Left Brake Locking up

[Tim_in_IA]

on my 6500 4wd my left brake has started locking up. If I pull the pedal back it seems to be ok for a while. The spring seems to still be ok on the pedal. Ideas on where to start troubleshooting? It is fairly dangerous when I am working and all of a sudden it steers off in another direction than what I am expecting.


Thank you

 

[Roadworthy]

If you can pull the pedal manually and have the brake release your spring may have weakened over time. I'd start by replacing both with new springs.

 

[ovrszd]

Not having any idea what type of braking system you have, just guessing.

Assuming hydraulic brakes? Also assuming internal oil bath brakes? Not much can go wrong in there unless the tractor has a gazillion hours on it.

Maybe the pedal swivel is dry and binding? Do they have a grease zerk on them at the swivel point? Do the pedals return easily when you take your foot off? Does the right one return as it should and the left one not? That might indicate a swivel problem.

If they are not power brakes, the left side will have more linkage to deal with and more chance of binding.

I'd start by tracing the left brake from pedal to activator.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

Not having any idea what type of braking system you have, just guessing.

Assuming hydraulic brakes? Also assuming internal oil bath brakes? Not much can go wrong in there unless the tractor has a gazillion hours on it.

Maybe the pedal swivel is dry and binding? Do they have a grease zerk on them at the swivel point? Do the pedals return easily when you take your foot off? Does the right one return as it should and the left one not? That might indicate a swivel problem.

If they are not power brakes, the left side will have more linkage to deal with and more chance of binding.

I'd start by tracing the left brake from pedal to activator.

Richard, yes left side is the issue. I've traced it through and to the other side. No visible zirk on the pivot that I could see but I'll check again. Spring looked ok but may be weak. Just doesn't seem to want to return every time. Stop pad is missing on pedal but that shouldn't really matter might just make a noise when it returns. They are wet disk brakes.

 

[ovrszd]

Richard, yes left side is the issue. I've traced it through and to the other side. No visible zirk on the pivot that I could see but I'll check again. Spring looked ok but may be weak. Just doesn't seem to want to return every time. Stop pad is missing on pedal but that shouldn't really matter might just make a noise when it returns. They are wet disk brakes.

So if you work the pedal by hand it freely moves?

 

[Reb954]

Is there a reason you don't have the two brake pedals locked together?

As others have mentioned, springs and lubrication could be the issue but it still pays to lock the two pedals together unless you specifically need to use them separate.

 

[ovrszd]

Only time I lock my pedals together is when trailering. Allows me to lock both brakes with a one pedal locking mechanism.

Why would you want your brake pedals locked together?

 

[Reb954]

To even out the wear on both brakes.

 

[ovrszd]

To even out the wear on both brakes.

Wet brakes wear at such a slow rate that you'd never notice the difference. If that's important, when applying the brakes center your foot on both pedals. Then you have the freedom to select either wheel by moving your foot slightly one way or the other if the pedals are unlocked. And you can use them for steering brakes which was the original idea.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I always keep brakes locked together. Unless you need to steer with the brakes. Who wants to make a quick unexpected turn into the Rhubard?

 

[SimpleSimon]

If you do ag stuff, you use a brake to make tight turns sometimes... I even do it with the rotary mower to save time.

 

[ovrszd]

I always keep brakes locked together. Unless you need to steer with the brakes. Who wants to make a quick unexpected turn into the Rhubard?

I can't remember the last time I applied the brakes and got an unexpected result because of the wrong placement of my foot.

 

[ovrszd]

If you do ag stuff, you use a brake to make tight turns sometimes... I even do it with the rotary mower to save time.

Yep. Steering Brakes.

The Farmall F-20 came with a cable system tied to the steering box at the front of the tractor and to each individual rear brake linkage. Turn the front wheels hard to the left and it applied the left brake. Same to the right.

 

[darmstrong2319]

I would spray PB Blaster or WD40 or your favorite spray lube real good all over the linkages let soak then do it again. If that don’t help replace spring or do both and see if that don’t do the job. I spray mine regularly with them locked or unlocked and they stay free and I also spray the linkage for 3-point to keep it working freely this is on a 4035 gear model. Good luck

 

[SPYDERLK]

on my 6500 4wd my left brake has started locking up. If I pull the pedal back it seems to be ok for a while. The spring seems to still be ok on the pedal. Ideas on where to start troubleshooting? It is fairly dangerous when I am working and all of a sudden it steers off in another direction than what I am expecting.


Thank you

I have a 7520. It has mechanical linkage, so Im thinking yours is similar. If so, take a look at the linkage elements. It will consist of rod(s) moved by and moving actuator levers. As the brakes wear the levers rotate further becoming more in line with the rod. If your release spring acts on the rod directly - or even through the brake pedal - its effect on the case lever diminishes as that lever rotates in line with the rod. This effects your brake power too but you can just push harder. . . . Your spring may have come to a critical point where it cant overcome both the normal friction and the extra force necessary caused by the slow change from optimum geometry. ... I havent had trouble but I did adjust the brakes several yrs ago and I think(?) there where some adjustment options that preserved geometry better.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

So if you work the pedal by hand it freely moves?

yes it moves if I move it by hand. Not sure if it is it's full range or correct range of motion yet. It's been extremely cold here so I haven't had a good time to work on it.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

Is there a reason you don't have the two brake pedals locked together?

As others have mentioned, springs and lubrication could be the issue but it still pays to lock the two pedals together unless you specifically need to use them separate.

Generally I do keep them locked together. I had to remove the lock as the left one was locking up and I had to pull it back. I do know people use them to steer and individually it can help. I generally use them together though.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

I would spray PB Blaster or WD40 or your favorite spray lube real good all over the linkages let soak then do it again. If that don’t help replace spring or do both and see if that don’t do the job. I spray mine regularly with them locked or unlocked and they stay free and I also spray the linkage for 3-point to keep it working freely this is on a 4035 gear model. Good luck

thank you when it warms up I'll give that a shot.

 

[ovrszd]

We were -7F here this morning Tim. No time to be trying to work on something without a heated shop. How much snow did you get?

 

[Tim_in_IA]

We were -7F here this morning Tim. No time to be trying to work on something without a heated shop. How much snow did you get?

We didn't get a lot of snow but we were -15 at one point. I don't have it in the shed at the moment and the shed I have has the slide doors that freeze shut in the winter. Not ideal. Things are looking up though so hopefully in the next few weeks I can work on it more. Have some travel planned so wont get to it likely till March. I really depend on it when I need it though so will be nice to give the tractor a good check over and figure out the brakes. I feel like I adjusted the clutch and brake linkages within the past couple years so I'll just go through them again and see if i can get a new spring on the left side, probably just get both. Thank you