I have an '01 4x2. The belt runs continuously, even when at idle. I have slowed the idle down almost to a stop, yet the belt still turn. I have removed the cover from the clutch and cleaned it out with compressed air, but this did not help. Can the clutch be adjusted? If so, how?
Not sure of the model number but it is an '01 4x2 Gator. The belt I am referring to is the drive belt between the two clutches. I am pretty sure it is supposed to be stationary when the engine is at idle. Mine is not, which obviously makes it very difficult to engage the gears without grinding.
Your clutch will never stop turning, it is supposed to turn. Your transaxle is designed to shift into gear at 1100 RPM or less. If you are idling at around 1000 to 1050 RPM that is where you should be. When you shift from neutral, the shift operation should be crisp, don't try to ease it into gear. If you can't shift it with a hard stroke, you probably have some gear issues in the transaxle.
OK - thanks Gatoraider. I should also note that if it is in gear at idle, it continues to roll forward. Is this an indication that the idle is too high? I used to stay put even if it was in gear.
Yes it probably should stay put, but they have such a small amount of roll resistance that it's not a big issue. I think the grinding is more important than the rolling. If you could find a tach, 1050 is a good idle RPM.
I don't have a tach, but I can lower the rpm's a bit and see if it helps. The enginge is running really well - I can lower the rpm's so low that you can count the engine revolutions!
Pics Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3432
re: Clutch Adjustment
cowboychris, we have about the same Model Gator and grinding is just a fact of lift at times it seems. Slow shifting is worse as gatorraider pointed out.
I lowered the rpm's tonight and wow what a difference. It shifts into gear silky smooth! I may have lowered it too much because it stalled once going into reverse doing my afternoon feeding, but that can be remedied quite easily. Thanks so much for your (Gatoraider) help!
Glad to hear you got it working cowboychris. I suspect your belt is still turning though even in neutral huh? Mine does and it is really idling low.
As far as this grinding goes. My shift collar was shot and I bought a new one from Tuff Torq. The new one has twice as many splines in it as the old one did. I suspect my rust bucket is a mid 90's model. It still goes right into gear if the idle is not too high.
Clutch Adjustment: John Deere Gator -- Utility / ATV Discussion Forum
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