Jay4200
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2005
- Messages
- 2,054
- Location
- Hudson/Weare, NH
- Tractor
- L4200GST w/ LA680 & BX2200D w/ LA211
Penetrating oil, heat, BFH: 0
Brute force, ignorance, and a welding rod or two: 1
So, I tried again to free my L4200's seized brake adjuster turnbuckles. Aerokroil, BFH, and welded bumps so I could use a pipe wrench allowed me to put pressure where it needed to be. I did actually got the first joint I tried to free-up to unscrew, although the rod was bent in the middle of the threads when it finally came out, so it evidently did twist before letting go. After getting the first joint apart, I decided to just let joint #2 have it and *SNAP*, it broke it right off. Sonofa...
As it turns out, one of the turnbuckle/rod assys was about 1/2" or so shorter than the other, and I broke the shorter one. I welded the broken rod back onto the turnbuckle, then fit the welded assy onto the other (previously longer rod) side. Luckily, with the shorter rod installed, the pedal free travel was just about perfectly to spec (~3/4"). I then cut about 1 1/2" of threads off of the piece that I did get apart, which gave me a couple of turns into the turnbuckle. I didn't trust the high end of the threads to work, since the threaded section did bent, so I left room for just a couple of turns into the turnbuckle, figuring I could force that much if need be. It turned out to thread easily, and I had enough adjustment a couple of threads in for me to get the second pedal travel exactly matching the first. I carefully removed the 2nd rod, then welded the rod to the turnbuckle. Blam - both pedal adjusters at perfect length - albeit permanently. A little grinding and a shot of Massy Black (with matches Kubota grey perfectly), and the "remanufactured non-adjustable" rods look factory.
So, my brakes are now adjusted to factory specs, and I doubt that I'll ever need to adjust them again during this tractor's lifetime. Sa-weet.
JayC
Brute force, ignorance, and a welding rod or two: 1
So, I tried again to free my L4200's seized brake adjuster turnbuckles. Aerokroil, BFH, and welded bumps so I could use a pipe wrench allowed me to put pressure where it needed to be. I did actually got the first joint I tried to free-up to unscrew, although the rod was bent in the middle of the threads when it finally came out, so it evidently did twist before letting go. After getting the first joint apart, I decided to just let joint #2 have it and *SNAP*, it broke it right off. Sonofa...
As it turns out, one of the turnbuckle/rod assys was about 1/2" or so shorter than the other, and I broke the shorter one. I welded the broken rod back onto the turnbuckle, then fit the welded assy onto the other (previously longer rod) side. Luckily, with the shorter rod installed, the pedal free travel was just about perfectly to spec (~3/4"). I then cut about 1 1/2" of threads off of the piece that I did get apart, which gave me a couple of turns into the turnbuckle. I didn't trust the high end of the threads to work, since the threaded section did bent, so I left room for just a couple of turns into the turnbuckle, figuring I could force that much if need be. It turned out to thread easily, and I had enough adjustment a couple of threads in for me to get the second pedal travel exactly matching the first. I carefully removed the 2nd rod, then welded the rod to the turnbuckle. Blam - both pedal adjusters at perfect length - albeit permanently. A little grinding and a shot of Massy Black (with matches Kubota grey perfectly), and the "remanufactured non-adjustable" rods look factory.
So, my brakes are now adjusted to factory specs, and I doubt that I'll ever need to adjust them again during this tractor's lifetime. Sa-weet.
JayC
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