I'm out for tonight too. Maybe he'll have it all figured out by tomorrow or at least have new questions.

Why can't there be an old CAT stuck in my view from the back window, just needing to be moved. Some folks have all the luck! All mine seem to involve hauling.

"ccjersey" wrote:

Why can't there be an old CAT stuck in my view from the back window, just needing to be moved. Some folks have all the luck!

Well, there's being able to see it from the back window, and then there's being able to step out of the window into the driver's seat. Hmm, maybe that idea actually appeals to some of you guys!

It's not really quite aesthetically pleasing enough to leave it there in the wife's opinion, and I'm inclined to agree. She was going to cover it up with a creeper!

Last one for tonight...
The whole assembly moves forward and in the process the latches climb the stop and latch into position.

Not much you can do through a 1/2 in hole. The later access is about 2 in. diameter. Consider enlarging the hole. The adjustment can be made on the bench but it sure is handy to be able to tweak it on the tractor otherwise may be several removal/install cycles to get it right.

Yes it is possible the latches are gummed up, rusted, buggered up and some wear to the point where they won't latch.

The spring may be missing, broken or collapsed but they all started out with one.
Fairly common to have a bent engagement arm or missing button on the end of the latch housing.......usually caused by folks using the lever to hold the pinion in because it won't latch. Usually can tell by the large amount of free play before any resistance is felt by the spring or moving the latch housing.

This has happed to me when some one had ingauged the pinion in the flywheel by mistake!!!! I have been able to releace the two latchs on my tractor by getting a large pair of adjustable pliers in the clutch adjusting hole and complessing the spring, which lets it disingauge! Watch out,it lets go quickly!regards Andrew

Mmm...you must have a later model with the bigger access hole! There's no way I could get a set of pliers down my one! But I believe the latches are geared together, so if I can lever one of them with a screw driver, it should simultaneously move the other.

Thanks for your reply.

OK, now I understand, this is one of those "Honey Do" projects:D

Like I said before, some folks have all the luck. I usually have to figure out some way to use the equipment to do the project instead of it BEING the project.

Have fun!

No, same 4G as yours, did not say it easy , you may have to big mussels!!!, tried a lever but pliers works better. regards Andrew

Just a quickie: does the end part of the pinion assembly that contains the latches rotate with the pinion or is it stationary? Otherwise I was was wondering how you would manually disengage it in the case of the latches not releasing at main engine spin-up.

Yes it rotates....that's how you get the centrifugal force required to trip the levers.

Maybe best to leave it alone! get the pony running better and try it, if it doesn't release when it is supposed to then fix it.
If it ain't broken don't fix it.