John Deere 322

mrdeann2 · May 14, 2015

The right rear tire on my JD 322 is locked up. Can someone help me.

pmsmechanic · May 14, 2015

Well first of all how about some more details. Did the wheel lock up after using the brakes? Did it happen after sitting for a while?

mrdeann2 · May 14, 2015

No the JD was not sitting, I mowed last week. I did have the parking brake set, but it released like normal. When I jacked up the rear the left wheel moves freely, but the right a couple inches then seams to hit stops.

pmsmechanic · May 14, 2015

This is going to be stepping out on a limb a little but I'm thinking that the brake actuating cam has seized in the backing plate or that one brake shoe has rusted onto the brake drum.

If you go to the John Deere parts website 302 Found and type in 322. Then open up steering and brakes and go to the brake hub, shoe and rod section you should have a picture of what I am talking about. The brake actuating cam is part number 6. Have a look and see that it is in approximately the same position on the left and right sides of the tractor. Actually if you have someone step on the brakes pedals and make sure that part number six is moving on both sides. If it isn't moving then you've found the problem. If it moving then the brakes are rusted the the brake drum. In that case take the wheel off and lightly tap the brake drum with a hammer and that should loosen the brake shoe from the drum.

Let me know how you made out. If you would rather have me talk you through this then PM me and I will give you my cell number.

ovrszd · May 14, 2015

And, I'll add to pmsmechanic's excellent guidance, don't set the park brake when you park the machine. That's asking for stuck brake problems. If the machine is parked on a hill that it won't sit on, use a wheel block.

But then, I'm the guy that can't remember the last time I used a parking brake on any vehicle. Stuck brakes are usually the end result.

mrdeann2 · May 15, 2015

You were spot on with the JD 322. I'm back mowing again. Thank you very much.

ovrszd · May 15, 2015

What can often cause this is the brakes being wayyyyy out of adjustment. Brakes applied results in the cam rolling until the "ends" are actually contacting the shoes. In that scenario there is no sloped ramp to make them want to release. Check your adjustments when you get a chance. You want just a whisper of brake drag when spinning the wheel without brakes applied.

Next thing can be the shoes being worn so far down that the same thing happens.

Glad it's running again.

Wagtail · May 15, 2015

ovrszd said:
And, I'll add to pmsmechanic's excellent guidance, don't set the park brake when you park the machine. That's asking for stuck brake problems. If the machine is parked on a hill that it won't sit on, use a wheel block.

But then, I'm the guy that can't remember the last time I used a parking brake on any vehicle. Stuck brakes are usually the end result.

First off, Mate, I am not having a go at you... But really? I always set the park brake on all of my vehicles. If you don't apply the hand/park brake regularly, then, because you haven't used it it will seize up.

In Australia, not applying the hand brake when parked (yes, even on an automatic in 'park') is a fine.

ovrszd · May 16, 2015

Wagtail said:
First off, Mate, I am not having a go at you... But really? I always set the park brake on all of my vehicles. If you don't apply the hand/park brake regularly, then, because you haven't used it it will seize up.

In Australia, not applying the hand brake when parked (yes, even on an automatic in 'park') is a fine.

No offense taken. I know people that like you, use their park brake all the time. I just choose not to. In my 50 years of driving I've never had a park brake issue.

That surprises me about it being illegal to park without the brake applied. I always thought of Australia as more of a "do as you please" society.

Wagtail · May 16, 2015

ovrszd said:
That surprises me about it being illegal to park without the brake applied. I always thought of Australia as more of a "do as you please" society.

Oh, I suppose that we are laid back, as a society. I reckon that it's one of those old laws that will eventually catch up once automatic transmissions become more prevalent.

A manual transmission is still (mostly) the standard equipment build of most vehicles here in Aus = an auto-trannie is an option on many makes/models. That's slowly changing here (supply and demand) as younger purchasers are demanding automatics which, of course, have a 'Park' position/gear.

I suppose that there must have been a plethora of (manual transmission) roll-aways, years ago, that led to this law being enacted. The only reason I became aware of it was a news story, a few years ago, of some Cop or Parking Warden ticketing an automatic transmission vehicle = court case arguing that the Park gear was good enough or the same. The decision was 'It doesn't matter, set the hand/parking brake.' (Oh, and pay the fine, of course)

Different country, different rules, I suppose. Unless posted, it's illegal to make a left hand turn at a red light - even if the way is clear (remembering that we drive on the left).