The Forestry Forum

 Heres what I have. Skidder is hard to get into gear if the transmission has been in neutral. Once in gear I have to step on the brake with the clutch depressed to get it to stop. I can't find anything online for adjustments to the clutch. When I did adjust it, it either slipped or no change to above discription. Is there a clutch break on a detroit engine?
B.I.L. says pads are going bad.

Is the skidder used regularly or does it set for long periods? I am not familiar with a skidder but if I had that problem on my tractor I would check the clutch linkage, sounds to me like the petal may not be throwing the clutch far enough to fully disengage. There might also be some rust on the plate where the clutch hangs up, I have had that on tractors that sat for extended periods. If this is it, just a little hard use should fix it. These are all for mechanical linkage to clutch, if hydraulic, check for fluid level and I once had an hydraulic clutch that needed an adjustment. I tried something I was told would not work but I got lucky. I blocked the clutch disengaged and pulled the petal up very slowly with a rope and weight pulling the petal up, it worked for some reason no one could explain but a friend told me to try it, he knew of someone else who did it sucessfully. I then filled the reservoir back up and it lasted for over a year before I sold the truck. :)

If neither of these are the problem check the throw out bearing, it might need a LITTLE grease, very little as you do not want any to get on the clutch face. On my tractor there is an access hole, should be one on a skidder too. I only grease one once every several years and then only 1 press on the grease gun handle for mine. If none of these work try a team of horses, they are simpler to figure out.  ;D But you do need to fuel them every day. They can however make free replacement skidders, even more than you can use and these extra skidders can be sold. ;)