No brakes Ford 861

slipperyshap · May 22, 2018

I am old and handicapped but, I managed to replace the brake shoes, pivot pins and bushings last summer on my Ford 861. I tried adjusting the brakes after the wheels were back on, but found that the wheel wouldn't move after adjusting the star wheel in the usual way. I would back it off so that the wheel would turn, but now I didn't have any brakes. I have worked on cars, trucks and tractors for over 50 years and know how to adjust brakes, but I never had this kind of problem because I never worked on mechanical brakes before. It has taken since last summer for me to come up with a reason for no brakes. Could it be that my brake drums are warped enough for the shoes to not contact the drums when I back off on the adjustment? I looked at the actuating lever that presses the shoes to the drums last year and they looked slightly worn. If anyone has an answer, I would appreciate hearing it. I don't have the dexterity to step on the brake, lower the bucket, and mower each time I want to stop. Help please. Slipperyshap

Larry NCKS · May 22, 2018

It seems like there should be a happy medium there, between won't turn and won't stop. Maybe a very fine line.

riveroadrat · May 22, 2018

Worn drums? There is also a bushing in each trumpet that gets worn, see how much slop you have there. So I wouldnt have to tear into that mechanism I was going to lift the shaft and slide a piece of shim at the point where the pressure is applied and clamp it with a hose clamp to the brake shaft. There is a plug in that bushing hole that keeps your oil in the rear axle so dont damage it. You would think they would have made it solid, I would have.

WayneIA · May 22, 2018

Worn drums?? to a degree! Grind off the edges of the brake shoes to compensate for the rounded worn edges of the brake drum. (inner and outer) Adjust the brakes up until you can't turn the the adjuster anymore., apply the brake pedals a couple of time during this process,
than back it off till the wheel will just turn.

slipperyshap · May 22, 2018

Thanks for the advice guys. I hadn't thought about thought about a Red Green arcing of the brake shoes. It will be worth a try if I can ever get someone over here to help me get the wheels off of the tractor. The drums come off easy.

riveroadrat · May 23, 2018

On a side note, does anyone know why some pedals seem to fall and others seem to hold their position up. I think the falling ones are constantly wearing your shoes. Wear parts, springs?

riveroadrat · May 23, 2018

If you got concrete you might pull them with a cherry picker, chain hoist. I know they are heavy especially if they have water. Where are you located, someone on here might be close to you. What does Red Green mean.

Billy NY · May 23, 2018

The operating rod that is connected to the pedal and butts up against the frame of brake shoe, that acts like a cam when the brake pedal is depressed, has an end on it that can wear down significantly. Right where the flat spot of it meets the brake shoe, steel to steel. Those have to be built up with weld and ground down flat. If done too thick, you won't get the brake drum on, so it's trial and error, but not very hard to do. Aside from all the other parts, and if those are good, this part being worn leaves too much free play between the 2 components.

Larry NCKS · May 23, 2018

(quoted from post at 16:34:54 05/23/18) What does Red Green mean.

Oh boy! If you don't know Red Green, you don't know duct tape and bailin' wire. :lol: 8)

riveroadrat · May 23, 2018

Im down south Larry, but I have never heard that expression. I know duct tape and baling wire. I'd still like to know its meaning.

slipperyshap · May 24, 2018

The operating rod that is connected to the pedal and butts up against the frame of brake shoe, that acts like a cam when the brake pedal is depressed, has an end on it that can wear down significantly. Right where the flat spot of it meets the brake shoe, steel to steel. Those have to be built up with weld and ground down flat. If done too thick, you won't get the brake drum on, so it's trial and error, but not very hard to do. Aside from all the other parts, and if those are good, this part being worn leaves too much free play between the 2 components.[/quote]

Dear Billy, I saw that cam that you are talking about when I did the brake job. I couldn't remove the rods or weld them in place, so I buttoned it up. As for Red Green, he is a Canadian funny guy who you can watch on youtube. He is an inventor of sorts who builds backhoes out of Cadillacs and aluminum ladders, or boats out of industrial sized air duct work. Funny guy. Thanks for the replies guys.

Larry NCKS · May 24, 2018

(quoted from post at 22:08:39 05/23/18) Im down south Larry, but I have never heard that expression. I know duct tape and baling wire. I'd still like to know its meaning.

Red Green (not his real name) is a Canadian TV personality. His show ran from 1991 - 2006 and is still aired in syndication on PBS TV. He does, or at least did some tours.

Here's the link: [color=red:f67804cb11]Red [/color:f67804cb11][color=green:f67804cb11]Green[/color:f67804cb11]

Larry NCKS · May 24, 2018

Oops! I reversed the colors. It shoulda been [color=green:995387a78d]Red[/color:995387a78d][color=red:995387a78d]Green[/color:995387a78d].

No brakes Ford 861

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