CA Brake Mystery - UPDATE #5

Good job !! I’m glad you got it done. Yeah I forgot that part to about the tapered shaft. I was relieved when I hit that point too and it just slid off. Ray

Ray - thanks for sharing your methodology. Dennis, I think there's a chance that I could have gotten the drum off without the carnage. Had I known about the tapered shaft, I might have given it a try. But I was thinking that I would have to drive the drum all the way off - I was really surprised when it came loose once off its location on the shaft. The key, either way, is being able to drive the drum toward the rear end with the air hammer. In this case it's not a real loss as the drum was so badly damaged by the worn out brake band that was on the tractor when I bought it. We'll see how the next side goes!

Took some measurements of the old drum. The original diameter was 6"; the wear is about 1/16" all around the drum. So the diameter under the brake band was 5.875". The 0.125" reduction in diameter equates to about a 0.4" reduction in the circumference of the drum. The only way to compensate for that was to tighten the brake band. It seems to me that offsetting the lost 0.4" would soak up a fair amount of the available adjustment. I'd be interested in other opinions!

Edited by Dave(inMA) - 06 Mar 2019 at 9:06pm

Dick, the braking power on this tractor was almost non-existent. I couldn't hold the tractor on a slight grade. It's flat dangerous, especially here in New England.  I think the lack of braking power is a combination of factors: the drum surface was scored noticeably, dating back to the bands that were on the tractor when I got it; worn drum surface; hinge in brake band frozen. The toggle seems to be fine - no slop on pivot pin nor the toggle pin. The brake band lining wasn't worn much, though it was cracked in a couple of spots - perhaps from being straightened to insert it? I like your idea of installing the band with the housing off the tractor. Wish I'd thought to do that! I could always pull it off again......the challenge is handling the tire which is loaded.

Steve, should have done so but I didn't. However, I'm expecting this drum to last for way longer than the modest wear and tear I'll put on it. So maybe I just created a problem for the next guy that owns this tractor?!!? I'll do better on the other side.

I'm happy to report that the left hand side brake is done. The band slid right in, assisted by a length of wire I ran around the drum and attached to the pin bore at the end of the band. I didn't have to deform the band at all. Here's a shot of both ends of the band pinned to the housing and the toggle, respectively:

Edited by Dave(inMA) - 08 Mar 2019 at 1:31pm

That thing looks threaded !! Good job on getting the right side off. Glad it went easy for you. That spring is a real test to get on. I haven’t started my right side yet got a couple things that needed fixed pronto. Will be doing it in a couple days. I hope it comes off easier. Keep us updated when you do get it going and do final adjusting.    Ray

There HAS to be some kind of a trick to putting that spring on.  When I do mine this summer, maybe I'll find one,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,unless someone else HAS a trick to it.  I've got the brain cells spinning already thinking about it........

ANYBODY??

Ted, i did the spring this way: inserted it through the toggle and hooked it over the the adjusting screw. Then I reached down inside the front of the brake housing with a long thin screwdriver and pushed the hook end out into the slot. Finally, I pried the hook the rest of the way through the slot.

Over the years I've come across a few NOS B,C,CA brake reline kits that the lining was extra thick. I know I've never used them as the normal ones always worked just fine for any brake job I ever did.  Now the question is: where are they stashed?