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Harry Ferguson Tractors Discussion Forum
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TO-30 Brakes froze up?

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Boss Hog

05-31-2006 09:53:07




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I have a TO-30 that hasn't really been taken care of. Before I got the thing I'm pretty sure it sat out a lot and had little maintenance. I'm trying to fix things on it one by one.

Last weekend I tried to get the brakes working. I adjusted the brakes with a flat tip screwdriver, but it didn't change the "feel" of any of the pedals. So I'm guessing that something in the brakes is rusted to the point where it isn't moving.

So what next? I assume the wheels have to coem off. But I've never messed with the brakes on a Ferguson before. Do the brake drums just slide off? Or is there something special you have to do to get at the brakes?

Thanks for any help you can offer...

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gshadel

05-31-2006 12:39:51




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 Re: TO-30 Brakes froze up? in reply to Boss Hog, 05-31-2006 09:53:07  
John has some good info in his post. I just rebuilt my brakes last Winter so it is fresh in my memory. The drums should pull right off the axle hub after you remove the wheel, the countersunk screw holding the drum to the axle, and back off the adjuster. Once the drum is off, the brakes are really easy to work-on. I had a siezed adjuster, ended-up beating off one of the drums - my bad luck. The adjuster has some "wiggle room" and is right next to one of the brake springs. It can feel like it is turning, but is really just moving in/out against the spring as you push on it with a screwdriver. The brakes can get pretty gunky and rusty, and if the axle seals are bad, oily from tranny oil. I think I spent more time cleaning drums,parts, etc. than anything else.


George

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John (UK)

05-31-2006 11:03:37




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 Re: TO-30 Brakes froze up? in reply to Boss Hog, 05-31-2006 09:53:07  
What usually sticks on these brakes is the inboard joint at the end of the independent brake pedal. To test if it is this..LIFT each independent brake pedal and if it bends the brake rod running alongside the Centre Axle Housing it is seized. They can be difficult to free at times, but persevere. You don"t usually need to remove anything major, just slacken off the clamp on the end of the brake pedal and slide it off, you now have to get the next part off and that is the part that is seized.(the part the brake rod attaches to) Clean it up but don"t grease it as it has a self-lube bush in it and if you lube it at all the bush will swell and seize the pedal up again. Just make sure they are polished up with emery tape. To get the drums off there are two countersunk screws holding the drum on, remove screws and slacken of brake adjusters and the drum should come off. If you remove the shoes do make a note of which spring fitted where as if you get it wrong they wont work. Check the length of the brake rods when you come to rebuild it all, remove the pin from the front end near clutch pedal and pull on the brake rod when you have adjusted the brakes right up, and slacken the clevis on the brake rod so that you can adjust it to allow the pin to fit in with the brake rod still pulled to remove any slack. Then adjust the brakes by slackening off about six "clicks" to start with.

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Boss Hog

06-02-2006 05:10:19




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 Re: TO-30 Brakes froze up? in reply to John (UK), 05-31-2006 11:03:37  
Well, I stopped to see my tractor last night. I tried wiggling the brake pedal like you sugggested, and the shaft that goes out to the brake housing DOES move.

So it sounds like I'm gonna have to take the wheels off and see what's going on inside there.

Thanks for the help.



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John (UK)

06-02-2006 07:34:51




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 Re: TO-30 Brakes froze up? in reply to Boss Hog, 06-02-2006 05:10:19  
The shaft will usually move, very rare it doesn't BUT did you try LIFTING each independent brake pedal in turn to see if the brake rod alongside the transmission started to bend, that is the only way to tell if the inboard joint on the independent brake pedal is seized and if it is the brakes just don't work. That is what I was trying to tell you, it is something that is always neglected and can give the most trouble when it is.

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Boss Hog

06-03-2006 05:07:48




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 Re: TO-30 Brakes froze up? in reply to John (UK), 06-02-2006 07:34:51  
Maybe I'm not entirely sure what you mean.

I grabbed one of the independent brake pedals and moved it both up AND down. When it moved, the shaft going from the transmission out to the brake housing moved too.

Am I not understanding what you mean? If neither one of the shafts is froze up, wouldn't whatever's not working have to be inside the brake housing?



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John (UK)

06-03-2006 06:22:44




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 Re: TO-30 Brakes froze up? in reply to Boss Hog, 06-03-2006 05:07:48  
LIFT the independent brake pedals one at a time and if the BRAKE ROD that runs alongside the transmission up to the brake pedal shaft through the clutch housing bends, then the inboard joint on the rear end of the independent brake pedal is seized. ONLY LIFT the pedal to check this, it is very rare that it wont turn the shaft that runs across the axle and into the brake drum. Now if the brake rod doesn't bend then the joint at the end of the independent brake pedal is ok and the fault will lie in the brake drum. But don't forget to check the length of the rods when you are fitting it altogether as some people try to adjust the brakes on the rods and it just doesn't work.

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Boss Hog

06-04-2006 10:30:48




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 Re: TO-30 Brakes froze up? in reply to John (UK), 06-03-2006 06:22:44  
I had time this morning to drive out to where the tractor is kept. And I tried lifting the pedals up.

Both of the rods seemed to bend a little when I pulled up on the pedals. But not much.

You said to take the independant brake pedal off the shaft. I didn"t have time to do that today, but will give it a shot.

I"m still not 100% sure I understand what you"re saying that the problem is. But I"ll take your word for it and give it a shot.

Thanks for the help.

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John (UK)

06-04-2006 11:45:29




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 Re: TO-30 Brakes froze up? in reply to Boss Hog, 06-04-2006 10:30:48  
If the rods bend then the joint at the end of the independent brake pedal is seizing up, this will not allow the brakes to work correctly and you have to have these free before you can do anything at the brakes. If they are not free the brakes will not go to the fully off position so any adjustment you do will be next to useless. The rods should NOT bend at all, if they do it proves the pedal joints are seizing up and because they are like that the brake linkage will never actually go fully off. I have some info on this that I have written if you would like it email me at:-
fergusontractors(at)tiscali.co.uk
and I will send it out to you.

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