The Ford Barn

signsup · 02-03-2025, 08:14 PM

Been readding what I can about the process and understand the basics, very similar to military trailer hand brakes with cable and yoke. But when I climb under my 42 Mercury, I'm lost as to the actual procedure. My handle in the car rachets all the way and the brakes do not grab, under the car some play in the cable hanging down. So time to tighten up the cable.
But the cable from the dash with the threaded rod on the end needs to have the jam lock nut loosened and the yoke tightened up.
If I pull the cotter pin and the clevis pin on the yoke to release the rear cable so I can turn the yoke to tighten, how do I get the cable back into the yoke and insert the clevis and cotter pin?
On the trailers, the cable at the rear has rings and clivis pins into exterior arms on the brake backing plate that actuate the shoes. But my Mercury cables go into the brake drums from the backing plate and do not release unless I get inside the brake drums.

Just need a nudge in the right direction to tighten up that yoke.

I'll hang up and listen. Thanks in advance.

02-03-2025, 08:14 PM	#1
signsup Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 201	Adjusting parking brake cable 1942 Mercury Sedan Been readding what I can about the process and understand the basics, very similar to military trailer hand brakes with cable and yoke. But when I climb under my 42 Mercury, I'm lost as to the actual procedure. My handle in the car rachets all the way and the brakes do not grab, under the car some play in the cable hanging down. So time to tighten up the cable. But the cable from the dash with the threaded rod on the end needs to have the jam lock nut loosened and the yoke tightened up. If I pull the cotter pin and the clevis pin on the yoke to release the rear cable so I can turn the yoke to tighten, how do I get the cable back into the yoke and insert the clevis and cotter pin? On the trailers, the cable at the rear has rings and clivis pins into exterior arms on the brake backing plate that actuate the shoes. But my Mercury cables go into the brake drums from the backing plate and do not release unless I get inside the brake drums. Just need a nudge in the right direction to tighten up that yoke. I'll hang up and listen. Thanks in advance.