How Do I Get My Yanmar Tractor’s Clutch Unstuck?

We want to help you properly unstick and release your Yanmar tractor clutch. 

If you do not feel that you understand these steps, or can perform them safely, consult your tractor dealer, local mechanic, or owner’s manual. 

Time to get started.

Sooner or later (if it has not happened already) --- you are going to start up your tractor, attempt to put it in gear, and hear an awful grinding noise.  Or, if you start in gear, it will start quickly, and shoot you through your closed garage door because your clutch did not release.

This happens all too often.  So often, you will find that most Yanmar models feature a special latch that you use to hold the clutch pedal down while the tractor is in storage.

So, what is happening when your clutch gets stuck?  The clutch disc is lined with a fibrous material.  The flywheel is a metal disc.  Both are sandwiched together at great pressure.  That is what transfers all the diesel torque to the wheels by the pressure plate.  This is all inside of your bell housing.

Your bell housing is often subject to condensation buildup, rice field water, rainwater, and humidity.  These factors cause the disc and flywheel to stick together.  This is like how wet pages of a book get stuck together.  When you compress the clutch, the pressure plate releases the pressure on the clutch disc.  It does not force the disc back.  The disc is simply stuck and needs a nudge to release.

Here’s what you need to do to unstick and release your clutch...

If you have a brush mower hooked up to your PTO --- put the PTO in gear, transmission in neutral, hold the clutch pedal down, and rev the engine quickly up and down.  This fast change in torque typically breaks the clutch free.  Often you can apply the brakes when driving the tractor with the clutch pedal down.  You just need for the torque of the engine to separate the disc from the flywheel. 

Occasionally the tractor will need to be split --- but it is rare.

NOTE: This is a dangerous process.  Your clutch is not going to stop the PTO or tractor.  You must start the tractor in gear since you will not be able to shift it after it starts. 

If you need any further help, or have any questions about your clutch, tractors, or anything else, please contact your dealer, local mechanic, or call us at 602-734-9944.  Please ask about our current new and used tractor supply.

Team Tractor Ranch – #1 Tractor Dealer in Arizona. We sell and service most major brands of tractors including Yanmar, Kubota, John Deere, TYM, Mahindra, Kioti, Case, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Ford, Deutz, Case IH, Farmall, International Harvester, Branson Tractors, LS, Shibura, Claas Tractor, McCormick Tractors, Valtra, Solis, YTO, Montana, and Nortrac.