steering clutch trouble on d4 7u

I would definitely start with a kerosene/diesel wash to soak the rust out.
As it seems to turn both ways when in reverse.

I filled steering clutch compartments with desiel and kero and drove back and forward with levers pulled back and now going to let them soak im the bath for a week and see what happens. the right steering clutch acts funny yet when pulled back it stops the machine completly would the clutch be adjusted to much? or is there something else going on there? don't really want to pull clutches if I don't have to but I will if thats what it takes.

Somewhere I was reading a description of either the exact problem, "pull steering clutch lever, tractor stops moving" or else someone was rebuilding the steering clutches and found the shaft broken(?).
Then someone replied that it would cause it to stop if you pulled one clutch lever....
I thought about it after I replied and read your post the other day but hoped that it isn't the problem....
But now if I read your reply, it sounds as if it might be the problem.
Jeff

Taking a tractor that has been sitting for awhile or has a stuck steering clutch
Tie the steering clutches to the open position, run the tractor back and forth, if you have a dozer blade or a loader, go back and forth to push dirt until one of the sterring clutches become free. Remove the wooden block, tie rope, chain, or whatever you used to hold the steering clutch in the released postion. Continue to go back and forth until the other clutch releases. This should shove the majority of the steering clutches that are stuck. Do not run up to trees or boulders and try to break them loose all at once, let the machine warm up and work a bit. Guys that go up and bump trees in first, second, third, and forth gears have always caused damage to their machine. Alittle patience goes a long ways with these old equiptments. Always check the linkage on the brakes so that it pulls back and releases the brake. More than likely with this machine, beings you pulled the clutch in the track stops immediatly, you'll find that the brake is dragging, either from dirt or where the linkage or levers or rods go through a housing. On some tractors I have drilled a passage between the rod and the cast iorn housing, tapped it to accept a greasing fitting and pour ninty weight oil, using a grease gun to free it up. Always check and make sure your brakes are releasing. Your tracks travel really slow but your steering clutchs probably turn between 600 and 700 revolutions per minute. Hope this helps. Old Man Dave.

I checked my clutch packs today with both levers tied back and main clutch engauged both clutch packs turn and when tractor is moving both brake drums turn. so what could be the problem release bearing ?
I have no power to left track just right. could teeth on clutches have sheared?so with brake drum turning and clutch pack turning i know that a shaft hasn't broken. any ideas ?

Have had a shaft break in a steering clutch and it only drives on one side and always turning to that side.Of coarse it stops if you us clutch that is driving the machine.So it doesn't sound like this is what yours is doing.Had one that stopped if you pulled the one clutch but still drove strait other wise.Fearing many bad things all being expensive, turned out the dead side had weak springs in the clutch.Went from acting normal to dead in just a few minutes.Always wonder how bad it is going to be until you know what is wrong for sure.Good luck in finding your problem.
Ray

Have had a shaft break in a steering clutch and it only drives on one side and always turning to that side.Of coarse it stops if you us clutch that is driving the machine.So it doesn't sound like this is what yours is doing.Had one that stopped if you pulled the one clutch but still drove strait other wise.Fearing many bad things all being expensive, turned out the dead side had weak springs in the clutch.Went from acting normal to dead in just a few minutes.Always wonder how bad it is going to be until you know what is wrong for sure.Good luck in finding your problem.
Ray

Sounds like the springs are weak. when i first got the machine the steering clutches hardly worked but were working great in reverse now just right track works and will turn great to the left machine sat for three years in same spot until I got it. worked the machine turned both ways then the next time I started it went to turn right and nothing.I try to cross the road from my house to my Uncles and the tractor wants to turn left when i try to go up over the little berm at the edge of the road i almost turn in a circle on the road. Well I guess i just have to tear her down and get in there and see. Any more thoughts would be great at what it could be.

About 3 years ago I had a similar problem with a D4 and water in the steering clutch compartments. Ended up pulling both clutches with the bevel gear and found the steel discs rusted to the plates as well as to the drums. Also found one steering clutch hub cracked in the tapered spline area. Ended up replacing all the discs as well as the hub. The interior toothed section of the brake drum had to be glass beaded to remove all the rust. Every thing worked perfect when I reassembled it. Oh yes, also had to replace all the seals on the bevel gear compartment and the final drive pinions. Discs were purchased from Costex in Florida, quite reasomable. Cheers, Larry.