Day 3 - So I took the bolts from the flywheel which were rubbing against clutch and ground their heads down so they protruded 2mm less. Next I cleaned up the PTO drive shaft and re-greased it. I reassembled the tractor (see last post for the process). Then I tried to start it. The starter could barely turn the engine. The lights were suoer bright so it wasn 't a flat battery. something was stopping the engine from turning over - which could only be the PTO shaft. I tried to engage the PTO with the lever on the tractor, but it too was blocked from moving....something was afoot! I tried to see if I could unblock things by turning the PTO from the rear, engaging the PTO clutch but nothing would move.
Nothing for it but to tear down the tractor third time. So another couple of hours taking everything apart. I separated engine and inspected everything. All seemed OK. So reassembly for the thrid time. This time I just couldn't get the drive shaft splines to align with the clutch. It's a difficult job especially without an assistant. I tried to keep forward pressure on the trolley holding the engine whilst slowly turning the flywheel hoping for forward motion when the spline was in the right position. On the tractor there are two sets of splines - one for the drive shaft and one for the PTO and both have to be correctly aligned. It took over an hour of trying before eventually "pop" in they went. The PTO levers were moving and the PTO rotated so I tightened everything up and reassembled. I turn the key and it's still blocked! After putting aside suicidal thoughts and wonder if the battery is a little flat after all? Its 7pm and time to call it a day. I take the battery home with me to charge.
Day 4 - Tomorrow is another day. I put in the freshly charged battery and try to start it....still blocked. The PTO is stuck fast. Damn. After much head scratching Nanou my neighbour arrives ( he works in the local agricultural workshop). He too agrees that something must be blocking the engine and it can only be the PTO. He suggests just slowly parting the engine and clutch from the tractor to see at what point everything frees up. Whilst he goes home for breakfast I do this and find that 1mm of separation and everything turns any less and things quickly jam. Nanou returns and we try to wiggle/shake whatever is causing the block free but nothing will work. So teardown number 4 ensues. We split the tractor and inspect everything again taking measurements shining torches to look for contamination...nothing. So together we put the two parts of tractor back together (quicker to get things aligned with two). We tighten the bolts and everything seems to be free. So Nanou leaves me to reassemble so that I can try to start it again. I just connect the essentials - no need for the accelerator, the fuel tank and battery are just sat loose and the fuel and hydraulic filters are just hanging from bits of wire. I turn the key............SUCCESS!
When Nanou returns he's happy but is at loss to understand why it was blocked before. The modifications to the flywheel nuts has worked and the clutch is quiet and smooth. Another 2 hours to fully reassemble, zip tie cables and hoses neatly and reverse the accelerator cable as I ve had enough of lying under the tractor trying to rethread and block it - now this done at the engine end where it's easier to see. One of the bolts securing the starting motor gets cross threaded and strips the thread but fortunately a cut down new bolt cuts a new thread and all is well.
Moral of the story....Never give up.
Aucun commentaire :
Enregistrer un commentaire