First of all thanks for your great emgine rebuild dvd, although I have the 3 cylinder version, it is still a great help!

I have just finished rebuilding the main part of the engine and am at the

stage of putting on the dual clutch, but am having problems working out the correct spacers required to set the finger distances from the flywheel face and to the spacer ring segments. A small spacer makes a huge difference.

Is there any easy way of setting these and how accurate does the finger
distance to the flywheel face need to be compared to what is stated in the
manual.

This seems to be quite a shady area as none of the manuals don’t seem to
mention setting the spacers, so any advice would be much appreciated.

Best Regards,
Aaron

Hi Aaron,

The setting is important and needs to be accurate.

You need to set the clutch release levers to a height of 2.65 inches to 2.72 inches (67.31mm – 69.10mm) meaured from the face of the spacer ring segments. The MF tool number for this is Tool MF220 (lever fulcrum height setting gauge).

Variation in lever height must not exceed 0.015 inches (0.381mm).

Don’t forget to set the secondary pto clutch set screws to 0.090 inches +/- 0.002 (2.286mm +/- 0.0508mm).

Hope everything has gone well with your rebuild.

Steve (VTE)

An often overlooked, yet most likely cause of clutch pedal stiffness is the condition of the clutch finger mechanism. Worn pivot pins and fixing screw heads can, and do, affect the fingers’ movement. Replacement of these parts can significantly ease the pressure required on the clutch pedal. The holes in the end of the fingers themselves (where the fixing screws fit through) are also likely to be worn and so replacement may be necessary. When these components are in need of replacement, one or more of the clutch fingers sometimes don’t fully release. This causes uneven pressure on the clutch plate which obviously affects the friction efficiency of the clutch.

The fingers must also be adjusted both correctly and evenly. If the release bearing does not contact all the fingers equally then an uneven release of the clutch mechanism can occur, causing jamming and thus stiffness back at the pedal. Adjustment of each of the fingers can be checked with a simple tool as shown in the diagram.

I have an MF135D Massey ferguson. It has a two stage clutch with 9″ & 11″ Discs. I know the 9″ disc clearance is .090″ and only need a feeler gauge. Adjusting the 11″ disc requires splitting the tractor. I have the factory manual and it shows how to make a gauge for the larger version of the clutch but not this one.

I need to know were I can buy the correct gauge or find the dimentions so I can make one.

Hi Kevin,

In short I don’t know where to suggest to get the info.

What I do know is that on the MF35 it also has 9″ and 11″ clutch plates. The 11? clutch is operated by coil springs and the 9″ pto clutch is operated by a belleville washer. For the MF35, the setting for the 3 clutch release levers which operate the 11″ clutch is (measured from the face of the spacer ring segments) 2.65ins – 2.72ins (67.31mm – 69.1mm). Variation in lever height must not exceed 0.015in (0.381mm). The bridge tool for this setting is (lever fulcrum height setting guage Tool MF20).

You may be able to get the tool from your MF dealer, otherwise I would suggest making your own tool.

VTE

In order to replace the release bearing follow these instructions.

1. Separate the engine from the transmission.
2. Disconnect the clutch release rod from the release arm by removing the split pin and clevis pin.
3. Lift the inner end of the return spring away from the clutch fork, rotate the fork and withdraw the release bearing and hub assembly.
4. Remove the release bearing from the hub.
5. When fitting the new release bearing, ensure that the thrust face is facing outwards.
6. Pack the recess in the release hub bore with an extreme pressure high melting point grease.
7. Slide the release bearing and hub assembly into position whilst engaging the fork with the slotted arms of the hub.
8. Rotate the fork to the rear and, with the hooked end of the return spring located around the lug cast in the housing, engage the inner end of the spring with the front face of the small projection on the side of the fork.

This procedure has been adapted from the Fordson Dexta workshop manual.

As a tractor clutch is used, wear takes place naturally on the friction surfaces. This will affect the setting of the clutch pedal free-play which must periodically be corrected.

The clutch pedal on a Massey Ferguson 35 is adjusted correctly when there is 3/8 inch (double clutch) soft movement between the clutch pedal in rest position (up) and when the pedal begins to feel firmer when pressed. [3/4 inch for single clutch models]

 
Adjustment is accomplished by slackening the clutch pedal clamp bolt and turning the clutch release shaft in relation to the pedal. Re-tighten the bolt and then check the soft free-play. Re-adjust if necessary.

PTO CLUTCH
Once the clutch has been adjusted then the PTO clutch release studs can be checked/reset. Remove the access panel on the underside of the tractor clutch housing. Using feeler guages measure the gap between the adjusting stud head and the PTO clutch release mechanism. This measurement should be between 0.089 – 0.091 inches. To adjust the setting, slacken the lock nut, move adjusting stud, re-tighten lock nut and re-measure the gap. The photograph below clearly shows this – this tractor has been split.

There are three adjusting bolts spaced equally around the clutch to measure and adjust. The clutch can be turned using a lever through the access panel. Applying a dab of paint to each stud after adjustment is a good way to be sure that you have done each one.

What people have said so far……
1
Bill says:

February 27th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Hi, – great site, keep up the good work. The clutch is stiff on my MF65. Is there anything I can do about it??
Bill
Lymm,
Cheshire.
Bill,

This article may answer your question.

2
Esa says:

April 1st, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Hello!
> Greetings from Finland!

I have MF 35 23C -59. Would you tell me, how i can adjust clutch? There are dual clutch. What is fingers distance from flywheel?

Best for you

Esa

3
The Vintage Tractor Engineer says:

April 1st, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Carburettor single clutch
1.895? from flywheel face
23C single clutch
0.995? from flywheel face
Carburettor or 23C dual clutch
3 25/32? (96mm) from flywheel face

3-A-152
2.65? – 2.75? from face of the spacer ring segments.
4 13/32? – 4 15/32? from flywheel face.

Steve.

4
Sean says:

June 3rd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
On an MF35 4 cyl gas motor, what is the correct torque for head bolts. Or studs with nuts I should say. Also the sequence?
Thanks a million

5
ernest holloway says:

October 26th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
thank you very much for your help, I am very grateful. It seems strange that I, from the UK, have to ask you from the USA how to adjust an English tractor.