October 2009....

Although fully functional some work is required to fully service the braking system. The handbrake ratchet spring needed replacing since it went missing or was broken over a year ago.

 

We have previously had one side of brake shoes relined when we renewed a leaking drive shaft seal 10 years ago so we will probably get both sides relined before replacing.

 

We stripped the right side brake drum which was removed with ease, we were expecting a fight. The mechanicals on this side looked good but the shoe linings looked very worn, Judging by this it's probably not the side we had relined around 1996/7 when we replaced a driveshaft oil seal.

 

November 2009….

The whole braking system and linkages got stripped down, cleaned and painted. The left side shoes were in good condition only having seen little use however we needed to reline the right hand side shoes. After chipping off the old bonded friction material the new linings were riveted to the old shoe bodies. All four shoes then got a nice coat of black bitumen paint.

 

To remove the back plate for spraying the drive shafts were removed one at a time, the oil seals were checked for any signs of damage. Along with the back plates the brake actuating cam shafts were removed. A conical spring fits on to the cam shaft at the back plate end; it’s designed to push a washer on to the back plate to seal the internal brake mechanism from dust and dirt intrusion. These springs on both sides were corroded through and each spring was in at least three pieces. Sourcing replacements proved difficult, the usual channels had none and even New Holland spares couldn’t get them. In step the friendly guys from Fordson Tractor Pages forum one of whom suggested trying Massey Ferguson as they are identical springs to MF135 etc.. After a phone call and a short trip we returned with four springs at £0.51 each.

 

The brake system was fully rebuilt and adjusted but we were still to replace the handbrake spring, and as the handbrake ratchet is attached to the left mudguard which was still awaiting some TLC we were in no rush.