The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

I've just had the 1961 Super Major for a year and noticed the near side brake housing was warmer than the other side, bought a new set of discs from Agriline fitted them and thought all would be well, again the brake housing was a little warm. Took it out yesterday for a 4-5 mile drive, applied the brakes at a road junction, all was well until a few hundred yards further down the road I was loosing power, pulled over to find plenty of smoke coming from the housing, it was red hot with peeling paint. Let it cool for a while, stamped on the brake pedal which must have freed it then headed home slowly. Took the outer cover off, with a straight edge across the discs were flush ie no gap under the straight edge. All the linkages are well lubricated and free, I put plenty of copper paste on the splines when I assembled the new discs, I did not adjust the stop screw when fitting the new discs. So what have I done wrong ? Hope some one on here can tell me the correct procedure for fitting and setting up the brakes. I have measured the balls, they are 0.874 dia. Puzzled as to why the brakes should lock on and not release. Any advice would be welcome.
John

Badly adjusted Super Major brakes will bind and lock. You should have loosened the pull rod and adjusting screw first, then tighten the screw and loosen it 1 1/2 turns. Then tighten the pull rod to give 1 1/2" of clearance at the pedal foot point. (Or tighten till just tight then loosen 1 1/2 turns and check the clearance is 1 1/2")
Sandy

Hi Billy,
Thanks for the info, I've set them up as you suggested, I'll give it a test drive this Sunday all being well.
Thanks again
John