JD 3032E brake design

Sleepy Holler John · Jun 14, 2020

I have a 2015 JD 3032E and it, up until now was a dud. Back to the dealers at least 12 times before 500 hours, (700 on it now). It was so bad they extended the warrenty to 5 years and 1000 hours, it's up now. In all those repairs I think, (hope) the bugs are worked out.

The problem I am having now is one I bet no one else has; it is the design, the design of the hand brake. Here what is going on, I am older, 80+ a little and have old age skin that bruises and tears easily. Every time I get into the tractor the brake handle rips my leg. It sticks out and there is little room getting in. I get partly healed and tear it up again. To add to the problem I have COPD and have to carry oxygen bottles on the tractor. So getting in I am distracted with oxygen hoses and not paying attention to the brake handle. If in the barn I can leave the handle down and the bucket for a brake but only on a flat surface.

Yesterday I decided to alter the handle and was stymied when I looked at it. The handle is fastened to a bracket and the bracket is bolted to the frame with 2 bolts. The handle cannot be removed unless the two bolts are removed, it's riveted. Problem is for me to get to those bolts requires the tire and fender to be removed. I am still looking at a way but it won't be easy, (grind off the rivet but no room). This is so stupid as the shift and brake should have been on the other side allowing more room to get in. What were they thinking???? My beef for the day.

jgayman · Jun 14, 2020

I can certainly sympathize. The range select lever on my 2720 sticks way up like a huge bat handle. Shortly after getting the tractor my pant leg caught on it while dismounting and I almost took a huge header off the tractor. Now I understand having the loader control handle up high as you use it all the time. But why was it necessary to have the range selector sticking way up like a Big Daddy Don Garlits drag shifter? I mean, with only having two ranges I only move it to start the tractor.

But I digress. Below is the parts illustration for your parking brake handle. Does this match your version (there are several serial number ranges)?

Would it help if you slid a piece of foam around the handle? Like a section of Pool Noodle or a short piece of that gray foam like you slide over water pipes? It would act as a soft cushion instead of the hard plastic grip that is on it now. The foam would allow you to slide it back to operate the parking brake when needed and when not used it would provide a cushion.

Sleepy Holler John · Jun 14, 2020

Yes, that is it. I thought of wrapping it up but like you range selector it is also somewhat of a trip hazard getting off and you know what happens to old people when they fall. I looked at it again today and I think I may be able to drill, (it will be real sloppy) the rivet out sideways. Or butcher it with a long blade on a sawzall. I can then cut, weld, mill or whatever I need to do to shorten it.

beenthere · Jun 14, 2020

From what I see, I'd think about rotating the handle up by pivoting around one or the other bolts (key #9). May need to remake a bracket or add a short link to do that. Then just an adjustment to the linkage.
But you can tell better than I.. if that might work.
That or make a bracket to hold the foot brake pedal down as it looks to be connected to the same linkage.

My hand brake on the 4300 is not in the way like yours is. But being the same age, I am going through the "thin" skin just above the ankles.. finally after several months of putting up with the sores, I have found a daily morning application of Neutrogena hand creme has helped a great deal and am healing up.
I was getting the breaks in the skin from walking in brush in the woods, stepping out of the SUV and rubbing against the running board, wellington boot tops, bumping against equipment, etc., etc. but never felt the park brake was contributing..

Sleepy Holler John · Jun 15, 2020

All fixed, no more cut up legs. I cut the curved portion of the handle off, (about 3") and opened up the base part of the handle and pushed the button holder part into it. I was working in the garage so I brazed it instead of weld. I split the plastic handle and pushed it on using Goop and taped it while the goop was drying because I needed to use the tractor. Wish I had done it ages ago.