MF40 brake adjustment

[Jaypat88]

Currently my MF40 brakes do not work until fully depressed.
Operators manual says to adjust the adjustment nut with 1
-3/4 and 2-3/4 free travel. Currently the nut is really tight. To
fix my problem of not having brakes engage until fully
depressed so I tighten or loosen nut? How do I know if I need
new brakes or it simply needs adjustment?

Thank you

 

[Dieseltech]

Tighten the nut to reduce the pedal free play, may not work though if the brake discs are worn badly.

 

[DavidP, South Wales]

The most effective method of adjustment is to disconnect both pedal brake rods. Jack each side clear of the ground and adjust the nut up until the wheel just locks. The wheels will be stiff to turn because you are turning them through the reduction units. Tie the pedals in the fully raised position. Adjust the length of each brake rod until you can just fit the pin. Fit the splitpin. Slacken each nut until you can just turn each wheel. With both sides adjusted drive the tractoron concrete or tarmac preferably and apply the brakes hard. Adjust until both wheels lock or have equal braking effort applied. Park the tractor on a very slight gradient and release the brakes to ensure that there is no binding. As has been said - if you brakes are badly worn or contaminated with oil adjustment isn't going to help.

DavidP, South Wales

 

[Jaypat88]

I have been repairing the tractor slowly for the past few months. The brakes are next on the list. A few questions: Is there a indication that brake pads are worn out by tightening the adjustment nut? In other words, if adjustment nut can not tighten any further and brakes still do not engage or lock until last inch of pedal travel, that means it needs new brakes? I do not think the pads have oil on them since each tire does lock up when each pedal is fully pressed. When going down a hill, the brakes will slow the tractor down but fail to stop the tractor. On a flat surface the brakes seem to work fine, there is just a bunch of free play that I want to get rid of. I will try raising each tire and tighten the adjustment nuts on each side. I recently had to add drive axle fluid to each side since it was low. When driving with low drive axle fluid it seemed that the brakes would seize up or engage causing the engine to labor during travel. Ever since I added fluids to the drive axle the tractor drives great. Are the brakes and drive axles related?

Thank you for all your help!