I have [07] L3400dt with 1500 hrs, it has been sticking in 1st gear low and high for about 9 years with around 700 hr and past couple years has gotten worse. I would've fixed it years ago if someone could've told me what the problem was, even Messicks didn't know but everybody had guesses. I'm not a fan of spending $1000.00 on guesses and needing tractor just about every week.
Last month I decided to take tractor apart and see if there was a reason why it sticks in 1st gear. The puzzle was it only sticks in 1st high low or reverse, all other gears it shifts good, but I was more and more leaning to a clutch problem the past couple years because when pressing clutch petal alway down I could feel the tractor still wanting to go, but it was only in 1st gear.
So with help of my son we took tractor apart, with both clutch disc looking ok to me I was already discouraged. But my son noticed that 1 of the clutch arms out of 3 was extra loose, that could mean something, so i called local dealer to order clutch disc, throw-out bearing and ask if someone their could look at the clutch housing to see if I need that to, they sure bring it down. I brought the clutch housing to shop manager and he had to look it up on computer to know it was a two-stage clutch, he goes "I never seen anything like that before" We showed him the extra loose clutch arm if that meant something, long story short he didn't have a clue so we went back home and waited for clutch disc to show up, that took two weeks.
Couple days later my son decided to take clutch housing apart, we found that the main Spring Diaphragm plate was cracked, so I ordered both of those. I guess there was no one on earth that could say, hey one reason why my clutch sticks in 1st gear is because the main Spring Diaphragm plate is broke.........
So after about 6 weeks I got the tractor back together and seems to shift better then it did when new, I dont think this clutch was ever adjusted right when it left the factory....
Last month I decided to take tractor apart and see if there was a reason why it sticks in 1st gear. The puzzle was it only sticks in 1st high low or reverse, all other gears it shifts good, but I was more and more leaning to a clutch problem the past couple years because when pressing clutch petal alway down I could feel the tractor still wanting to go, but it was only in 1st gear.
So with help of my son we took tractor apart, with both clutch disc looking ok to me I was already discouraged. But my son noticed that 1 of the clutch arms out of 3 was extra loose, that could mean something, so i called local dealer to order clutch disc, throw-out bearing and ask if someone their could look at the clutch housing to see if I need that to, they sure bring it down. I brought the clutch housing to shop manager and he had to look it up on computer to know it was a two-stage clutch, he goes "I never seen anything like that before" We showed him the extra loose clutch arm if that meant something, long story short he didn't have a clue so we went back home and waited for clutch disc to show up, that took two weeks.
Couple days later my son decided to take clutch housing apart, we found that the main Spring Diaphragm plate was cracked, so I ordered both of those. I guess there was no one on earth that could say, hey one reason why my clutch sticks in 1st gear is because the main Spring Diaphragm plate is broke.........
So after about 6 weeks I got the tractor back together and seems to shift better then it did when new, I dont think this clutch was ever adjusted right when it left the factory....
