B3200 parking brake failure

SPMMD · Oct 28, 2012

I went to put on the parking brake after leveling a pad for my son's basketball backboard, stepped hard on the brake, and as I pushed down on the lever it suddenly gave way. I don't have a shop manual but assume either the cable snapped or came loose at a connection point. Any hints or schematics out ther?

powerpace · Oct 28, 2012

Look at the ratchet and pawl mechanism. That can be out of alignment and not hold. Just takes a little bend in the right direction to fix. Fixed mine first day I had the tractor.

Verticaltrx · Oct 28, 2012

It's just gotten out of adjustment. The main cause for this is people pushing too hard on the lever itself. When anyone uses my tractor they think since it is a parking brake you have to jam it down really hard. "Push hard on the pedals, light on the lever" is what I tell people. As for fixing your problem, either a cotter pin fell out of the end of the linkage, or the pawl mechanism got pushed off center (from being pushed to hard.) Take a look under the tractor when operating the lever and you'll quickly find the problem as it is a very basic system. My guess is you'll have it fixed in a couple minutes without any cost.

SPMMD · Oct 28, 2012

So I should look underneath the tractor, not behind the panel with the brake lever?

whistlepig · Oct 28, 2012

Underneath the floor directly under the brake petals.

s219 · Oct 28, 2012

Yeah, the ratchet/pawl are under the tractor. In fact, the pawl is welded to the brake pedal arm if I remember right.

whistlepig · Oct 28, 2012

It's very easy to see. You can bend down and see it. No need to crawl under the tractor. It's just a basic ratchet and pawl. Should be an easy fix.

SPMMD · Oct 29, 2012

Great! Later today or tonight I'll get under and hopefully fix the problem. If I can I'll post some pictures for the member that runs into this! Thanks for all the responses and advice!!!

SPMMD · Oct 29, 2012

So here is what I found ! The actuator rod is completely detached, who knows where the spring clip and washer went!!!!

Yes it is a paper clip! But it will work fine untill I replace it with the right sized cotter pin and washer! Whole repair less than 3 minutes, but I took my time and it took 2.5 minutes to find the paper clip!!!! Thanks again for the advice that made the repair so easy!!!!!!