185 Clutch?

So I was mowing awhile back and as I bounced through a hole the tractor stopped moving. Couple times with clutching and away it went. Then it came to a halt for good and I heard the clutch throw some shrapnel. Anyway I have it split planning on getting a clutch ,pilot bearing and throw out. However I can’t see anything wrong with pressure plate but it has a pretty good grove(to me) cut in it from a spring or something. I only use it to mow and run the hay fluffer so it doesn’t need to be perfect but the mower will pull from time to time. Just wanting opinions on pressure plate. See picture below, it’s the worst grove, hopefully it’s nothing and I’m too paranoid. Flywheel looks perfect.

Oh you can see wear in center of pressure plate but I don’t see this as a problem as there should never be pressure there or maybe not?

I would put a new pressure plate while you are already in there.  The grooves might cause uneven wear on the new clutch plate.

No way I would split a tractor for a clutch disc and not replace Pressure Plate and both bearings, and by all means resurface the flywheel.

Do it right or don't complain if it don't work good and last.            MACK

The pressure plate can be resurfaced, not a problem at all and can have the thickness brought back to where it should be by using thicker pads to pick up the difference, but it NEEDS the flywheel to be resurfaced, so that the buttons can seat in good. Take the flywheel to a machine shop that actually resurfaces flywheels...they do a far better job than a lathe...and will put the correct cut on it to knock off the high spots on the buttons...

Okay...I never saw that...that's where the loose center hub out of the clutch disc slung around inside there and cut a pretty good groove in it...it's okay, as I do have another unit I can use (core) and just use the parts out of your old one later...pressure plate, cups...things like that...

Standard procedures while tractor is split: #1. replace clutch disc and pressure plate. #2. resurface flywheel.  #3. replace rear crankshaft seal and wear sleeve.  #4. replace clutch shaft seals(s) and gasket. #5 replace throw out brg.  #6. replace pilot bearing. ..  Anything short of these things and you will one day have to get back in there for something.

That would be #7.

Old age. Shock loads. Dumping the clutch. Heavy PTO loads. Many clutches fail like that in 4 to 5,000 hrs. How many are on it ??

A 7' mower isn't much on a 185. I run a 15' batwing on my 170 and 180 diesels and they handle them easily. Even in heavy stuff.

Sounds like they didn't check their gear box clutch and adjust it every spring.

Be sure to adjust the clutch pedal free-play to 4 inches and that will give you many years of service life.  That's a sharp looking tractor and the OEM muffler always stands out compared to any after-market muffler.

Your 185 is a gem! Glad you got it going again.

Good looking tractor for sure, see you put a Grammer seat on it -  how do you like it ?