JD227A clutch finger gauge

[Tony]

I have a John Deere 450E crawler dozer that I need to set the clutch finger height. The service manual shows using a JD227A gauge to preform this task.John Deere is asking $268 for one. Does anybody know what the clutch finger measurement should be as the manual does not state? Is it the same measurement as the JD227 gauge which I beleive is 2 inches? Thank you! Tony

[Jim B]

I believe the JD227A gauge is the replacement for the JD227 gauge. Along the way some clutches required making some adjustments to the center area of the original gauge to fit over some pressure plates. I think they changed the part number when they incorporated the changes into the old JD227 gauge design.

[Tony]

OK so JD227 should work? Do you know if 2 inches is the measurement on this gauge?

[Jim B]

Use at your own risk, here are dimensions I have gathered around a JD 227, with the modifications, from various JD manuals.

[Tony]

Thank you sir for this information. Been searching for weeks trying to figure this out. Already pulled engine twice replacing clutch pack, clutch manifold, and transmission hydraulic pump. Wanted to get clutch fingers adjusted correctly so I dont have to pull a third time. Quite a job and parts aren't cheap but as my friend, which is a retired heavy equipment mechanic says, "It is what it is!" Hope to get my machine going soon.
Thanks again, Tony

[Jim B]

You likely caught this but is your clutch disc new? Gauge is not for use with a used clutch disc.

[Tony]

Yes sir I replaced it with a new one but didnt know it had to be adjusted. I have learned a lot working on this machine but learned it the hard way. Still got a lot to learn. The clutch would stop the machine but you had to press on the pedal until it bottomed out. Finally found someone to rebuild the clutch pack and resleeve the clutch manifold. The transmission pump housing and rotator were scored some but a guy at hydraulic shop told me to sand with fine sand paper and they might work. Got machine all put back together and pressure was at 175 for about 30 minutes then started dropping so I tore back apart and finally got the right cover and rotator. My parts manual called for one set of part numbers and the dealership called for another. Of course I ended up with wrong ones. Parts Specialist at Deere sent me some info on obtaining the correct one. The pump housing cover has two numbers on it but only one of them has a mark stamped beside it. My cover has T80869 which requires cover AT80831 and rotator gear AT18463 which is 1.040" thick and same measurement on housing depth. The other number on housing is T33320 which requires AT32521 cover and AT18993 rotator gear which measures 0.873" I am in the process of putting back together and keeping my fingers crossed this new pump resolves problem. Hopefully when I get clutch fingers, clutch freeplay and clutch valve adjusted everything will work.