1950 8N brakes

[RLBII]

What would cause a brake to lock up? The right brake will lock up if you touch the pedal sometimes. If you step on it a couple times or reach down and pull up on it, then it is fine. It does not do it every time. You can also put it in reverse for a foot or two and that also releases it. The brake pedal seems to work ok. It comes up on its own after being applied.

 

[HCooke]

I have the same problem on a '49. Will be following this to see the suggestions. One of the things I was told was to chamfer the leading edges of the shoes (did not help).

 

[souNdguy]

chamfering the edges do help.. but do you have it adjusted to tight?

soundguy

 

[RLBII]

I have not done any kind of adjusting yet and these brakes are the ones that was on it when I bought the tractor so I dont know how old they are. I dont know if they have been champered or not. Do you do this to old brakes or new, or both?

 

[Ed S.]

I wonder if your brakes are so worn that the cam (which twists to spread the shoes when you press the brake pedal) is lodging and holding them open…

Have you ever had your drums off? It's not the quickest or easiest job to do, but from personal experience, I sure do like my fresh, [i:bb0dda1590]working[/i:bb0dda1590] brakes!

es

 

[Anonymous-0]

Where did you get the edging for the brake backing plates?

 

[Ed S.]

From this site (YT):

Brake Drum Repair Kit - For 8N, NAA Jubilee. Replaces: 8N2027B Contains: Anchor (2), H2041 Adjuster Screw, 8N2217 Felt Backing Plate Seal, 8N2048 Adjuster Socket, 8N2223 Adjuster Nut, 8N2049 Adjuster Spring, 8N2297B Return Spring, 8N2299 Secondary Spring LH only. Brake Hardware Kit. (Part No: 8NAA2250)

Or, you can get just the felt:

Brake Backing Plate Felt Seal - For models 8N, NAA, JUBILEE. (Part No: 8N2217)

es

 

[pikewi]

its yer weaktit ignition switch

 

[RLBII]

I Have not had it apart but do want to get it fixed. The brake will lock up from time to time while you are moving if you happen to touch the pedal accidentally. It dont take much movement in the pedal to have this happen. I have a belly mower that I will be putting on and mowing 3 acres. I dont want to deal with a brake issue in the middle of mowing the yard. I guess more than that, I dont want the brake to lock up when I am not expecting it.

 

[Dunk]

If I remember correctly....

And I may need some help from the correctness police.

According to the book, the left side takes 3 springs, the right takes 2 springs.

Mine has 3 springs on each side, no difference, in mine (49 8N), from one side to the other.

The story is the extra springs are needed on the left due to the extra effort of getting the work in lifting the pedal from the right side.

 

[souNdguy]

when you install the new shoes, you file the leading edge a bit so it is not square rathger, but beveled.

soundguy

 

[JW Axtell]

I just did my NAA brakes last fall. Initially the didn't work worth a hoot. So I took the drums off to see what was going on. I found that either the new shoes or my drum (most likely the shoes) was out of round so that only a small portion of the drum was making contact.
I put everything back together and adjusted the brakes till they were pretty tight. For the next two weeks I rode the brakes very hard and kept tightening them up. Now they work fine.

 

[TwinCreek]

I have been dealing with the same problem. When I got my 8N the one brake locked in a dangerous manner. I believe the problem was a worn hub or axle. It appeared to me the brake drum was too far "over" the brake shoes and the shoes would actually contact the face of the brake drum. I saw marks on the drum. I changed the hub and the problem has lessened but one in a while still happens. I think I should have changed the axle as well. Plus I think the drum was damaged because the previous owner used it in this condition for years. Good luck!

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 02:43:29 02/26/09) What would cause a brake to lock up? The right brake will lock up if you touch the pedal sometimes. If you step on it a couple times or reach down and pull up on it, then it is fine. It does not do it every time. You can also put it in reverse for a foot or two and that also releases it. The brake pedal seems to work ok. It comes up on its own after being applied.

If you go to grinding on the shoes remember they are asbestos,,, your problem could b any number of the combinations mentioned,,, I highly recommend new brake return hardware when replacing 60 year old brake parts,,, also oil/contamination can cause brakes to grab