'53 Super H brakes

Tom Bond · Jun 16, 2010

Hi All. Just picked up this Super H after selling my '39 H awhile back. Missed it so much, had to find another. Starts fine, runs great. Only issue seems that the brakes aren't working. Previous owner said they worked fine when he garaged it 2 years ago. He thinks they might just stuck from sitting? Any ideas or fixes before I tear into them? Was partially restored 4 years ago.
Thanks in advance.
Tom

CNKS · Jun 16, 2010

The drums come off easily, take them off and have a look. They aren't stuck, probably rusted, or might have oil on them. As good as that tractor looks, he must have skipped the brakes.

Andrew Z · Jun 16, 2010

Take them apart not a hard job, just take your
time and clean everything very well. Make sure to
take the actuator apart and clean the balls and
ramps well. If you have worn balls, ramps and or
broken parts they will need to be replaced. Most
of the time they just need a real good cleaning
and new disk put in them. I would try it first
with the old dist and then put in new ones if you
still lack break power.

Andrew

Tom Bond · Jun 16, 2010

WOW.....4 minutes and 2 VERY helpful replies! You guys are great! Hope you don't mind if I pick your brain for more info as I dig into this thing.
Thanks Again!

Roger46 · Jun 16, 2010

If I leave my Super H sitting for any length of time (a few months) in damp weather when I first use the brakes they don't work very well. After sitting for 2 years I am sure the brake metal faces have a coating of rust on them. I always just apply the brakes repeated times while driving the tractor and after a few times they start working as the rust is worn off the surfaces. It seems the more you use these brakes the better they work. However, as others said, if they weren't cleaned/rebuilt to begin with no matter how many times you cycle them they will not work. So, I would try riding the brakes initially and if the braking doesn't improve, take them appart. Roger

Bob M · Jun 16, 2010

While you've got the brakes apart check for leaking brake shaft seals. (Tranny oil on the braking surfaces quickly renders the brakes useless!) Fortunately replacement seals are inexpensive. And they are easily changed without going inside the transmission.

As Roger46 mentions the IHC disk brakes tend to work better the more frequently they are used. Long periods of sitting idle can be tough on them!

Pete76NY · Jun 17, 2010

All of our Supers have brakes that are higher maintenence and less productive than a wife from the Upper Eastside!
Take the drums off, use some fine sand paper on the metal and the discs, lube the balls and ramps with some graphite powder, check the shafts to to make sure the grooves and teeth that the pads slide on are clean and not chipped or galled up...both or Super H and Super M spent their early lives as loader tractors...lots of brake turns, ruined the shafts, when the discs tried to dlide theyd hit a chip and tip.

GordoSD · Jun 17, 2010

I've rebuilt disc brakes on 5 Farmalls. After the first two and still some barely adequate performance from the all new systems I Tried the following.
Grind the tractor surface clean with 40 grit flap wheel. Use lathe to turn inner surface of the cover drum. Not too smooth here. Machine .100 off the edge of the cover drum either by planing or milling. This last step allows for all the wear over the years of the two steel surfaces that the discs work against.
When you do this you can skid the rear tires on a blacktop road!

Gordo

'53 Super H brakes

Tom Bond

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CNKS

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Andrew Z

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Tom Bond

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Roger46

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Bob M

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Pete76NY

Well-known Member

GordoSD

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