1950 Model M brakes

[Pete Storm]

Hi all,

New guy here who just managed to find a 1950 Model M for what I consider a steal. Turns out she's been owned by the same gentleman for the past 25 years who is retired from govt work and now has a pretty good automotive business on the side so he's kept it in pretty great shape. Unfortunately he's been using it on some pretty flat land and the brakes are pretty useless if you find a slope. Of course, he's never really needed them!

So, my question is are there any external adjustments I can make to try to get a little more power out of them? If not, tough job to replace? I've seen plenty of parts places out there selling brakes packs, etc. so seems the parts are there.

Any tips?

P.S.

My mom's family was a Deere family through and through and just hearing my cousin say "Your mom would want you to have a Deere; a Johnny Popper" made me feel this one was the one for me. She's been gone 3 years now and I could feel her smiling still.

 

[Hotflashr]

Best advice is to buy the owners manual. Many places sell them and it had all the correct info on how to adjust the brakes. A brake job isn't too hard, but try adjusting them first. They also can get a glaze on the discs and metal components that you can remove by sandBlasting or scuffing.

 

[Tx Jim]

I'll second what Hotflashr stated to remove brake parts & clean them.

 

[Pete Storm]

Thanks guys. Do have the owners manual and strangely all it says owners can do is adjust the free play on the pedals. Service manual is in the mail!

 

[Hotflashr]

Wow that's strange. My MT manual has the adjustment process in it.

 

[Pete Storm]

(quoted from post at 01:01:54 04/09/12) Wow that's strange. My MT manual has the adjustment process in it.

Very odd. You wouldn't think a straight M manual would be that different from an MT. Assume when I get the service manual all the details I need should be in there.

 

[M-MAN]

That's pretty much all there is when it comes to adjusting them. Just adjust the rods out untill both pedals are almost at the top and even when your foot is pressing down on both. I hope that takes care of it for you as an M brake job is a chore. If you have to go in there you have to pull the final drives for access.

The brake parts you have been seeing on the web are for an MT and will not work on an M. You can get new facing's installed at a clutch shop or do them yourself if need be.

 

[Pete Storm]

(quoted from post at 15:01:05 04/09/12) That's pretty much all there is when it comes to adjusting them. Just adjust the rods out untill both pedals are almost at the top and even when your foot is pressing down on both. I hope that takes care of it for you as an M brake job is a chore. If you have to go in there you have to pull the final drives for access.

The brake parts you have been seeing on the web are for an MT and will not work on an M. You can get new facing's installed at a clutch shop or do them yourself if need be.

Wow, so that certainly explains why this guy never messed with the brakes. Saw an amazingly labor intensive process to work on the brakes listed on the web (but for some reason this forum won't accept my posting of the link but if you google "John Deere M brake repair" with the quotes you'll find it). If correct, I'll be adjusting the pedals as much as I can!

 

[Pete Storm]

(quoted from post at 15:01:05 04/09/12) That's pretty much all there is when it comes to adjusting them. Just adjust the rods out untill both pedals are almost at the top and even when your foot is pressing down on both. I hope that takes care of it for you as an M brake job is a chore. If you have to go in there you have to pull the final drives for access.

So, you're saying UNSCREW the rods from their yokes to possibly gain better braking?

And, yes, just received my service manual and oh boy you're right, the brake job would be quite a chore for not much gain for me!