Burnt clutch?
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Burnt clutch?
I was getting up hay yesterday, and noticed a faint peculiar odor. We couldn't quite place, so we kept on working. A few minutes later, smoke started coming from underneath the truck and the odor was intense. We realized that our driver had been riding the clutch as they drove around the field. We parked the truck and finished with another vehicle. Later, after everything cooled down, we drove the truck and gooseneck trailer (fully loaded) out of the field. I drove the truck to work today, and it seems to drive OK. How can I tell if my clutch has been damaged? Should I get it checked out at the dealership before making a big haul (I need to move my tractor to another work site)?
My truck is a 2001 F250 Super-duty 4x4 with V8 turbo-diesel.
My truck is a 2001 F250 Super-duty 4x4 with V8 turbo-diesel.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: CA Bay Area
Been long years since last time I was dealing with bad clutch, but usually first symptom is slippage. That shows the most at the highest torque applied what happens on overdrive pushing the gas pedal to the floor while going uphill.
To my knowledge there is no easy inspection for the clutch other than taking it off. If the truck runs fine in the test above, I wouldn't worry too much about it.
To my knowledge there is no easy inspection for the clutch other than taking it off. If the truck runs fine in the test above, I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Anchorage, Alaska
Yea, I was thinking the same thing - what's a clutch? People still use those in the 21st century! 
Anyway, from what I remember, as long as the clutch is well built (which I assume a SD clutch would be) it can make allot of stink and smoke and still be OK if the abuse was only short duration. Put it in high gear on a hill and give it full throttle. If the clutch doesn't slip then I wouldn't worry about it. If however it starts slipping allot when your pulling a trailer for instance, then yes, you should go get it checked.
Anyway, from what I remember, as long as the clutch is well built (which I assume a SD clutch would be) it can make allot of stink and smoke and still be OK if the abuse was only short duration. Put it in high gear on a hill and give it full throttle. If the clutch doesn't slip then I wouldn't worry about it. If however it starts slipping allot when your pulling a trailer for instance, then yes, you should go get it checked.
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I tried what you guys suggested. There was no slippage. I guess the real test will come when I'm holding my 10,000 pound trailer and tractor on a hill and then take off. Thanks Kajtek1 and Grumpy Moose for your suggestions!
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Texas
Welcome to FTE. How many miles on the clutch? My factory clutch started to slip around 212,000 miles. Not too long after I got a new clutch, my daughter did the same thing to my truck as you're describing. I was still on the tractor finishing the square bales and I could smell the clutch as they were picking up bales. I yelled and screamed and did all sorts of things.
That was around 100,000 miles ago with no issues since then. Unless your clutch was already on it's way out, I think you'll be fine.
That was around 100,000 miles ago with no issues since then. Unless your clutch was already on it's way out, I think you'll be fine.
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Misery does love company. Its nice to hear that someone else has gone through a similar ordeal, and that everything turned out OK. Thanks F350-6 for your comment. My factory clutch only has 78,000 miles. I'm just thankful that its a Ford!
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There is the "tree test". Drive up to a tree so the bumper is touching it. Put the truck in a high gear. If it stalls immediately the clutch is good. If it runs for any length of time the clutch is slipping.
I can't say that I have ever done this test but have heard of it many times....
I can't say that I have ever done this test but have heard of it many times....
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Thanks "asok" for the suggestion. I did try a similar test: I stopped on a flat road, revved the engine some, put it in 3rd gear, and dropped the clutch. It stalled instantly.
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