The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Hi,
The ratchet for the hand brake has stopped working. The teeth on the quadrant and latch were worn but a bit of deft grinder action sharpened them up and now engage well. We managed to do this without removing the lever and although the quadrant has gone back on ok, the latch block doesn't lift with the release lever because it's near on impossible to get it back on the end of the actuator properly, and standing in front of the back wheel while jamming a screwdriver in the latch to release the brakes could be a career shortening occupation.
So, how does the lever come off the shaft? If that's a bolt through the shaft I can't get a socket or spanner to it. If it's a rivet how do you get it out? It won't drill out from the back due to lack of room, and as it has a Lambourne mk6 cab there's no access from the front either. Is there a simple trick to this or have I got to remove the front of the cab to get a drill in there?
Polite suggestions welcome!!!

It's a split spring pin that holds the lever on the shaft. But it can be pretty difficult to get it out. When reassembling, you will need to hold the shaft in place. At the same time you can also renew the seals behind the lever. Can't you just remove the ratchet, without taking off the handle?

Sorry should've updated this sooner.
After a failed attempt to attack the rivet with a grinder (not enough room even to get a 4" in there), we took the latch handle off and the little nut holding the rod in place and managed to re-assemble without taking handle off the shaft. Still took several go's to get there and at a guess about two hours!
It now stays put without having to jump out and jam a block under the wheel - makes hooking up a trailer so much easier!
Thanks for the advice.