D2 5U707 Pinion Clutch Problem

I recently acquired a D2 serial number 5U707. I was able to load it, bring it home, unload it, and park it two weeks ago with no issue. Now when I try to start it, it seems the pinion is engaged, but when I push the starter lever forward, the diesel doesn't start turning, and you can hear the load on the pony motor. I'm wondering of the pinion clutch isn't engaging enough and needs adjustment, but not sure. Also, IS there a way to adjust it?

Correct my if im wrong folks, but there should be a plate, or inspection cover on top of the pinion clutch. You remove that and pull a tab out a little, probably with a screwdriver and rotate the cage a little.

Correct on the adjustment 3meads. Cover off, inside you will find a button/tab that you can pull towards front of machine and perhaps move it one hole and try it. Here, I like to drain and flush the housing with diesel; my preferred refill is not always 30w, I learned from old school guys that ATF works great. Less sticking of the disks and it cleans.

Darren: Did you put the main in decompression and machine in neutral/main clutch disengaged? Sometimes in our excitement we overlook some simple things. Hope you get it running and share some photos. JM

Yes the cluch need adjustement and yould used some ATF oil in the cluch housing if the level is low

Yes thanks. I did adjust this pin 3 turns towards me. Thanks!👍

Thanks Juiceman. The answer is yes to all your questions. And I did adjust the pin. I will follow your advice and drain with diesel and replace with ATF and see how it goes. Cheers!👍

Hello again. So I opened the cover on the starter pinion and adjusted the pin, as I discussed previously, and I replaced the oil with ATF as well. I still have the same problem. I believe the pinion is fully engaged at this point because the lever does nothing now when you lift it back. When I pull the starter lever toward the front of the tractor, I don't feel that over-centering sort of pop you should feel, the tractor doesn't start turning over, and you can hear the load coming on the pony motor. However it doesn't affect it enough that it starts to stall out. I tried to turn the tractor over a bit by turning the fan hub, but it didn't move the crank. I can't get to the crank with easily without removing the side plates and potentially the radiator.

Any thoughts, guys? I feel like something is up with the clutch pack. I'm sure I should feel a thump as the discs compress fully. Open to ideas!

Hi Griz,

if you adjusted pony clutch out 3 turns you will have no ability to engage the clutch. Usual adjustment is one or two pin holes clockwise to get good snap in from an easy snap over--the adjustment is touchy from loose to tight over centre.

To disengage the pony pinion you need to remove a small plate which is on the pony controls side of the main flywheel housing below the fire wall, and is held on with two 7/16" head bolts. Look in the opening for one of the pony pinion latches to align with said opening and push firmly with a big screw driver or such on the latch at the adjustment screw end firmly so the latch unlocks.

To align one of the latches simply turn the pony flywheel until you have a latch in view. The pinion will not turn until you have rectified the pony clutch adjustment and have the pony clutch engaged.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Eddie B

Thanks EDB. Sorry, I mis-spoke before. It wasn't 3 turns of the pin I was trying to say, but only 3 holes. I will look into the pinion tomorrow. Cheers.

Hello EDB. Just to update. I found the window you described, and was able to release the pinion gear without issue. What I found when I did, was that the entire shaft from brake clutch end to pinion gear end, seems very sloppy and moving around freely. I was able to easily move it up and down about an inch just with a screwdriver reaching inside. I feel like it has come free somehow and is why I cannot properly engage the starting clutches. No matter how many times I adjust the plunger from hole to hole one by one in both directions, it has zero effect on the sliding collar snapping over on the spider. The spider assembly also moves around somewhat freely when I try to engage the sliding collar, but not as much as the pinion gear end when I move it with a screwdriver.

I'm pretty sure at this point I'm pulling the pony motor and governor to get this starting clutch out and have a look, unfortunately.

The spider could be unscrew from the cluch shaft and at the other end the 4 small screw from the sleeve are gone and the stop on cluch shaft is unscrew or broken .