I had a bit of luck (sort of)

[tjdub]

I bought my 450 three years ago. The previous owner had just replaced the left hand steering clutch, but the right side slipped a bit. It worked OK to use, but when I needed to really push (or pull) the right side would slip and howl. I just figured that the clutch discs were worn out or had been oil soaked once.

Yesterday, I was adjusting the steering clutches. I was about to put the plates back on, but decided to work the levers one more time to make sure everything looked right. Then I noticed that there were two bolts missing on on of the pressure plate arms where it bolts onto the clutch pack. Actually, one's head was snapped off, and one was missing. I found bolt to use, and with surgeon-like precision, managed to get it started with my finger tips. Next I got the bolt tightened with a tiny socket wrench using just my finger tips (can't fit your hand in there). Finally, I dropped the socket wrench down in the housing as I was pulling it back out

I spent the next few hours playing the crane game with a grabber tool and a magnet, but finally got the wrench back out of there (and I even retrieved an bonus nut and the original bolt that fell out of the.pressure plate.

The good news is that the clutch doesn't slip anymore! The bad news is I don't think I'll ever learn my lesson about tying wrenches to my hands when working around those clutch housings.

[rock digger]

Yes, you were lucky,but a note about loosing wrenches. when I worked on mine I found 4- 9/16 box end wrenches in the bottom of clutch housing.

So it really does pay to tie them to something before adjusting things. I consider myself lucky that they never caused a problem.

[tjdub]

So it really does pay to tie them to something before adjusting things. I consider myself lucky that they never caused a problem.

The last time I adjusted the steering clutches on this machine, I found a 9/16" wrench in the housing. Who knows how long that had been riding in there. I suppose it's possible that the broken bolt head on the pressure plate was the result of it catching that wrench.