RobCL3 0 #1 Posted September 12, 2014 I recently purchased a 1988 312-8 in great shape. I was mowing a few days ago and had to stop to move something out of the way. I put it in neutral and got off the tractor and when I got back on i pushed on the clutch and it wouldn't move. i may as well have been pushing my foot against a wall. Any ideas??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,882 #2 Posted September 12, 2014 There is no clutch as such. Your "clutch" pedal is just a lever with linkage and a couple of springs that move a tension pulley under your belt guard. Remove your belt guard and you will see what I mean. The tension pulley either puts slack in the belt or tightens it on the engine and input shaft pulleys on the trans. The belt guard funnels the slack toward the engine pulley so the input pulley on the trans stops and allows you to shift the trans without grinding the gears. Follow the linkage around to see what may be holding it...also check to make sure that your parking brake on the other pedal is not engaged. I'm not sure, but I do not think you can push in the clutch pedal if the parking brake is engaged. Let us know. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boovuc 1,090 #3 Posted September 12, 2014 Hi Rob, If you were mowing, I would bet your drive belt came apart and it is wedged around the pulley and the belt guard. I had this happen to me this summer when I was hauling WAY TOO MUCH wood on my trailer and burned up the belt. I had to take the belt guard off to free the peddle. Of course with the bad belt, it needed to come off anyway to replace it. If your belt appears to be OK, it is a linkage issue to the pulley from the peddle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RobCL3 0 #4 Posted September 14, 2014 Thank you all. I had to travel this weekend and will take a look when I get back and let you know what I find out!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RobCL3 0 #5 Posted September 16, 2014 Something seems to have came lose. The idler pully traveled too far and what appears to be a guide or guard on the back of the pully had bent and was actually against the transmission keeping it from moving. I got it bent back a little but it just doesn't seem to want to stay. it will work for awhile and then bind up the movement again. when I shut the engine off everything sort of "relaxes" and goes back to the way it should be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don1977 604 #6 Posted September 16, 2014 (edited) What year model is you 312-8 ? If it's 1988 or later it could be the "Damper Cylinder" is worn out. It attaches to the back of the idler bracket. Just remove it the clutch will still work, but don't drop the clutch when letting it out or you'll be doing a wheelie. The Damper Cylinders were not on the early 312-8. Edited September 16, 2014 by Don1977 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RobCL3 0 #7 Posted September 16, 2014 it is an 88. it is already gone. not sure if it was removed before I bought it or if it broke and that is what caused the original problem?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,882 #8 Posted September 16, 2014 I do not have one of these tractors, so I am not sure what you have and nothing to look at here to help you. Maybe some pictures of what you have and maybe someone can post a few pictures of what it should look like. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wishin4a416 2,191 #9 Posted September 16, 2014 This is just a stab in the dark but check part number 18 has not sheared the roll pin. I have a tractor apart right now with no spring and belt on it and if the lever rolls past center the pedal will not move. I have to reach under and roll it and get it past center again. If you pin sheared which is very unlikely, it could cause this condition. Just a thought. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
