Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Replace Brakes on a Tractor
How to Replace Brakes on a Tractor. On the farm and in your lawn, tractors have made life easier. But it's not easy to take your tractor in to be repaired every time maintenance is necessary. With a few simple instructions, you can tackle many tractor maintenance projects yourself, and next time your tractor needs new brakes, you can feel confident...
On the farm and in your lawn, tractors have made life easier. But it's not easy to take your tractor in to be repaired every time maintenance is necessary. With a few simple instructions, you can tackle many tractor maintenance projects yourself, and next time your tractor needs new brakes, you can feel confident that you can do it yourself.
For a Lawn Tractor
Remove the transaxle from the tractor. It's necessary to drain the oil in order to do this.
Locate the gear reduction housing. There, you'll remove the brake adjusting screw, the pivot pin, the brake lever and the push rod and ball. You'll also remove the front cover, the large reduction gear and the sliding brake pad cylinder. Take extra care when removing the sliding brake pad cylinder.
Chisel out each pad and clean the counterbores where the new pads will fit.
Install the new brake pads using a highly adhesive bonding agent or contact cement. That helps keep the pads in place.
Reinstall the above mentioned parts in the order they were removed.
For a Farm Tractor
Remove the rear wheels. This step is optional, but if you're just starting out, it makes it easier to access the brakes.
Unhook the brake linkage from the cam, and remove the bolts from the cover.
Check that the brake cam is in neutral. This means there won't be any pressure on the shoes. If the brake can is stuck, feel free to use a tool to lightly tap it and it will move.
Use a small, flat tool to remove the cover. Take care not to break this cover. Then, remove the shoes, the brake cam and the o-ring.
Clean the cover and the brake cam. This is an important step to do before you reinstall these parts.
Inspect the surface of the drum to see if it's rusty. If so, you need to sand it until it's smooth. If you leave it rough, it could drastically decrease the lifespan of the new brake shoes.
Grease the brake cam and install the new o-ring. Install new shoes and new springs, if needed.
Add a new gasket. This helps keep moisture from causing more rust.
Reinstall the rest of the parts and the rear wheels, in the order they were removed.
Test the brake pedal. If it's uncomfortable, you can make the necessary adjustments.
Tips & Warnings
It's possible that brake shoes could contain asbestos. Wear a mask over your mouth and nose so you don't inhale the brake dust.
Each tractor has its own specifications. Refer to your tractor's manual for specific information.
