No Brakes - A Scary Experience

[BB_TX]

Needed to mow last weekend so backed my tractor up to the rotary cutter. Locked the brake pedal, killed the engine, and hooked up the RC. Got back on and started mowing. At an area that sloped down for 30-40 feet, I was backing down when I went to stop. NO BRAKES! Fortunately, at the bottom of the slope, it started back up again and I stopped. A pin in the linkage between my brake pedal and the brake arm had come out within about a 5 minute time frame from hooking up to reaching the slope.
What really scared me is the fact that I often back down a slope toward my creek to mow some areas I can't just drive across. Had I been doing that, I would have gone over the side of a 10' dropoff. I may have to rethink my mowing procedures.
Went and got a new pin for the linkage. Don't know if it broke or if the cotter pin came out and let the pin slip out.

 

[MJPetersen]

That would give you a definite "pucker" experience. It certainly could have been worse or a worse place as you mention, but that moment of realization would be a picture.

Mike

 

[Thomas]

Gives a whole new meaning on how you spell relief...yikes.

 

[Bird]

How many neighbors heard your screams, Bill?

 

[tallyho8]

This is when I hit the kill switch, IF I have time to think about it.

 

[JerryG]

Gee whiz. That goodness you were in a place where it would stop safely. I try to check under the tractor pretty often but I'm sure we all need to do that before we work on any steep area. It would be just to bad in some of those areas if the brakes went out. This is one of the areas.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/4155/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

 

[scott_vt]

Gee whiz. That goodness you were in a place where it would stop safely. I try to check under the tractor pretty often but I'm sure we all need to do that before we work on any steep area. It would be just to bad in some of those areas if the brakes went out. This is one of the areas.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/4155/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

Mornin Jerry,
I find that picture amazing ! Obviously your brakes are in good working order, or your in gear with tractor off and brakes set ! Great picture all the same !

 

[3RRL]

BB
Lucky you had that opposing slope and your tractor stopped. You can never tell when something like that happens. One stupid pin and it's adios. I'll bet you check that now when you do your pre-work routine....I would.
I haven't lost the brakes but got the same sensation when in low gear and I Push the clutch in. The tractor wants to speed up...yikes!

This is when I hit the kill switch, IF I have time to think about it.

At least you have the sensibility to do that. In all that commotion, I'd be looking for a place to land.

 

[bialecki]

Now you know a new failure mode, is there a way you can make a permanent fix to the failure mode so it will not happen again, i.e., redundant system using a Cotter pin and clamp, etc? Also what make and model is your tractor?

Thanks

 

[SPYDERLK]

YIKES! Always too late to ponder. Here are a few possible strategies I use, that I hope I would think of in a brake failure. The only one that would surely be able to stop you is to back down in a low forward gear. Also if not too steep a downturned bucket lip would stop you. The rest are mitigating moves.

Kill engine.
Lower all implements-- but not a rear one designed to dig in.
Curl bucket to stop and hold against relief pressure.
Steer sideways to the extent allowed.

If only there was time.
larry

 

[schmism]

id be stomping on the HST peddle to GO FORWARD D@MNIT!

 

[JerryG]

Mornin Jerry,
I find that picture amazing ! Obviously your brakes are in good working order, or your in gear with tractor off and brakes set ! Great picture all the same !

Hello Scott.
The brakes are fantastic. They would hold the tractor at 60* if you could get enough traction. As far as being in gear goes, no it's not. That is the one thing that I had to get used to when I first bought a PowerShuttle. When the tractor is off it will roll even if it is in gear. You have to use the brakes when you park.
Believe it or not. I don't use my brakes or clutch when I mow that area.

 

[BB_TX]

Also what make and model is your tractor?

It is an '84 JD 950. It has over 2100 hours. Probably the original pin.
Actually had it been the creek, I would have probably been ok. When there, I am usually in a low forward gear, 4wd, with my foot on the brake. With the clutch in, I ease off the brake and let gravity roll me backward. Then when as far as I want to go, I ease out on the clutch to go forward.
The pedal did go to the bottom so I knew right away that I had no brakes. In this case there was no danger at the bottom of the slope, so my panic level was much less than it could have been.

 

[slowrev]

Also Having brakes can be dangerous when you are not used to having them.
I helped a friend rebuild the brakes on his old tractor. They had been pretty much non existant for many years. He almost flipped it from hitting the brakes hard like he used to when rolling backwards down a slight slope. He is now being retrained...

When you don't have good brakes you tend to plan ahead better

 

[Laneman950]

BB TX I have the same tractor, an 83 JD 950.I just rebuilt the brakes on mine. The pin at the rear end of the rod can be locked in by the brake cover if you slip it in so the head faces the cover. This way at least 2 of the 4 pins are locked in.