The Ford Barn

Steve Plucker · 02-23-2014, 06:59 PM

What is the specified length, from eye to eye, of the assembled Emergency Brake Rods and where is it specified?

Thanks.

Pluck

700rpm · 02-23-2014, 09:50 PM

So what is it?

Marco Tahtaras · 02-23-2014, 11:21 PM

There are two important points worth mentioning here. First, regardless of what an author (or two?) have advised the ONLY fixed length rods were those used for service brakes when the equalizer system was in production. The equalizer system removed slack wherever it occurred and then applied equal pressure to each wheel. Without that system all rods required adjustment to remove the variable slack at each location. So with that in mind, ALL emergency brake rods required adjustment for proper function so any 'starting point' is moot if it ever existed.

Second, the reference mentioned had nothing to do with emergency brakes. It's for the intermediate pull rod on trucks.

I'm quite sure the Service Bulletins outline the full process of adjusting emergency brakes which would include adjusting the rod length for proper function.

700rpm · 02-23-2014, 11:46 PM

Marco, do you know why the equalizer system was dropped? I had that on my '28 rpu and thought it was pretty neat.

Steve Plucker · 02-24-2014, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras

There are two important points worth mentioning here. First, regardless of what an author (or two?) have advised the ONLY fixed length rods were those used for service brakes when the equalizer system was in production. The equalizer system removed slack wherever it occurred and then applied equal pressure to each wheel. Without that system all rods required adjustment to remove the variable slack at each location. So with that in mind, ALL emergency brake rods required adjustment for proper function so any 'starting point' is moot if it ever existed.

Second, the reference mentioned had nothing to do with emergency brakes. It's for the intermediate pull rod on trucks.

I'm quite sure the Service Bulletins outline the full process of adjusting emergency brakes which would include adjusting the rod length for proper function.

Oh S#$%!...How right you are...

Pluck

Marco Tahtaras · 02-24-2014, 12:38 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

Marco, do you know why the equalizer system was dropped? I had that on my '28 rpu and thought it was pretty neat.

It really is a good system when properly handled. I can only speculate on the reasoning for the change. I've always assumed it was a cost saving change which it certainly would be at least to a small extent. However it may have also related to simplification to make it tougher for an owner to muck it up!

FlatheadTed · 02-24-2014, 11:20 PM

As I understand it the system was first banned in OHIO then other states followed, If you lose braking from one wheel by a pin dropping out from one rod you will lose all your brakes .

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

Marco, do you know why the equalizer system was dropped? I had that on my '28 rpu and thought it was pretty neat.

Marco Tahtaras · 02-25-2014, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlatheadTed

As I understand it the system was first banned in OHIO then other states followed, If you lose braking from one wheel by a pin dropping out from one rod you will lose all your brakes .

I believe that story relates to the separate emergency brake system (or lack of). I still don't know if it's true.

pooch · 02-25-2014, 01:51 AM

I stopped driving my early 28 after the drums expanded or something happened one day , and I had zero brakes.

Lucky I was in a rural area, but was going downhill and I was along for the ride until a flat turn into a side road appeared.

After I went through the system and saw how it was designed and realised that if any single rod broke ,or drums expanded etc, you have no foot brake and no emergency brake, I got uneasy about taking it out again.

Imagine if a kid ran out in front of me......

No wonder Henry changed it, whether forced to by laws or not.

Ron in Quincy · 02-25-2014, 02:07 AM

They were a number of changes that took place on the floating brake system.

(1) the first Backing Plates had no roller tracks; this caused a occasional problem on the front brakes, the adjusting wedge would cock sideways and not release the brake shoes.

(2) Roller tracks were added to the backing plates but with the round hole in the adjusting wedge the same problem could occur if a return spring came off or one spring had less tension.

(3) On December 8th,1927 new brake shoe pins were released with one side flat to slide on the roller track. The same pins were below and above on the brake shoes, the upper adjusting shaft clevis was thick and used the same length pin (Jan. 1, 1928 Dealers Price List calls for 16 pins total for all 4 brake shoe sets).

(4) The pins with the flat side were only used thru January 1928 at which time the pins were made round, the top adjusting clevis was made smaller and used a shorter pin. The adjusting wedge was changed so it would only move up and down there by eliminating any chance of the wedge cocking and locking up the brake shoes.

(5) When the pressed steel hub was released the dust cover was made much thicker verses the early dust cover used with the forged hubs. With the new dust covers, the backing plate mounting bolts were shortened and mounted with the castle nuts on the outside. With the forged hubs and early dust covers the castle nuts were mounted to the inside.

Please for give me for not using part numbers.

The release date on the brake shoe pins with flat side were researched by Steve (Pluck).

Ron Rude

02-23-2014, 06:59 PM	#1
Steve Plucker BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA Posts: 6,066	Emergency Brake Rods... What is the specified length, from eye to eye, of the assembled Emergency Brake Rods and where is it specified? Thanks. Pluck Last edited by Steve Plucker; 02-23-2014 at 09:45 PM.

02-23-2014, 09:50 PM	#2
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 6,039	Re: Emergency Brake Rods... So what is it? __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

02-23-2014, 11:21 PM	#3
Marco Tahtaras Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,099	Re: Emergency Brake Rods... There are two important points worth mentioning here. First, regardless of what an author (or two?) have advised the ONLY fixed length rods were those used for service brakes when the equalizer system was in production. The equalizer system removed slack wherever it occurred and then applied equal pressure to each wheel. Without that system all rods required adjustment to remove the variable slack at each location. So with that in mind, ALL emergency brake rods required adjustment for proper function so any 'starting point' is moot if it ever existed. Second, the reference mentioned had nothing to do with emergency brakes. It's for the intermediate pull rod on trucks. I'm quite sure the Service Bulletins outline the full process of adjusting emergency brakes which would include adjusting the rod length for proper function. __________________ http://www.abarnyard.com/

02-23-2014, 11:46 PM	#4
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 6,039	Re: Emergency Brake Rods... Marco, do you know why the equalizer system was dropped? I had that on my '28 rpu and thought it was pretty neat. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

02-25-2014, 01:51 AM	#9
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: Emergency Brake Rods... I stopped driving my early 28 after the drums expanded or something happened one day , and I had zero brakes. Lucky I was in a rural area, but was going downhill and I was along for the ride until a flat turn into a side road appeared. After I went through the system and saw how it was designed and realised that if any single rod broke ,or drums expanded etc, you have no foot brake and no emergency brake, I got uneasy about taking it out again. Imagine if a kid ran out in front of me...... No wonder Henry changed it, whether forced to by laws or not.

02-25-2014, 02:07 AM	#10
Ron in Quincy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy, CA. Posts: 1,708	Re: Emergency Brake Rods... They were a number of changes that took place on the floating brake system. (1) the first Backing Plates had no roller tracks; this caused a occasional problem on the front brakes, the adjusting wedge would cock sideways and not release the brake shoes. (2) Roller tracks were added to the backing plates but with the round hole in the adjusting wedge the same problem could occur if a return spring came off or one spring had less tension. (3) On December 8th,1927 new brake shoe pins were released with one side flat to slide on the roller track. The same pins were below and above on the brake shoes, the upper adjusting shaft clevis was thick and used the same length pin (Jan. 1, 1928 Dealers Price List calls for 16 pins total for all 4 brake shoe sets). (4) The pins with the flat side were only used thru January 1928 at which time the pins were made round, the top adjusting clevis was made smaller and used a shorter pin. The adjusting wedge was changed so it would only move up and down there by eliminating any chance of the wedge cocking and locking up the brake shoes. (5) When the pressed steel hub was released the dust cover was made much thicker verses the early dust cover used with the forged hubs. With the new dust covers, the backing plate mounting bolts were shortened and mounted with the castle nuts on the outside. With the forged hubs and early dust covers the castle nuts were mounted to the inside. Please for give me for not using part numbers. The release date on the brake shoe pins with flat side were researched by Steve (Pluck). Ron Rude