JAMMED BRAKES! 3720 CAB

[JasonMac]

Well, I finally got my machine back from the dealership service dept.. (Slow as molasses) I'm not happy with my dealership at all, they've had my tractor for a about 5 weeks before the snow fell this year, then ran out of time, and had to send it back to me because I needed it so badly, (only minor glitches needed to be fixed on my tractor, no major surgery) then after winter they wanted it to go back up so they could finish what they started.... another 5 weeks of having my tractor, and I'm like finally you fixed the little annoying things I've been asking you to do for the last 3 years....

so basically everything looks good, Auxillary couplers on the loader are now the way they should be, the PTO can be run without something heavy in the seat (example running a woodchipper).... 5 weeks for minor glitches to be resolved is a long time, especially when they called me for the machine to go up to the dealership to fix what they started to fix but never got around to the first time they had the machine for 5 weeks....

anyway... finally gets delivered today, couldn't wait to use it....

THE BRAKES ARE LOCKED!!!! didn't anybody notice the machine only moves in low range without trying to stall? The machine stalls in the first ten feet in "C RANGE" Nobody noticed this? WTF????

So my question is what should I do? I'm so very upset with the dealership, I think they need to fix this, but I don't want them to hold my tractor hostage for another week or so, I mean I got work to do!!!

I've pulled on the linkages under the tractor, nothing will move! The pedals are totally released from the Park Brake Mechanism..... so it's not me... The brakes are solidly locked down on tractor... and what gets me the most is they would have had to drive it onto the flatbed truck and noticed something isn't right at all, and they still delivered it to me....

It takes a lot to get me mad! But now I'm Mad!

 

[PSDStu]

Can't help you with the locked brakes....... but from what you have said about that dealer I sure wouldn't want them to work on anything.

Is it possible to call/take it to a different dealer in your area?

Good Luck!

Stu

 

[AKfish]

Well, that would DEFINITELY push me over the edge, too!! 10 weeks and then they screw it up - creating a worse situation than before!!

I'd give the dealer a call and politely explain the problem... hopefully, the brake fix can be done at your house. If the dealer fails to understand the true nature of the problem and doesn't offer to send a Tech out to your house pronto or make immediate plans to pick your tractor up and fix the problem -- well, I'd be on the phone (after asking the dealer for the phone number) to the regional office.

Best of luck.

AKfish

 

[gunmaker]

Do a bit of research, and get hold of a JD dealer rep or district mgr., complain up the food chain.

 

[mfreund]

That is exceptionally long time to repair your tractor. Before I complained too loud I would make sure YOU understand how to get the brakes unlocked as they would have locked the brakes on the trailer.

I have a heck of a time unlocking them on my 4310 and they can still be locked even when the indicator is unlit. Just don't want you to have egg on your face because it makes you look bad to the rep and the dealer look ok.

 

[orlo]

Are the brakes jammed, or is the parking brake jammed? The linkage on the cabs (I have a 3720 cab too) is very sensitive to bending the little cable at the end of the parking brake. Mine got jammed and the parking brake wouldn't release. Basically when I pushed the red button the cable slipped through the end and wouldn't release the brake pawl even though the red 'release' button was hitting the dash.

Look under the hood, the end of the cable is just two 90 degree bends "__|--" and if the cable bends a little it'll slip right through and your brake will be stuck on. A pair of needle nose pliers and some elbow grease should help you.

I'm betting that's what it is. If the red parking brake release doesn't feel as if it's doing anything that's definitely it. A slightly poor design but in my case it came from pressing the red release while the brake pedal wasn't pushed hard enough (or at all) and bending the cable. (It's a solid core cable so it holds a bend). The pawl is spring loaded to engage so without the cable to push it out it doesn't matter how hard you press the brake pedal it won't release. The pawl's teeth and either a slight spring preload or just gravity prevent it from disengaging until the release cable pushes it away. A better design would release it (with a spring) as soon as you pressed on the brake pedal.

 

[JasonMac]

Thanks Orlo, I did go out and look at it. The Red knob is totall released, so it seems like something is obstructing the movement of the linkage underneath the tractor, near the rear axle. Maybe a hose or something, I'm not sure.

called my dealership earlier today to talk to the manager, someone in the office answered the phone and told him he was busy with a customer, then I asked for the service manager, and they said he was out to lunch. So I gave it about 4 hours, and then called back, and the service manager answered the phone. I let him know how PO'd I was. He said obviously I can't get someone out there today. I said, fine, Tomorrow I want somebody out here to fix this, he said when I can get one of the guys free to come out I will... I said, look, make someone free to come out, step on someone elses head instead of mine for once. Or you come here and figure it out yourself, I can't leave the shop... how about after... or make someone free your top priority... he didn't seem to care, he'll get to it when he can get to it is what I kind of got from him.

whoever drove the tractor had to have known this wasn't right, even in first gear the machine is very labored. B range is very very labored, C range it stalls.....

I also let him know that I can't afford to have my machine held hostage for weeks again. This is costing, not being able to use it...

I don't recommend these guys for service at all..... SLOW, SLOW, SLOW, SLOW, and incompetent...

 

[orlo]

Jason:

That's just it, the knob will be released, but the end of the cable will have slipped through the end of the pawl/ratchet so the brakes won't release. I'm still betting that's it. If you look under the hood or maybe pull off the inside cowling (4 screws I think) you can see the brake pawl and I'll bet it's still engaged. Another way to check is unjoin the pedals. the parking brake pawl is just on the right one. If the left pedal comes up then the pedals are depressed, probably from the parking brake pawl.

 

[Acolar]

I just had my 3520 delivered on Sunday and when the delivery service droppd it off the brake brake ICON in the cluster was illuminated. The red park brake release did not work to disengage it. I recalled reading this post last week and did not panic.

However, I finally got it to release but dont recall just exactly what sequence of events caused it to release. I believe the last time I tried I had the tractor running so I wonder if there is any electrical interface involved in the brake releasesd or it just happend to be coincidental.

I am trying to follow up on the suggestion to remove the plastic panel in the dash but it appears the red brake release knob must come off to. I have not yet received my service manuals on CD so I have not yet attempted to investigate. just not using the park brake currently, wheel chocks instead.

Anyone have a photo of the park brake cable/pawl spring area they can share?

Thanks

Tony

 

[orlo]

Acolar:

I don't have any schematics and I'm not sure if I took off the interior panel or could
reach it under the hood. (I had them both up/off but I can't remember where I could finally reach it. I did use a pair of needle nose vice grips to put it back in place and bend it back.


That's exactly what happened to me before it failed completely. I used to have to 'fiddle' with it and it would finally release.

Once you fix it the key is to NEVER press it in before you press hard on the brake pedal to release the pawl. If you do you'll slowly 'bend' it again, that's what causes the issue.

You cannot just 'press it in' to release it, you need to press the brake pedal very hard to release the paul and then press it in. Kind of a crappy setup.