Clutch fork SHAFT frozen in bellhousing - L2900

[audi200TDI]

I don't mean to crosspost, but I've recently bought a new tractor off CraiglisList...

Owner didn't bother to see what was wrong with her, but it wouldn't drive.

To see my more detailed intro thread: http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15289

Long story short, the clutch fork SHAFT is siezed up! Won't rotate at all within the bellhousing...even with a 3foot pipe on it for some leverage.

Thoughts??

 

[Daren Todd]

Look on the opposite side of the shaft from your pry bar. Does the shaft go all the way thru? Just looked at my old tractor and there is a bolt and linkage to control the clutch safety switch. Try soaking with pentrating oil on both side inside and out, and then looks like the rod can be tapped back and forth. On mine, it looks like you would remove the linkage and bolt for the clutch safety switch, and then tap it through to the clutch side of the tractor to remove the rod

 

[audi200TDI]

Alright guys, I let her sit overnight with some PB Blast marinating in there.
Gave it another go after my coffee this morning, and with the help of some heat, as well as a brass punch and a BFH (big fu*kin' hammer), she broke free!

And after a cleanup...

Anything I can do to prevent this in the future? Any way to get a grease fitting in there? I'll figure something out...

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You could drill and tap the bell housing and get a grease zerk in it, but it's not going to do a lot of good as there is no place for the grease to collect.
I've never seen one totally lock up like that, very odd, I would polish the shaft and holes and on reassembly coat the shaft with a film of grease and call it good, I wouldn't think you'll ever have problems with it locking up again.

Being that it was a GST, they just bypassed the safety on the clutch pedal and never used it, you can run a GST and a HST without ever messing with the clutch pedal.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

HOLY MOLY!

That thing must have sat idle for years. In rain! GREAT job getting it unfrozen and cleaned up. Lucky little tractor to get bought by you.

Getting a zirc fitting in there shouldn't be too hard. The big question is: Can you drill out a 1/8 lube-tube accurately enough to intersect the previously frozen area, without taking it to a machine shop? Once that pathway is in, tapping the line to a zirc thread should be simple. But, is all that effort worthwhile?

I would think a nice lubrication with some high quality water-resistant moly grease (like boat trailer hub grease) or synthetic grease, would keep it lubed for decades. I'd do all the lubing while the bell housing was open, so you could catch any loose "droppings." Don't want to drop anything on the clutch. That might be why Kubota didn't offer a zirc there: An over-lube might find its way into the clutch.

 

[Daren Todd]

You can get a needle attachment for your grease gun. I've had pretty good luck using one for hard to reach places and for adding grease where there isn't a zirc fitting

 

[Tooljunkie]

If it was me, i would warm up the casting and brush on some neversieze. That stuff wicks into porous Anything if its hot. I do it with threaded parts quite often.
Good you got it loose.

 

[koja]

Mechanics three best friends , PB Blaster , heat , and a bfh . I would just clean the shaft and housing up till it moves freely . After you get her back up and running just give it a shot of PB Blaster once in awhile. That stuff will creep in there .