Parking Brake issues on TC45

tdw230 · Aug 6, 2005

I have noticed that after operating my TC45 for several hours that the parking brake lever on the floor is extremely hard to set. Does this have something to do with the hydraulic fluid heating up? If the tractor is cold the parking brake lever is easy to operate. I appologize up font if this a dumb question! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Thanks in advance

tc35dforme · Aug 6, 2005

An odd problem...the brake locking lever is a mechanical linkage that just flips a rachet dog in to grab the depressed brake pedals....I can't see how operating for several hours will affect it...

Hey Jinman ....... your thoughts.... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

itsmatt · Aug 7, 2005

I've noticed that sometimes I have difficulty setting the parking brake as well on my TC45. I didn't notice if it was after running for several hours, but I'm going to try to track when it is happening now. I too would be interested in anyone's insight on this issue.

Matt

tc35dforme · Aug 7, 2005

There were issues posted in the past regarding the brake not holding well and releasing at the wrong time. I fixed this issue on my 35D by very slightly bending the grabber critter to better align the teeth with the locking thingy on the brake pedal.

Sorry for all the technical terms.... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

DocHeb · Aug 7, 2005

You should push down on the brake first, then pull up on the handle. Please excuse me if this is too simple.

itsmatt · Aug 7, 2005

DocHeb,

Yeah, I understand how to set the brake. I suspect that tdw230 does too. The point is that it doesn't always set.

Matt

johnday · Aug 7, 2005

Chris; I caught your humour.LOL /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DocHeb · Aug 7, 2005

Not much humor, just thought that if the lever was pulled first before stepping on the brake, there might be problems. My son tried to set the brake like this the first time.

I was afraid I might be offending them, but the thought came to mind. Oh well.

jinman · Aug 7, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hey Jinman ....... your thoughts.... )</font>

Sorry I missed this earlier, but way back when I first got my TC45D, the parking brake lever would seem to get stiff in it's operation for no apparent reason. It was so bad that it was hard to pull up to engage and when I stepped on the brake pedal to release it, I had to push down on the handle to get it to release.

I found the two pivot points for the handle were overly tight. I took them apart and cleaned the bushing and lubed them a little and since that time I've not had another problem. It's my guess that that is what's happening to Matt and the other gent who posted this problem initially. The only reason I can think that would make it a problem when the tractor warms up is the natural warmup of the running gear might transmit heat down the parking brake mechanism and make an existing problem a little worse due to metal expansion within the bushing. Not sure. . . but that's all I can come up with.