Brake Adjustment Issue - 4600

[rmonio]

I have some questions concerning the brakes on my JD4600 HST. I recently hit the 500 hour mark and had the dealer do the maintenance for me (the stuff that said - SEE YOUR JOHN DEERE DEALER in the manual). All seemed to be have done right - and when it returned, I changed the filters and other items myself.

The other evening (this was about 2 weeks ago when they did the work), I took the tractor out to do some moving of whiskey barrels (Flower Pots) so they wouldn't be in the way when we get some snow (imagine - no snow at Christmas in Minnesota! ). In working with the unit, I noticed that the parking break engaged - but when I worked the right pedal (to lock the right wheel - there was no engaging the brake). Now, I know that the right wheel is the one locked by the parking brake and both should tightly lock down the wheel so if anything, it would spin while driving - but it doesn't do that.

Does that mean the Dealer misadjusted the linkage? Also - if I was to check the linkage, where is it and how would I know where to look? Is there a manual that shows all of this? I plan on dropping by the dealer to pick up my two new "touch-up pens" that JD Alerts sent me a free coupon for - and I will ask him at that time to address the issue. But to those who know anything about working with these brakes, what might have been done? This certainly wasn't the issue before.

Thanks for your help!

-Bob

 

[dirtworksequip]

There should be a turn buckle at the ends of the brake linkage. You should be able to get some adjustment there. To find them crawl under your tractor and look for the break pedals. Then just follow the linkage to the back of the tractor. There will be one for the right and left brakes. You can go to deere.com and pull up the parts drawing on the brake linkage and it will give you a better idea of what you are looking for. Hope that helps.

 

[jcotta]

Bob ,

I have a John Deere 4600 and just went over 500 hours. I plan I doing the 500 service the same way you did. How much did you pay for service and what did dealer do. I figure dealer would be better at adjusting valve lash etc than I would . I have no experience with local dealer as I bought the machine used. The prior owner had machine serviced 10/05 and paid over $800 for service. Did you get the brake adjusted ?

John

 

[rmonio]

John -

I had the dealer do the following for me:
- Drain/refill MFWD Fluid (because I don't trust the dipstick on it - hard to tell the fluid level and if they screw it up, then it's their problem to fix.
- Adjust the engine valve clearance
- Check/adjust the parking brake

The remainder of the service - change air and fuel filters, etc., I could do myself. My bill was a bit more as I also had them modify my ballast box to work with my i-Match - so the bill was about $250 for everything. Considering they had to take everything off the engine to get at the valves and they also had to take off the wheels/drill the plug in order to drain the MFWD fluid, I thought this was a good deal.

The problem I noted earlier in the thread concerning my right brake was due to the fact that when I got the tractor back, the right brake no longer worked. The Parking brake still worked - but after talking to the service manager today, we're thinking the linkage "slipped off" during the adjustment and the service tech didn't catch it. He will catch it - however - when he comes out to my house next week (on their dime) to correct the problem.

I'm also buying a service manual of my own so I can determine how to do some of these things myself. The 4600 manuals don't update that often, so the manual content should be pretty static and I'd suggest getting one for yourself (they are about $120 in hardcover and CD/DVD).

Net/Net - to you question, I do most of my service work myself unless it is something that I'm not able to do reliably (nor have I done enough of them to know the tricks/settings correctly). For example, doing the valve settings or even the MFWD fluid... I'm sure I could figure it out - but you only do them at 500 hours and therefore it's cheap insurance for me to have the dealer do them. I do the filter changes (air/hydraulic/oil/fuel) and the other minor maintenance as those are things that once I do them regularly, I can be confident I'm doing them right. But unlike a technician who is doing these on tractors all the time (and has the backing of the dealership if something goes wrong), I would suggest being careful on those particular items that don't get done often or say "SEE YOUR JOHN DEERE DEALER" in that particular spot in the service list.

-Bob

 

[jcotta]

Bob,

Thanks for the info. I did change the oil and filter myself at season end. I will probably probably have dealer do the same service you had done, with valve lash and change MWFD fluid. I would like to have dealer in my area do some work on the machine before I really need him for something more demanding. I could probably do everything myself, but would feel better be backed up by a professional. Mechanics who work with tractors every day should be able to pick up things I might miss. I did buy the service CD for the machine and just printed manuals on paper for easier use. Give us an update when brake corrected.

John

 

[rmonio]

Thanks, John. I agree on all of your points and will post an update on the brake situation when they address it for me next week.

Is the Service CD worth it? I have copies of the on-line manuals for the 4600 (from the JD site - check out this link: JD 4600 On-line Manual -- thanks to Mike [Rockyridgefarm] for finding this link)... what's on the CD? I am going to buy a copy anyway but would be curious to know what's on there.

Thanks again for your help, John. Enjoy your 4600! (I know I do!)

 

[rmonio]

UPDATE -

My dealer was out yesterday and found that the left side pedal (right wheel brake - same as parking brake) was disconnected due to the bar that slides into the pedal wheel having it's locking nut gone. Without having a picture of it, there is a wheel that the brake pedals turn which has a bar/nut combination - this bar/nut pulls the linkage to the rear brakes and engages/disengages the braking action.

For some reason, the nut on the parking brake side for that pedal was gone. Naturally, I would have thought that "Checking Adjustment of Parking Brake" during my 500 hour service would mean taking the side cover off the engine hood, looking at the wheel/bar/nut combination to make sure things were working and then setting any adjustments as necessary. All they did was climb on, push the pedal, check for a lock, and them move on. Well - let's just say that they admitted "Checking" should mean pulling the cover off and checking everything in the future.

So, the problem is solved and I learned something about what is underneath there. I could have repaired it myself - and will certainly look at that in the future. To that end, I ordered the 4600 technical manual on CD so I can check some of these things myself... Not that I will do the valve spacing check or other items that really require the Dealer's intervention (I'll still have them do that). Rather, it will help to diagnose if I DO NEED their help or whether I CAN do more of it myself (as I will have a better understanding of what I'm looking for.

As it often said, you learn something new everyday!

Thanks for your help everyone.

-Bob

 

[jcotta]

Bob,

Sounds like your dealer made good. I just had good experience with local JD dealer in my area. My oil level was too high and kept creeping up. I changed the oil a month ago and still had the same problem. I called dealer ( Tom's Lawn and Garden Portsmouth RI) Tuesday morning . They said they would pickup and deliver machine for $100. I gave them go ahead. I called today to ask about the machine and they said it was fixed and back in my yard ( summer house). I was in shock . I said that had not paid for the repairs. They were just going to bill me.

Total cost was 291.00 with pickup and delivery. The diaphram in the fuel pump was leaking fuel into oil sump. They fixed that, changed the oil and fuel filter to complete job. I asked them about the valve lash and said machine was running fine that they would check next time thru. This was my first service with them and did not buy machine from them. I bought the machine used. So when you read all the posts and they tell you find a good dealer, they know what they are talking about. You will find the CDa valuable reference tool.

John