I have encountered a strange growling vibration in the area around the clutch. The noise started when I released the clutch, the tractor still pulled good. I inspected the coupling between the clutch and transmission its good, I removed the coupling to check input bearing of transmission, its good, the input shaft turns easy. I removed the inspection cover on the clutch and everything looks good no pressure plate damage, it is an oil clutch. My question is what direction to head remove the clutch and inspect or start looking into the transmission. With the clutch released and in neutral, there was no noise. With the clutch enganged and low idle RPM there was no noise, but higher RPM brought the noise back.

I'd be checking the rear oil clutch output shaft bearing. When the clutch is disengaged the through shaft is not spinning.

Also be aware if it comes to pulling the transmission, the oil clutch has to be removed first to get clearance for transmission removal. (has to do with that long transmission input shaft).

Also be aware that pulling the oil clutch requires first removing the clutch oil pump to get clearance past the transmission input flange.

OM,
does the oil pump turn while the clutch is disengaged? Wondering about the screen and pump.

treemonster,
you might start there and check the screen and pump since they have to come out anyway.

CC,
The oil pump runs continuous as long as the engine is running.

thanks for the quick response, I will check the bearing, and let you know what I find.