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My 1937 L had sat for about thirty years without running, with the clutch disengaged, and I had the same problem the first time I started it. Because we had overhauled the engine and had the mag rebuilt, we thought it was safest to pull-start it the first time with my brother's LA. It took hold rather quickly, and when it did, I couldn't disengage the clutch. I ran into the back of the LA and shoved it into a tree before I got it to stop. Fortunately, no one was hurt and nothing was damaged. I remedied the problem by loosening the clutch adjustment a little, and after we ran it a while it started to slip, so I tightened it back up. I think maybe the disk had swelled with moisture and disuse, and after a while it got back to normal. It's been OK since. Properly adjusted, it should only take a moderate amount of force to engage it. Operation should be very smooth. The clutch runs in oil from the engine, and if the tractor hasn't been used regularly, it's a good idea to take out the drain plug below the clutch and try to flush out any accumulated sludge and goop from the clutch housing. Each time you change the engine oil, you should drain the clutch as well as the oil pan. It takes 17 quarts for an oil change!
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