WD45 Can't engage trans. if started in neutral

I am a new owner of a WD45. The previous owner accepted and lived with this problem... The problem is that if the engine is started with the transmission in neutral, clutch engaged or not, the transmission cannot be placed in any gear due to grinding of gears due to transmission rotation, dispite clutch engagement. The only way of placing the transmission in any gear is to do it before starting the engine and then depress the clutch upon starting. When starting it in this manner, the transmission can then be shifted into any gear as normal, however, if at any time the clutch is released, with the transmission in neutral, it only grinds and you have to shut the engine off and start it in a gear to proceed. 

Try engaging the hydraulics with the clutch pushed in. That will create enough drag/load to stop the gears spinning.

Dusty MI, THanks for the post...

Are you referring to the pins that hold the three pressure plate fingers in place upon which the fingers pivot on when clutch is engaged? If so, I am familiar with that inspection... thanks...

I just had a similar problem on my D17. The clutch assembly fits into a recess in the flywheel and there is not much clearance between the outer rim of the clutch disc and the recess in the flywheel. There was so much dirt and crud in there that it continued to drive the clutch disc even tho it was disengaged from the pressure plate.  I split the tractor and cleaned it out and installed a new clutch and throwout bearing, even tho the old one looked not bad. (Didn't want to have to split it again!)

WD45 has the same flywheel/ clutch setup.


Edited by Alberta Phil - 12 Jun 2012 at 10:42am

Thanks for the recommendations Gerald J, but I have already taken as much slack out of the linkage adjustment as I dare...about an inch of pedal freeplay before throwout engagement.

Alberta Phil, When I pull the clutch cover off and check for those finger pins suggested earlier, I will also check for the crud build-up as you have discribed. I am sure trying to avoid spliting this old girl and hope that it is either the pins or debris....

Thanks, Dave

I don't yet have a manual. Perhaps someone can scan or outline the specifics and tolerances on "reseting the three finger height to out-bearing" adjustment?

Jim D,

Edited by dpehrson - 12 Jun 2012 at 1:55pm

The clutch pedal can have as little as 1/4" of free play to give more motion at the throwout bearing. Good at least for a test.

I had an 8N years ago that acted a lot like that, and that was a clutch plate sticking to the flywheel or pressure plate. I put the front against a solid obstacle (sturdy corn crib or power pole), started it in 4th gear and polished that assembly with the engine at full throttle and that cured the problem. I slipped that clutch a lot in that situation.

Thing is all the posts are possible, there's not one that the tractor is predisposed to have more than any others, so you can do little without looking in and odds are it will take new parts after splitting the tractor. The pilot bushing, the flywheel covered with rust, the pilot shaft covered with rust, the failing clutch fingers, the broken clutch springs, the warped clutch plate, the sticking clutch plate, the clutch finger pivot pins, or excess free play at the pedal are each possible and there's no certainty that only ONE is the culprit.

Gerald J.

I agree with you all on the possibilities, just as Gerald J. has listed any one or more potential culprits. It is now up to me to tear into her and find out for sure. After I have remedied the problem(s), I will post it here...