Installation of Rocky MTN brake system

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Installation of Rocky MTN brake system
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Don Ingersoll on Saturday, September 29, 2012 - 10:55 pm:

I need info to complete installation of Rocky Mtn brakes on my 25 touring. Previous owner has brakes hooked up to parking or emergency linkage only. There is another clevis and rod which is not hooked up to normal brake pedal.My question is what is needed to complete this connection probably a part I do not have.Any help would be appreciated


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Sunday, September 30, 2012 - 02:08 pm:

Don

Without seeing your T and the brake set up, hard to describe all needed. You can contact RM Brake Co. and get brochure and instructions.

My guess is the brake pedal does not have the welded on attachment to pull the RM brakes.
This is what is needed for that:



Or you can get a 'new' pedal from RM Brake Co. that has that part cast in place, and a nice raised pad on the pedal, complete with new shaft too.

Here is the complete set for small drum ('25) T.



The main items to look for are the equalizer swing bracket that mounts loose to the Ford cross-shaft of the emergency brake.



The upper set of stock Ford emergency brake rods work the emergency brakes independent. The lower rods to the swing arm are pulled by the brake pedal to work the RM brakes.



Here is the linkage to the brake pedal (this is a '26-'27 install), but shows you the brake attachment, the slotted part allows the emergency Ford brakes to operate separately.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Ashton Rosenkrans on Sunday, September 30, 2012 - 06:53 pm:

I'm working on hooking up the Rocky Mountains on my speedster. I have everything hooked up from the equalizer bracket to the rear hubs, and installed the special brake pedal, but I seem to be missing the slotted clevis device in the above picture. I had also wondered what went in the upper hole. Where does that spring attach at the other end? I'm also missing one of the larger clevis pins from the Rocky Mountain rods. Are the slotted clevis, pins, and spring available from RM Brakes?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Sunday, September 30, 2012 - 10:29 pm:

Wayne

Yes, you can get the individual parts, just a phone call and credit card number away :-)

toll free (888)786-7728 Rocky Mtn Brake Co, Temecula CA.

The upper hole is for a return spring on the pedal, assists in keeping rattles down, and brake pedal back, I use a bit larger screen door spring sometimes. The RM spring in the kit, fit the other end to the U-Joint ball cap grease cup, wrap it around the base of the pipe thread fitting.

Clevis pins can be found at the ACE hardware store too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Horlick in Penn Valley, CA on Monday, October 01, 2012 - 01:54 am:

The "slotted clevis device" is a Rocky Mountain "slider". It is designed to allow the brake pedal to energize the RM brakes, or the lever to do the same while only the pedal turns the brake light on.

It never occurred to me how under-designed that part is. They use a wimpy little piece of threaded rod locked with a nut. I discovered that in a heavy, panic stop the rod is prone to folding instead of actuating the brakes, thus leaving you with only the service brake. You went to all that expense and effort to install accessory brakes, why wouldn't you want them to work?

One member loaded the rod up solid with nuts to keep it from folding. A better solution might be to use a threaded coupling there. For me the best solution was to throw the thing away (for you, maybe just not buying it might suffice) and making a better designed part.

I put about 400 miles on my T this weekend on a tour and this thing works great. My car has many thousands of miles and whenever I step on the pedal both the Rockies and the service brake always work. Two years ago an out of control T coupe slammed into the rear of my car and this little part was able to engage both the Ford and the RM brakes and stop both cars without a doubt saving two lives (mine and the other driver's).

Here is the slider replacement I have designed and tested:


This thing is made up from two clevis a 1/2" galvanized pipe and a piece of bolt with two man nuts. It doesn't matter which direction it is mounted. It is so stout that it cannot fold up. Most folks should be able to make one in about an hour.



Here you see the part installed and in use. Note that at the left it is at rest in the position it would be if you were running in low or high. On the right the hand brake is pulled and the part is extended. It is clear that if you step on the pedal it will engage the RM brakes. The fine RM pedal is used on this installation.

Please consider this post before installing your system as I feel the RM designed part is unsafe.

I am currently designing a much more elegant installation part for the RHD car I am building.

TH


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Horlick in Penn Valley, CA on Monday, October 01, 2012 - 02:07 am:



I thought this might be fun to see. The coupe hit my pickup so hard and fast that it bent up lots of parts on the coupe (none on my pick-up). The major thing is that it did not bend up the brake linkage on my car... if that linkage had failed, there is no way I could have stopped the cars before entering the twisty, steep downhill on this ridge road which was just a few hundred feet further on!

TH


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Ashton Rosenkrans on Monday, October 01, 2012 - 01:51 pm:

Dan and Terry,

Thank you very much for your responses. I've ordered the parts from RM Brakes to use for now and will look into my own slider as Terry suggests.

Dan - I think my family and I rode with you for a day last March at the Winter Tour.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Monday, October 01, 2012 - 02:58 pm:

Wayne

Yes. Remember you and your daughter and wife, fun time, and eats at the waterside restaurant, along with some interloper cowboy from WO, who is a speedster T'er too. :-)





IMG_6403 (600x450) (590x443).jpg


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Ashton Rosenkrans on Tuesday, October 02, 2012 - 04:42 pm:

Hoping we'll see you again in March in Daytona. We'll have our Touring along this time.


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