Crazy Brake Idea

Paul007

Member
The internal disc brakes on my MF40 are toast, nothing. Balls, ramps, something in there. Repair guys says $2k minimum plus hauling it there. I use it primarily going up and down the steep dirt driveway to my cabin, using low gear, the backhoe or the bucket for an emergency stop. But what if the ending dies? Frankly I don't know how I've survived this long.

I don't have the tools and such to pull off the roof, backhoe, axles etc.. So I got to thinking; how about finding some truck brake rotors that fit the front lug pattern, weld some caliper brackets on the axle...
 
Hi,
Keep it in low gear and the bucket just clear of the ground with your hand on the lever to drop the bucket if you have
to in an emergency.

DavidP, South Wales
 
(quoted from post at 05:32:49 03/30/17) Hi,
Keep it in low gear and the bucket just clear of the ground with your hand on the lever to drop the bucket if you have
to in an emergency.

DavidP, South Wales

Yes, I do that now. The engine (diesel) has never quit while going down the hill (or up), I'm not sure if the bucket will dig in before the hydraulics quit. And the transmission (I forget the name, clutchless type) just freewheels with the engine off.

My other, older tractor, 1959 MF 202, has drum brakes and a manual transmission, either of which will slow or stop it on the hill. Sometimes change is not for the better. But it doesn't have a backhoe.
 
As long as you run where the cutting edge of the front bucket is pointing down at an angle it should stop you. On a TLB that has good brakes I still drive them with the front bucket about 1' off the ground with the cutting edge at an angle just in case. You probably could put the backhoe (or find one that goes on) on your 202. Your 40 has the "instant reverse" as they call it.
 
Also you could keep an eye open for a MF20 industrial (looks like a MF135, there is also a MF2135 industrial that also looks the same). If you could find a MF20 with the square cast iron rear axle housings, and equipped with a MF32 or MF34 loader your MF52 backhoe will bolt right on the MF20 (they use the same mounting brackets for the backhoe).
 
Sounds like my old Hough Payloader. Funny what we do as kids. I would get to the top of a hill and drop the bucket, Put it in reverse, and then coast down hill, bumping the clutch to slow down. Several times, as a kid, I made runner up in the Darwin Awards, Joe.
 

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