B2620 broken parking brake lock

[dablack]

On my B2620, you press down on the brake pedal and then push down on the orange handle by your right knee. Then you can lift your foot from the brake and it stays locked.

My beautiful wife was using my tractor while I was out of town. My scaffolding showed up and the driveway was too muddy for the 18 wheel to come up to the house. So she used the tractor to take the scaffolding from the road up to the house. Now the orange lever by my right knee doesn't work. I can hear stuff banging around when you move the lever but it no longer locks the brake which is a real problem on hilly land (which I have). I was home for a couple of days and confirmed the failure but didn't get to do any trouble shooting or take anything apart. So, while I'm stuck out of town working, I thought I would do a little research. Didn't find much so I'm posting.

Common failure?
Pics of what probably failed?
Disassembly steps?

thanks
Austin

 

[HillStreet]

Look below the floor board, under the brake pedal. You should find it right away.

 

[oldballs]

I'm wondering if she drove it with the brake on enough to damage something?? I've took off with the brake on, but could hear the noise that it makes and then released it. Probably we all have done that. But running it with the brake on for awhile might ruin something.....just guessing.
Someone on TBN probably can answer that.

 

[TnAndy]

Not familiar with your tractor per se, but they are usually a simple curved pc of metal with gear type teeth cut in them that lock onto a tab on the brake pedal. Possible the bolt/nut that holds the paw to the frame came loose/off and isn't making contact with the brake petal tab now. Take your cover off that side and you'll see the reason pretty quick.

Or it might be like mine on the Yanmar.....I set the brake really hard, then the metal handle going TO the paw bent when I went to release it (metal was only 1/8" thick)....I rebuilt mine using 1/4" metal. Also the teeth on mine weren't cut very deep into the paw and I took a metal cutting blade on a grinder and increased the depth a bit to more fully engage with the tab on the brake pedal.


Here is the original brake handle connected to the teethed paw. The hole in the middle is the mounting/pivot point.
My handle is down lower than knee level....more about mid shin. It is SUPPOSED to work like yours....step on the brake and flip the handle up to set...then set on the brake harder, flip it down to release the brake.

Yeah....that works fine on a flat parking lot. Unfortunately, when the brake is set REALLY hard.....like on a steep hill....you can't press the brake enough more to release it.....so I'd have to stomp on the handle with my foot, resulting in the twist in the handle you see in the photo. Also they put a stupid little plastic slip over cover on the end of the handle (the pointy end) that didn't last anytime before it was gone.....

Original handle....shade over 1/8"

New handle I built 1/4" x 1 1/4 bar stock:

NEW brake pedal:

Back on the tractor with a coat of red paint on the set/release petal. Been working without a problem now for 6-7 years.

Hopefully, yours won't require a re-design and rebuild like mine did, but if so, maybe this gives you some ideas.

 

[dablack]

Thanks guys. Yes, since I can hear noise when I move the brake lock handle, I'm sure everything is attached on that end. It is most likely a little clip or something missing where it is supposed to engage the brake. I will follow up when I finally get home to check it out.