your clutch does have a dust shield- oil seal; AB3473R... But with all your problems, the seal can not control the oil....

matthies · May 1, 2023

How is the oil level in the rearend, and have you checked the bottom plug for water? Does the first reduction gear cover have a drain plug, and have you changed or drained the water out of there? Just some other things to check.

Pete in MD · May 1, 2023

Check the serial #. The one you gave doesn't go with a '52 B.

John Deere B clutch

J.T. Blanton

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a49deere

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J.T. Blanton

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wore out

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rustcollector

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Gene Davis (Ga)

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Gene Davis (Ga)

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J.T. Blanton

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J.T. Blanton

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