Guys, this is a general model question due to the handbrakes on all models being so similar. I am flummoxed.
Neighbour, got a Colorado. Poor handbrake. Forget for the moment any real holding power. We aren't at that stage.
Shoes good. Inner drums good. General condition good. Top spring now the right way round. Very little wear in the bell crank pivot. All springs in place. Clevis pin free. Wire rope thing engaged on crescent thing. Look you get the idea, I wrote the thread on handbrakes. He's even fitted a new cable.
So what do we have. Well, wind the little cog so that the shoes are rammed against the drum, wheel locked ok. Then push the bell crank outer end to take up the slack and wind out the little mushroom headed 6mm bolt. Errr, hang on. The end of the crank where the handbrake clevis pin goes must move 30mm at least. So long that even a lengthened bolt won't act as a stop. And even at that, with the cog backed off one notch, it's only just enough to cause the brake to come on very slightly. Forget levers and adjustment on cables etc, this is hand operating the crank. Where the hell is that movement going? He's had the whole lot out on the deck and put it back in again to my instructions. I repeat it's all in really good condition in there. No muck, rust, scrunge or anything. With the disc off, operating the crank simply doesn't transfer any movement to the shoes. Bottom adjuster is in there, top spreader plate is in there. Genuinely I can't think of anything else. Anyone had a similar experience with huge movement and no effort applied? I have not been round there all day so I haven't seen every single bit, but when I ask him, he's able to describe exactly what should be in there.
Sensible ideas please. Anyone mentions brake fluid levels and I shall come round in the night....
Neighbour, got a Colorado. Poor handbrake. Forget for the moment any real holding power. We aren't at that stage.
Shoes good. Inner drums good. General condition good. Top spring now the right way round. Very little wear in the bell crank pivot. All springs in place. Clevis pin free. Wire rope thing engaged on crescent thing. Look you get the idea, I wrote the thread on handbrakes. He's even fitted a new cable.
So what do we have. Well, wind the little cog so that the shoes are rammed against the drum, wheel locked ok. Then push the bell crank outer end to take up the slack and wind out the little mushroom headed 6mm bolt. Errr, hang on. The end of the crank where the handbrake clevis pin goes must move 30mm at least. So long that even a lengthened bolt won't act as a stop. And even at that, with the cog backed off one notch, it's only just enough to cause the brake to come on very slightly. Forget levers and adjustment on cables etc, this is hand operating the crank. Where the hell is that movement going? He's had the whole lot out on the deck and put it back in again to my instructions. I repeat it's all in really good condition in there. No muck, rust, scrunge or anything. With the disc off, operating the crank simply doesn't transfer any movement to the shoes. Bottom adjuster is in there, top spreader plate is in there. Genuinely I can't think of anything else. Anyone had a similar experience with huge movement and no effort applied? I have not been round there all day so I haven't seen every single bit, but when I ask him, he's able to describe exactly what should be in there.
Sensible ideas please. Anyone mentions brake fluid levels and I shall come round in the night....