emergency brake

[68impalass]

Hello all, I have a strange problem with my e-brake. It sometimes works fine and then others I have to tighten the handle and then other times its very tight and I have to loosen it. Couldn't find anything in the good books so I am taking suggestions. By the way the knob does not turn, I taped it and that was no help.
thanks for the help

[m3a1]

Is your lining still attached to the brake band?

[rickf]

And is the return spring still attached to the band? You need to get the adjustment working on the handle. M3a1 did a good write up on that a while ago. Maybe you can jar his memory to tell you where it was.

[68impalass]

yes the band is in good shape, the handle and everything is tight and the return spring is there and working, the knob on the handle doesn't move. Strange

[rickf]

The knob was probably cranked all the way up and then rusted in place. Even at that as long as the side adjustment bolts for the band are adjusted correctly it should not be acting like that. Those side bolts need to be adjusted to give a certain clearance on the band all the way around the drum, this is measured with a feeler gauge. It is going to be hard to get it perfect without having the handle adjustment since that is the fine adjustment part of it. The adjustment underneath is just a preliminary adjustment.

[m3a1]

I looked for it. It's not under the Alley Cat thread. Maybe I can find it...maybe I can't.

[rickf]

OLD guy memory.

[rickf]

It was a 416 brake but I think the handle part is the same. Bailed you out again.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12006&p=102305&hili ... ke#p102305

[68impalass]

Thanks Rick but this A2 has not a speck of rust anywhere. I'm going to take the whole assy off and see what I find.

[muttguru]

I'm going to take the whole assy off and see what I find.

Before you take the assembly off, get that knob freed up first. Here's how I loosened the knob on my M416A1 trailer parking brake lever.
1. Wrap some tape around the lower part of the knob so that it forms a seal between the knob and the lever.
2. There's a small hole in the top center of the knob. Mine was painted over, others are blocked by dirt and grit. Poke the hole clean with a wire or probe.
3. Use an aerosol can of Plus-Gas (you call it Kroil I think). Spray it down the hole and then tape the hole over and leave for a couple of hours or more.
4. So as not to damage the alloy knob, cut a small strip of old inner-tube and put it between the jaws of Mole grip (monkey wrench) and adjust until the jaws firmly grip the knob.
5. Very slowly and carefully move the wrench a little...one way, then a little...reverse. Move it a bit further each time but if it sticks or jams, ease up and spray more down the hole.
6. It WILL free up....just don't rush it.
7. Once you've loosened it good and proper, remove the tape and spray some silicone grease or similar down the hole.
8. Finally, note your calendar to work the adjusting knob back and forth every couple of months.
Ken

PS... just one nit-pick....it isn't an emergency brake...it's a parking brake. If you use the brake lever to slow your vehicle down.... you may be in for a BIG surprise !