Brake pedal locks

Hi everyone! I'm thankful I found this forum. I am an author looking for details about brake pedal locks in an older model Massey Ferguson. I know you're supposed to lock the brakes when driving at transport speeds, but how do you do that? Is it a pin? How do the locks work? What year did brake locks come on the scene?

Is it possible for a person to get onto an idling tractor and start driving it down the road without realizing the brakes are NOT locked? In my story, the main character's brother died in a tractor rollover in the past and I'm wondering if it's possible for it to be the main character's fault for telling his brother the brakes were locked when they weren't.

Are there certain years/models that you could more easily make a mistake regarding the brake locks than other years/models? I'd like it to be 1981 or older, a model you might reasonably rake a field with, but without a cab feature.

It is a small detail in the story, but I want to get it right. I appreciate your help!
 
The brake pedal lock depends on the tractor model, some use a latch, some a sliding pin. The brakes MUST be adjusted correctly too, or when locked tractor can still pull to one side due to the tighter brake.
 
(quoted from post at 20:20:38 11/07/19) The brake pedal lock depends on the tractor model, some use a latch, some a sliding pin. The brakes MUST be adjusted correctly too, or when locked tractor can still pull to one side due to the tighter brake.

That is very helpful, Dieseltech, thank you! How often would it make sense to adjust the brakes? Would you check their adjustment every so often (once a month?), or more regularly than that? Do you know if you would be able to tell if the brakes were locked if taking the tractor from idle to drive? Or is it possible to go from idle to drive without realizing whether they are locked?
 
Tractors have an individual brake pedal for each rear wheel. The reason for this is
to assist in turning......depress the pedal of the direction you wish to turn while
turning the steering wheel. The pedal will apply the brake to that wheel only,
allowing for a sharper turn.

To lock the brakes simply means to latch the brake pedals together so both wheels
are braked evenly, this is used when transporting the tractor to ensure straight
line stops, since both brakes are activated regardless of which pedal is pushed.
This can be easily seen in most tractors simply by observing the pedals and seeing
the latch or rod is set across both pedals. Locking brakes became popular during
the 40s as tractor road speeds increased, but some models did not have this til
1960.

Don't confuse locking the brakes with setting the brake which means to apply and
set the brakes so the tractor cannot move....like the parking brake in your car.
You are correct in that the brake pedals should be locked or latched together at
transport speeds....not to do so could result in inadvertent application of one
brake only , usually with disastrous results.

Ben
 
"I know you're supposed to lock the brakes when driving at transport speeds" - Some do and some don't. I driven Massey's for over 50 years and rarely locked the brakes. When driving a tractor your throttle is your first brake then gearing then your actual brakes are used. It's not that difficult to press down both brakes with your foot so that they engage the same amount, even if they are not precisely matched. In a field situation you're probably not in road gear so brakes aren't that big of a deal. When I was much younger we had a farm 5 miles away, lot's of back and forth with tractors and wagons, discs, etc. I would guess that my brakes were locked less than 10% of the time with never a problem. Currently my most used tractor only has ONE functioning brake and have used it that way for over 20 years, you have to know your limitations. Per your question if I jumped on a tractor and started down the road it would not matter to me if the brakes were locked or not. If you can't handle 20 MPH then you probably shouldn't be on any tractor. To each his own.
 
(quoted from post at 22:07:43 11/07/19) This can be easily seen in most tractors simply by observing the pedals and seeing
the latch or rod is set across both pedals.

Ben

Thank you very much, Ben. So the latch or rod (which depends on the model) is easy to see from the seat? If you DIDN'T look, would you still be able to tell they were locked when you started driving just by how it feels?

And can you recommend a 1975ish or so Massey Ferguson that could be used to rake but without a cab? Perhaps a MF 135?
 
(quoted from post at 22:25:51 11/07/19) Per your question if I jumped on a tractor and started down the road it would not matter to me if the brakes were locked or not.

This is really helpful, MF#1...if you're willing to indulge another question, what would be the step-by-step process for starting down the road if you hopped on an idling tractor? (I know you'd probably do it without even thinking, but if you had to describe it)
 

Hello Katie, Maybe this will help you. These pictures are of my MF202. The MF202 is the industrial version of the MF35 farm tractor. But the MF35 will have the same brake pedals that the MF202 has. This tractor was made in 1958.

In the first pic you see the pedal locking lever in the unlocked position. This means you can activate the right side brakes or the left side brakes by stepping on the appropriate pedal.

The next pictures shows the lever in the locked position. That means when you step on either pedal the brakes on both sides are applied.

The third shows the brake locking lever. It's like applying the emergency brake in your car. The lever is in the unlocked position.

The fourth pic shows the parking brake applied. When you flip this spring loaded lever up and step on the brakes, it locks into a ratchet block and holds down the pedal. To deactivate the parking brake, you just step on the brake pedal and it will release.

I hope this clears it up for you. When you talked about noticing if the breaks are locked together all you have to do is look at the locking lever and it's easy to see if the pedals are locked or unlocked.

It's also very apparent to visually see if the parking break is applied by just looking at the flip lever. But, on the other hand, it would be easy to just hop on a tractor without even looking at the brake pedals. I have actually had the parking breaks set on my MF202 and hopped on it and tried to take off because I didn't notice that it was applied. So it would be easy to overlook either lock if the operator was in a hurry.

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The way I do something is not always the way "most" would do it but is usually pretty close, your mileage may vary;-)
Assumptions: the tractor is mine or known to me, I drove it last or did someone else, did I start it up cold or was it worked to operating temp, 3 or 4 forward speed, etc, etc. I will use my 245 diesel as the example. When I get on the seat I scan the gauges looking for issues, clutch in, usually First gear-High range unless I'm pulling out on a highway then Second for a 3 speed and Third for a 4 speed, foot on the brakes, as I release the clutch I may or may not cross-check the brake lock(from your scenario), throttle to about 1200 to 1500 once the clutch is released, rolling then shift to either Third or Fourth(depending on transmission type), full or nearly full throttle and "away we go".

Given your premise about the brakes being locked or not, my "opinion" the scariest scenario would be that getting on a tractor, in a hurry(aren't we all?), when someone else was running it before, not checking the brake-lock(especially if the other person always changed it to their preference) AND the brakes were grossly misadjusted, and needing to make a really sudden stop, THEN the fun starts. Again, just my "opinion" Hope this helps.
 
(quoted from post at 12:20:35 11/08/19)
Hello Katie, Maybe this will help you. These pictures are of my MF202. The MF202 is the industrial version of the MF35 farm tractor. But the MF35 will have the same brake pedals that the MF202 has. This tractor was made in 1958.

Wow, Caryc, that is SUPER helpful. I really appreciate those pictures, you are the best! Would the same model of tractor in the 1970s have the same kind of brake pedals? And would the MF202 and MF35 both be used for raking a field?
 
(quoted from post at 12:54:51 11/08/19)
Given your premise about the brakes being locked or not, my "opinion" the scariest scenario would be that getting on a tractor, in a hurry(aren't we all?), when someone else was running it before, not checking the brake-lock(especially if the other person always changed it to their preference) AND the brakes were grossly misadjusted, and needing to make a really sudden stop, THEN the fun starts. Again, just my "opinion" Hope this helps.

This is a great help, MF#1, thank you again. Your descriptions are EXACTLY what I needed!! Does your MF 245 use a latch or a pin/rod for the brake lock?
 
(quoted from post at 13:04:28 11/08/19)
(quoted from post at 12:20:35 11/08/19)
Hello Katie, Maybe this will help you. These pictures are of my MF202. The MF202 is the industrial version of the MF35 farm tractor. But the MF35 will have the same brake pedals that the MF202 has. This tractor was made in 1958.

Wow, Caryc, that is SUPER helpful. I really appreciate those pictures, you are the best! Would the same model of tractor in the 1970s have the same kind of brake pedals? And would the MF202 and MF35 both be used for raking a field?

Sorry, I don't know about a 1970 model. But, any tractor can be used for raking a field. It all depends on what kind of implement you put on the three point hitch. I have a landscape rake that I use on my MF202. It can be used on any tractor with a category 1 three point hitch. Mu MF202 model was made up to 1967.
 

You said you were a writer so, it sounds like you are writing about some sort of accident or problem concerning a tractor. Perhaps if you told us what kind of accident or incident you imagine happening, we could better inform you of how it would happen with a tractor.
 
(quoted from post at 16:47:58 11/08/19)
Perhaps if you told us what kind of accident or incident you imagine happening, we could better inform you of how it would happen with a tractor.

Caryc, I want to know if this situation is possible/plausible: One brother comes back from raking the north forty, the other brother is mad he didn't finish and hops on the tractor to go back and finish it himself. He thinks the brakes are locked and takes the hard packed path back to the north forty a little faster than he should, a deer runs out, he goes for the brakes but they're not locked like he thought, the tractor jerks to one side just enough to catch the ditch, and the tractor tips.

So if anyone has any thoughts about how this might happen, what kind of tractor would make sense in the scenario, what I'm missing, etc., please let me know! I'm very grateful for all the help.
 
(quoted from post at 18:12:58 11/08/19) It uses a pin like the one in the pic. This is on a 1979 245.
<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto41381.jpg">

A picture is definitely worth a thousand words! That is great, thank you MF#1!
 
(quoted from post at 16:56:04 11/08/19)
(quoted from post at 18:12:58 11/08/19) It uses a pin like the one in the pic. This is on a 1979 245.
<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto41381.jpg">

A picture is definitely worth a thousand words! That is great, thank you MF#1!

It's not what's visible to the eye. The question is, does he bother to look to see how the brakes are set. There's lots of ways a tractor can kill someone if their mind is not totally on what they are doing.
 
(quoted from post at 17:46:40 11/08/19)
It's not what's visible to the eye. The question is, does he bother to look to see how the brakes are set. There's lots of ways a tractor can kill someone if their mind is not totally on what they are doing.


This is true, another thing is if the operator is not experienced with a particular make, or model of tractor. If they have never drove the tractor they should operate it at a low speed while getting familiar with the controls, how the brakes, and steering feel.

As far as tractor for raking hay a MF 35 built from 1960-1965, a MF 135 built from 1965-1970, or a MF 235 built from 1970-1976 for the most are pretty much the same tractor except for the styling of the grill, and hood. The ones with the Perkins 3 cylinder diesel engine are the most desirable, very reliable, and fuel efficient.

My 1967 MF 135 diesel with a MF 20 hay rake.
mvphoto45043.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 19:46:40 11/08/19)
It's not what's visible to the eye. The question is, does he bother to look to see how the brakes are set. There's lots of ways a tractor can kill someone if their mind is not totally on what they are doing.

He definitely doesn't bother to look because he's upset and in a hurry. Not a good combination around a dangerous piece of machinery! Thank you, Caryc!
 

Thank you for weighing in, ptfarmer, I really appreciate it. Great point about being familiar with the particular model.

I was leaning toward a 1975 MF 235 for the story. Thank you for the pictures, especially of the lock! Is the canopy on your 135 considered a ROPS? And is it removable?
 
(quoted from post at 21:49:35 11/08/19)
Thank you for weighing in, ptfarmer, I really appreciate it. Great point about being familiar with the particular model.

I was leaning toward a 1975 MF 235 for the story. Thank you for the pictures, especially of the lock! Is the canopy on your 135 considered a ROPS? And is it removable?




The canopy on my 135 is not a ROPS (I just made it look like one). I built it from some scrap metal, and a old golf cart top I had laying around, and it is removable. It sure helped me from being cooked in the Texas summer sun!
 
Hi, I'm amazed at the number of messages
posted in reply to this question
....24 so far! Something as simple as the
pedal latch which we would take for
granted. Just shows how helpful people on
here are. It doesn't have to be a
technical question and people are willing
to help to "get it right". Nothing I
could add to it. Well done everyone!
DavidP, South Wales
 
(quoted from post at 02:02:49 11/09/19)
The canopy on my 135 is not a ROPS (I just made it look like one). I built it from some scrap metal, and a old golf cart top I had laying around, and it is removable. It sure helped me from being cooked in the Texas summer sun!

Now that you mention it, it does have that golf cart look! Genius. Thank you again, ptfarmer!
 
(quoted from post at 03:30:03 11/09/19) Hi, I'm amazed at the number of messages
posted in reply to this question

I was thinking the same thing, DavidP! And I'm very thankful. In my story, what happens to the older brother is a very small detail but a VERY important one, so all of this help means a lot to me!
 
Yes, in THEORY you are supposed to lock the brake pedals together for road work, BUT IN PRACTICE (and in my 50 years experience of operating
a Massey 135), most of the time on a working tractor the individual brakes will not be matched exactly enough in terms of pedal travel for
this to be a good plan! If your brakes are not perfectly matched, locking the pedals together will result in one brake being inevitably
applied more than the other, possibly at higher speeds, with potentially disastrous results. Much better to get into the habit of catching
both pedals simultaneously with your foot, with the option of rocking your foot from side to side to 'feel' that both brakes are engaging. I
NEVER lock my brake pedals together for this reason. Jim
 
(quoted from post at 15:06:45 11/09/19) IN PRACTICE (and in my 50 years experience of operating
a Massey 135), most of the time on a working tractor the individual brakes will not be matched exactly enough in terms of pedal travel for
this to be a good plan! Jim

Interesting, thank you Jim! If the pedals had been adjusted so they were aligned correctly, could they become misaligned after only one use or would it take quite a while for them to become unmatched?
 
(quoted from post at 16:08:18 11/09/19)
(quoted from post at 15:06:45 11/09/19) IN PRACTICE (and in my 50 years experience of operating
a Massey 135), most of the time on a working tractor the individual brakes will not be matched exactly enough in terms of pedal travel for
this to be a good plan! Jim

Interesting, thank you Jim! If the pedals had been adjusted so they were aligned correctly, could they become misaligned after only one use or would it take quite a while for them to become unmatched?

They're not going to become misaligned after one use. The way they become misaligned is when the brake shoes wear down. Or I suppose when something like a break spring breaks. But, if the pedals are locked together, they can't become misaligned.
 
(quoted from post at 19:44:55 11/09/19)
They're not going to become misaligned after one use. The way they become misaligned is when the brake shoes wear down. Or I suppose when something like a break spring breaks. But, if the pedals are locked together, they can't become misaligned.

Okay, gotcha. That makes sense. Thank you!
 
If they were adjusted correctly then immediately locked together they might stay in alignment. However, if they are adjusted and then used
for even a day in 'individual pedal' mode for normal field work, I would not be too confident that they would still be spot on. The
machanical brakes on these old tractors have just too many variables and moving parts. I'll give you one guess as to how many working farmers
check the adjustment of their indivdual wheel brakes every day (or week....or month)! I'd say there was much more danger in jumping on a
tractor with 'locked' bakes and driving off down the road, not realising that the 'locked' brakes could well pull violently to one side, with
nothing you can do about it! Be safe on the road, don't lock them, learn to use them both together with one foot. Jim
 
If you want an accident scene just go to
fast on a narrow road with way to big of
a rake for a little tractor and lock the
brakes together! My kids when younger
would lock the brakes together and if you
didn't see it right away, could get
interesting on some hills.
 
(quoted from post at 18:37:33 11/09/19)
(quoted from post at 19:44:55 11/09/19)
They're not going to become misaligned after one use. The way they become misaligned is when the brake shoes wear down. Or I suppose when something like a break spring breaks. But, if the pedals are locked together, they can't become misaligned.

Okay, gotcha. That makes sense. Thank you!

The brake pedals can become misaligned during everyday use with the pedals unlocked. The pedals are close together so you can use both pedals when your foot hits them right. But most folks tend to hit the left pedal more than the right one or both pedals. Because of this, one side of the brakes usually wears faster than the other side. Like I said, lots of things to keep your mind on when driving a tractor.

I don't lock my pedals when using the tractor driving around on my property. I don't do any drastic breaking but when I do use the brakes I really don't know if I'm hitting both pedals at the same time since I really don't look at the pedals. But then again, I never get above second gear on my property. Not much chance of an accident caused by brakes.
 
(quoted from post at 03:59:06 11/10/19) I'd say there was much more danger in jumping on a
tractor with 'locked' bakes and driving off down the road, not realising that the 'locked' brakes could well pull violently to one side, with nothing you can do about it!

You've given me a lot to think about, thanks Jim!
 
(quoted from post at 07:29:45 11/10/19) If you want an accident scene just go to
fast on a narrow road with way to big of
a rake for a little tractor and lock the
brakes together!

Thanks for weighing in, Brown Swiss, I hadn't considered the part a rake might play in the accident!
 
(quoted from post at 11:09:38 11/10/19)
(quoted from post at 18:37:33 11/09/19)
I don't lock my pedals when using the tractor driving around on my property.

Okay, so it sounds like not many people actually use the brake locks on a regular basis. So if a rollover accident caused by brakes is unlikely, what kind of accident, that would be someone else's fault for something they did or maybe forgot to do (either involving a tractor or other farm equipment), would be more likely?
 
(quoted from post at 14:08:33 11/10/19)
(quoted from post at 11:09:38 11/10/19)
(quoted from post at 18:37:33 11/09/19)
I don't lock my pedals when using the tractor driving around on my property.

Okay, so it sounds like not many people actually use the brake locks on a regular basis. So if a rollover accident caused by brakes is unlikely, what kind of accident, that would be someone else's fault for something they did or maybe forgot to do (either involving a tractor or other farm equipment), would be more likely?

Ok, hold on a bit. It also depends on how fast the tractor was being driven at the time. Was it on a paved road or dirt? If the guy that brought it back and if the road was good enough that he could use a high speed, he just might have locked the pedals and left them that way. He could have also not locked them. It's a crap shoot either way.

I think that if you had them check the pedals after the rollover you could have them find that the brakes were not locked. It's your call. How many people reading your book are going to be that knowledgeable about tractors anyway?

The driver could have locked them or not locked them. It's your call. If I was reading the book, I'd be fine with it either way.
 
(quoted from post at 14:08:33 11/10/19)
(quoted from post at 11:09:38 11/10/19)
(quoted from post at 18:37:33 11/09/19)
I don't lock my pedals when using the tractor driving around on my property.

Okay, so it sounds like not many people actually use the brake locks on a regular basis. So if a rollover accident caused by brakes is unlikely, what kind of accident, that would be someone else's fault for something they did or maybe forgot to do (either involving a tractor or other farm equipment), would be more likely?

It could be that a deer or a dog ran across the road in front of him causing him to hit the brakes hard. If the brakes were not locked and he panicked and hit one pedal instead of both, I could see him going into a ditch and rolling over.

I sure am starting to feel sorry for the poor guy :(
 
(quoted from post at 18:15:31 11/10/19)
The driver could have locked them or not locked them. It's your call. If I was reading the book, I'd be fine with it either way.

Caryc, this is exactly what I needed to hear.

I don't know how many readers might be knowledgeable about tractors, but I don't want any farmers reading the book and thinking to themselves, "that's stupid, that would never happen because..." It's a great relief to me that you think this scenario could still work!

You mentioned paved road vs. dirt road...I was thinking a hard-packed dirt road with a ditch on the side, but do you think a paved road would make more sense because he would be driving faster?

I feel sorry for him too. And I also feel sorry for the brother left behind who blames himself.
 
(quoted from post at 20:56:53 11/10/19)
(quoted from post at 18:15:31 11/10/19)
The driver could have locked them or not locked them. It's your call. If I was reading the book, I'd be fine with it either way.

Caryc, this is exactly what I needed to hear.

I don't know how many readers might be knowledgeable about tractors, but I don't want any farmers reading the book and thinking to themselves, "that's stupid, that would never happen because..." It's a great relief to me that you think this scenario could still work!

You mentioned paved road vs. dirt road...I was thinking a hard-packed dirt road with a ditch on the side, but do you think a paved road would make more sense because he would be driving faster?

[color=red:4f76d20649][b:4f76d20649]I feel sorry for him too. And I also feel sorry for the brother left behind who blames himself.[/b:4f76d20649][/color:4f76d20649]

A paved road would let the guy drive lots faster. I don't know if you drive over many dirt roads but some of them can get pretty bad with rain damage so it all depends on how many of the people in the area will get out on their own tractors and take care of the dirt roads. If someone had just gone over the dirt road with a scraper in the last week or so, it would let a tractor drive over it at a good speed.

About your sentence above in red...hey, remember you're the one that's killing the poor guy. :mrgreen:
 
(quoted from post at 08:28:12 11/11/19) A hard turn when going to fast can do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1g-mUKGyYw

Sure can, especially if you're turning across on a down slope like that fool was.
 
(quoted from post at 01:37:47 11/11/19)
A paved road would let the guy drive lots faster. I don't know if you drive over many dirt roads but some of them can get pretty bad with rain damage so it all depends on how many of the people in the area will get out on their own tractors and take care of the dirt roads. If someone had just gone over the dirt road with a scraper in the last week or so, it would let a tractor drive over it at a good speed.

About your sentence above in red...hey, remember you're the one that's killing the poor guy. :mrgreen:

Yes, I live on a dirt road, actually. The potholes and mud can be terrible, that's why I wondered if a dirt road would be worse for the tractor because if maybe it was getting dark and you didn't see a big pothole? But I think the paved road makes more sense so he can be in a hurry and going fast.

It's true, I'm the one making these guys suffer! But that's what makes a good story. :) And I think I have a good handle on it now. Thanks again for everything, Caryc!
 
(quoted from post at 10:28:12 11/11/19) A hard turn when going to fast can do it.

Oh my goodness, that was scary, BIG1RED9! He was very lucky. I didn't think about a sharp turn causing a rollover, but it makes sense with the high center of gravity on a tractor. Thank you for the example.
 

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