brakes are stuck - 730 case

[jcrane]

I have a 730 case and i had set the brake when I turned it off and then about 1 week later I went out to use the tractor again and the right brake won"t let go. It was and is about 20 degrees.

I have tried to go both forward and reverse to try to "break it loose", and it is locked up solid. I can"t get it to move.

My question is can I just heat it up with some kind of blower or torch, or do I need to take the whole thing apart. Help! I am not extremely mechanically inclined, but I need my tractor!

thankyou for any advice.

Jeremy in ND

 

[rrlund]

I'm not the go to guy for Case,but I think most all of those brakes of that vintage were made by the same manufacturer. Isn't there just a flat cover on that with 3 bolts in it that take a 3/4 inch wrench? If there is,just loosen those bolts so the cover will come out about half an inch,then start the tractor and rock it back and forth. It should pop loose. Just don't get run over or run over somebody or something else.

 

[Adirondack case guy]

I would try some heat first or wait for a day with above freezing temps. RR's sugestion will also work. Once you free it up I would try to find some time to pull the brake apart, clean up the discs making sure they are clean and moisture free, and check the balls and springs. If the discs are shiny and glazed take a DA sander to them with 150 grit paper and deglaze them. It's unlikely, but posible that a disc delaminated and coincedentally wedged the assembly so it won't move. RR's solution would likely let the tractor move, if that is the case.

 

[JayinNY]

Maybe you can cover the rear end of the tractor with a tarp, and put a reddy heater or any other kind the salamander ones blowing on it to thaw it out, just dont leave it unattended, then check the brakes as said below. Is the tractor sitting outside, or in a shed, ect. J

 

[jcrane]

thank you for the good advice. the tractor is sitting outside. I am going to work on it this weekend

 

[INCase]

If you think its thawed out enough, loosen the bolts around the brake drum (3/4" wrench and loose meaning heads are 1/8-1/4" from drum) and give it a couple love taps with block of wood so that the the drum comes loose from the frame. Try to rock tractor by hand. Should come loose retighten bolts and move tractor slowly listening for anything wrong in brakes. You may have to pull it apart but it was probably froze OR rusted up. I've had one rusted so it wouldn't move. IF you take it apart make sure you don't loose the balls between the actuators.