Removing brake hub?

[Biffer5]

I would like to remove the brake drum on my 1948 8n and replace the brake shoes and what seemed to be an easy thing to do has become a mystery. Every source I have looked at shows four screws securing the drum only my four screw holes seemed to be filled. What is holding on the drum?

This post was edited by Biffer5 on 03/20/2022 at 03:31 pm.

 

[deanostoybox]

Not sure what you mean by the holes appear to be filled in. The 4 screws are all that holds the brake drum to the hub. It is possible that someone left out the screws and installed the brake drum in a position that the screw holes are hidden, or that the screws are broken off in the hub. That is if you are actually seeing the 4 countersunk holes for the screws in the drum. Supposing the screws are broken off or missing there may be rust around the center hole which will make the drum hard to remove. Also if the drum is worn the shoes can prevent removal. Usually it is possible to back the adjusters off far enough to get the drum free in that case, but sometimes you have to bang the drum forward and backward after backing off the adjusters in order to center the shoes so that they do not hang up on the drum once the drum is free of rust on the center hole.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

If it has 4 holes, it had four screws. Someone removed the drum and didn't put them back, probably because they didn't know why the screws were needed.

Contrary to popular belief, the screws were not installed to keep the drum on the tractor while it was on the assembly line. If the purpose of the screws was to
hold the drum on, they didn't need 4 of them. For that matter, one lug nut would have worked. And, to keep the drum on when you removed the wheel, clips are
(were) used. You need to replace at least two of them. The design of the braking system requires centering the drum & the screws do that. Otherwise, only part of
the shoe will contact the drum. I found replacements at the local hardware store: 3/8-16 x flat head stove bolts. Put plenty of Never-Seize on them.
75 Tips

 

[Biffer5]

Thanks. Yea, like i said, it's a mystery, at least to me. I get a screw driver and poke down into the screw hole and it almost looks like liquid metal was poured into the holes. There are definitly not screws in there. It sounds like from what you are saying that without the screws there is nothing holding the hub on, except maybe rust? I just didn't want to bang on it if there was some screw I didn't know about.

 

[Eman85]

The drum is what's held by he screws. The hub is held by the 2" nut and it's on tapered splines of the axle. To remove the hub you have to remove the nut and have an adequate puller meaning heavy duty.
The brake drum is steel not cast iron like cars and trucks so avoid the banging if possible. Spray everywhere with some penetrating oil.

This post was edited by Eman85 on 03/21/2022 at 08:31 am.

 

[Biffer5]

(quoted from post at 08:29:46 03/21/22) The drum is what's held by he screws. The hub is held by the 2" nut and it's on tapered splines of the axle. To remove the hub you have to remove the nut and have an adequate puller meaning heavy duty.
The brake drum is steel not cast iron like cars and trucks so avoid the banging if possible. Spray everywhere with some penetrating oil.

This post was edited by Eman85 on 03/21/2022 at 08:31 am.

Thanks, I keep mixing up the "hub" with the "drum". I definitly do not want to mess around with the hub. I "gently" knocked the drum off. Sure enough the four screw holes have been filled in with some kind of liquid steel. All that was holding the drum on was the tire nuts. I've ordered new brake shoes and a brake kit so that is my next step.

I should rename my online moniker to "no_idea_what_he's_doing" but bit by bit I'm learning how keep this tractor going. I've had it for 20 years and it speaks well for the 8n that it's still running despite all my neglect.

 

[Jim WI]

(quoted from post at 12:01:05 03/21/22) Sure enough the four screw holes have been filled in with some kind of liquid steel.

I suspect that the four screw holes are filled with what's left of the machine screws after someone broke the heads off of them.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 18:08:05 03/21/22)

(quoted from post at 12:01:05 03/21/22) Sure enough the four screw holes have been filled in with some kind of liquid steel.

I suspect that the four screw holes are filled with what's left of the machine screws after someone broke the heads off of them.

hat would be my guess, too & very likely a good one.

 

[Eman85]

Now that the drum is off are the shoes in good condition? Is there any oil or grease anywhere?

 

[Biffer5]

(quoted from post at 19:14:15 03/21/22) Now that the drum is off are the shoes in good condition? Is there any oil or grease anywhere?

The shoes look pretty worn but not oily or greasy. Not to say the springs and inners don't look pretty dirty. I'm going to wait to get my new shoes before taking these off. Here is a novice question for you... when I put on the brakes I see that the bottom shoe pushes out but i don't see any movement on the upper shoe.
Is that how it should be?

 

[Den N Ms]

(quoted from post at 07:52:51 03/23/22)

(quoted from post at 19:14:15 03/21/22) Now that the drum is off are the shoes in good condition? Is there any oil or grease anywhere?

The shoes look pretty worn but not oily or greasy. Not to say the springs and inners don't look pretty dirty. I'm going to wait to get my new shoes before taking these off. Here is a novice question for you... when I put on the brakes I see that the bottom shoe pushes out but i don't see any movement on the upper shoe.
Is that how it should be?

Both shoes should move when pushing the petal down unless the eccentric is worn badly.

 

[Biffer5]

I guess the drum has to be on for that upper shoe to move. Finally figured that out. I got the shoe kit and i see that they gave me new felt. I wondered about that. But how do you apply the felt?

 

[Den N Ms]

Biffer5 , But how do you apply the felt?
I use 3M yellow weather strip adhesive ,works good.

 

[Biffer5]

(quoted from post at 04:39:53 03/25/22) Biffer5 , But how do you apply the felt?
I use 3M yellow weather strip adhesive ,works good.

Great, thanks.

 

[Biffer5]

Got the shoes on. Man, what is the trick for getting that big spring back on? That was a real bear.