adjusting steering clutches

[Ray54023]

I bought a John Deere MC down in Ohio last fall and brought it up to wisconsin this spring. I have been working on it, doing the maintenance that seems to always get left to 'latter' lol Right now I just came in from tinkering with it a bit, I changed the tranny oil, engine oil & filter, and cleaned out the final drives and put in the pint & a half of oil it wanted..

I have a problem right now, hoping that any of you might be able to help. It is real weak turning right - so the left hand clutch must be wore or out of adjustment... but it didn't have the power to even come up the hill on the driveway! I half pulled, half babied it back to its parking spot, but is there an oil pressure issue?.. or is it simple clutches? Please head me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance for any help you might be,
Ray

[snoopy]

Sounds like the left clutch is slipping, wheter it is out of adjustment or worn will require checking for proper adjustment. as to not having the power to climb a hill, is the engine bogging down or not climbling due to the slipping clutch? slipping clutch could be cause by having oil on the plates.
have fun
snoopy

[Tractor 850]

If the engine RPM keeps up but the machine slows down going up hill either the engine clutch or both steering clutches are slipping.
To check which one, engage the PTO and try the hill again.
The MC has a transmission driven PTO so if the PTO slows down with the ground speed the engine clutch is slipping.
If the PTO keeps up speed while the crawler slows down both steering clutches are slipping.
This is how I determined that I had 2 bad steering clutches on my 440.

[Ray54023]

Thank you both for replying. The engine speed does stay constant, about three weeks ago I witnessed this same machine spinning the tracks, so I am thinking it is an oily clutch problem. I was there while a cousin was trying to help some and poured a quart of oil in each top inspection plate.. I am thinking it was then that the clutches got oiled....

This is the first time its been ran since then. So most likely oily clutches...

[Lavoy]

If he poured oil in the clutch housings, just as well quit and tear it down for a clutch rebuild, there is no other fix.
Lavoy

[stmftr395]

Not too be a wise ass, butif the oil was put in the clutch housings,Wow those were two very expensive quarts of oil even compred to today's prices. All should read and learn from your cousins mistake so as not to repeat. Looking at the bright side, you will have nice new steering clutch assemblies. Mark

[Ray54023]

yeah, I did the pto test, that runs fine. I have started to disassemble the right housing now.. that fender is missing so less to take off... I ordered a book and its on the way now... - Lavoy - Do you have the clutches in stock?

Thanks again -
Ray

[Lavoy]

Normally I have everything in stock for steering clutches.
Lavoy