1955 Ferguson 35 - Dual Stage Clutch - Hard Lessons Learned

Thought this would be easy...
I was mistaken!!!

[@gtv61food]

Excellent video thanks Same problem here 🥂👌

[@mrbig2295]

Thank you, you solved my problem with a dual clutch I’m working on! 🎉

[@jamieholloman8554]

You can adjust the clutch through the inspection cover on the bottom of the transmission housing

[@Loose-goose]

Inspection plates are nice

[@user-ih6ss5qt2m]

Live and learn. We just put a new clutch in a 1965 mf3165. It went well. Nice video.

[@Gasgaspro]

Another great video from OntarioTube, Keep up the great wrenching 🔧 Awesome to see you learn as you go 😊

[@TF856]

Thank you very much for making this video. I grew up driving my dad's Massy with a two-stage clutch and I love it. I also spent a summer driving somebody's golden jubilee with a single stage clutch and wish that it had a two-stage clutch for running the hay baler. Every time I started to go I had to double clutch or else I would kill the motor. In recent years I wanted to understand the actual mechanics of how that clutch worked. I have not found any other videos that explain it or show it the way that you have. I have also recently been driving somebody else's Yanmar with a single stage clutch for mowing and I hate it. Every time I have to change gears I hear that PTO shaft slamming the mower!

[@ontariotube]

Yeah, I searched high and low for a video on this clutch, but to no avail. Maybe an old-time mechanic will eventually upload a more accurate how-to video, but looks like this one will have to do for now, LOL.

[@bluegrallis]

The "spring plates" in your clutch, are called Belleville washers. Adjusting the clutches, is supposed to start with adjusting the free-play in the clutch pedal. Once that is set, then adjust the PTO clutch gap. A proper service manual will tell you how to adjust the clutches, and save hours worth of rework time.

[@user-jm4jv8ej9q]

We feel your pain. Been there. We went through three clutches before getting a workable clutch. 1st clutch arrived broken, 2nd came with a warped Belleville spring plate. 3rd one was a success. One thing with the popping fingers, they have to be set with a finger height adjustment tool, extremely important that all three fingers are at the same height. If not, then you get the popping and not engaging/disengaging correctly. We learned the hard way as well. I agree with you, I hate this type of clutch.

[@user-jm4jv8ej9q]

When we were finally done with the clutch replacement we came to an agreement that MF did not stand for Massey Ferguson!

[@TF856]

They may be hard to work on but they are a very highly desirable type of clutch for a lot of people! I actually love them and it's an absolute must for any tractor that I would own. I hate a single Stage clutch for any PTO work!

[@JosiahNgwenya]

Very good lesson I have the same problem thank you very much

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

Thank you for posting, I would really recogment the Original Workshop Manual, it is on line.

[@ontariotube]

I couldn't find it. I could only find the manual for the "later" 1955 design

[@neilhansen5663]

You can remove spigot shaft bearing by hammering bread or grease into centre of bearing with a close fitting drift

[@TF856]

What about using Play-Doh, modeling clay, etc.? I thought you could use a puller or slide hammer with a hook on the end to get this pilot bearings out.

[@MK-dr2eq]

Spot on.👍

[@davecrober5069]

It's unfortunate that you had to split the tractot three times as those adjustments should have been set at the factory considering the limited use of this clutch ( 1st year TO35 ) Barring that ,somebody should have given you a heads up or some instructions when you purchased it. A lesser person ( like me) would have been totally lost in that situation.

[@ericjohnson9080]

Awesome! Thanks! My similar mf50 pto clutch does not disengage. Can the pto clutch adjustment be done form underneath thru the access hole?

[@markgassett5792]

30 thousands my friend!!!!

[@tridbant]

I never saw you wedge the front axle as they normally slump sideways, as they pivot, when separating from the rear. I thought that the clutch was already set up for the second stage. Just plug and play. Also I’ve got the same tractor and a very similar loader. I had to take mine off as the steering was soooo heavy.

[@ontariotube]

Yeh I think it's time to move this tractor on to a new owner soon. It's a beast to try to maneuver around a small lot. I didin't think to "wedge" the front axle.

[@theguitarhero226]

Excellent info and determination, I have a 1955 TO 35 and was wondering if some of these tractors came with no live pto.I have no click or feedback at all from the pto ,but it dose work as a single clutch system. Other than looking through the inspection cover is there anyway to know if I have a 2 stage? Just wondering where you grab your used parts i'm an hour north of Toronto

[@ontariotube]

I've never had to buy used parts yet. The clutch came from Toronto (Canadian Tractor Parts Direct). My "click" went away after a short while but I do feel a slight change in pedal force when engaging the 2nd stage. I'm all new to this stuff so not sure how to tell if you have a 2-stage or single. Cheers!

[@MK-dr2eq]

Great job. 👏🏻👏🏻 Would you consider putting a safety Roll Bar on that Tractor. ??

[@ontariotube]

Naw. I dont think ive ever seen an old Ferguson with a roll bar... maybe did but just ignored it.

[@jerryfaulkner6518]

Did you check the measurement on the three pressure plate fingers? All the books say .090" on the inner bolts and 2.646"-2.666" on the fingers.

[@ontariotube]

I couldn't find any information on this type of clutch, so I just messed with it until it worked. It's been working great ever since. Hopefully the specs you provided will help someone else who comes across this video. Thx!

[@jerryfaulkner6518]

@@ontariotube I literally just had the same thing you had happen on the same exact clutch. Split the freshly painted tractor last night. We set the the .090" and laser cut the special guage that sets the 2.666" measurement from the fingers to the face the clutch seats in on the flywheel. The first time I pushed the clutch in it went down and I had all free pedal. I reset the free play per the book and then it worked perfectly. It is strange, but I feel the two measurements are fairly critical. I guess at the end of the day if we get results we want we take it as a win.

[@ontariotube]

@@jerryfaulkner6518 I'll refer back to this next time I have it apart. Thanks for posting!

[@jerrymoore7669]

Have you replaced the bushings and thrust bearings in the steering spindles?

[@ontariotube]

No. This tractor doesn't get used a lot so things wear out super-slowly ;)

[@jerrymoore7669]

It might help with that loader. I suspect the thrust bearings are stiff.

[@alanmitchell7322]

Read the workshop manual for the modle of tractor before you start shouldent have any problems.

[@ontariotube]

I couldn't find one for this clutch. The shop manual i do have is for 1955, but I believe they changed clutch design mid--year.