MTFCA Forum

I'm getting ready to hang my rear axle and got to looking at the mechanical parking brake setup. This car hasn't run in over 30 years and I have been going thru everything that moves. I had to purchase brake rods as they didn't come with the car.

Looking at the attachment point connected to the lever, I estimate a movement of maybe 2.5 inches fore and aft. Looking at the lever on the brake cam it seems to only move about an inch before the brake would start to apply. Obviously I need to adjust it so that the brakes aren't dragging in neutral or high but it would seem to me that you wouldn't be able to pull the lever back much from neutral before you're applying brakes. I am also confused by the statement in paragraph 75 of the Model T Ford Service Manual that states: "...the brakes will set tightly when the hand brake lever is in the vertical position." The manual seems to go counter to what I have been told regarding the parking brake on a T. Am I missing something?

Not the factory method, but it works for me. It ensures that the brake rods don't end up too long, which can keep the brake lever from staying fully forward in high gear.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1420743911

Since I haven't put my brake rods on yet I don't know if they're too long. I wonder if anyone has ever cut them shorter and re-threaded the end? I'm still confused about the Ford Service Manual entry saying the brakes should engage when the lever is vertical. I plan to roughly adjust the brakes before putting the wheels on so guess I'll have to see it in action.

Tim, "vertical" sounds like a misprint to me.
I have large drums, but at vertical, mine just start to drag, only noticeable in reverse. About two clicks forward and fine. They will also lock up the tires easily at speed and no "creep".
I can also roll the car with one hand on a spoke.

As mentioned before, not sure of what my clutch is.