Why ?

It's my understanding that 1: it avoids undue wear on the pilot bearing in the flywheel, the one that rarely gets greased and 2: it also avoids accidental engagement of the clutch if the tranny is left in gear. I for one will not get off a critter w/o it being in neutral with the clutch engaged. I've heard stories of the clutch engaging from vibration and chasing or running away from the operator.

If left in gear with the clutch disengaged the pilot bearing will be turning. Pilot bearing have been known lock up and if the tractor is in gear off it goes on it's own.
Have fun!
Ken

Thanks guys,

I always did it correctly but never knew why. Just did it because somebody told me so.

Biggastractor

[quote="biggastractor"]Thanks guys,

I always did it correctly but never knew why. Just did it because somebody told me so.

Biggastractor[/quote]

And if somebody told you to jump off the Empire State Building...?





Sorry Rick, I couldn't resist.

you could have told me to ... go out and buy an early D9. then i would have an excuse

Biggastractor

Some clutches tend to heat running disengaged Gene

I "think" I looked it up in my operators manual to see if there was an "official" answer.
Seems like there was???? It stated "engage the clutch when off the tractor(?) to prevent undue wear...."
I'm going to go memory here and not look it up again. 👍
Jeff

Drujinin, You are so right….

STOPPING THE TRACTOR:

"To stop the tractor when it is desired to allow the engine to continue to run, disengage the flywheel clutch and move the throttle control lever to the idling position. Shift the transmission gears into neutral and engage the flywheel clutch. Do not allow the tractor to idle with the flywheel clutch disengaged." Caterpillar Manual number PO M T902

Kelly

The first thing my father ever taught me when he put me in the seat of a D4 (at 8 years old) was to select neutral, engage the clutch and set the park brake before getting off a machine.
The following year, one of his workmates failed to do so, he reached over the fuel tank of the D2 and put the winch in gear to let out some slack, the machine was still in reverse!! He left seven children under 11 years old fatherless! You have been warned, if anyone ever gets off a machine in my presence without observing basic safety, they are 'advised' very quickly.