1991 753 bobcat parking brake

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DaleM 753

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Nov 14, 2024
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Hi All, I recently got a 1991 753 Bobcat. Going over the machine. It has the manual parking brake. O&M manual says to adjust (the linkage adjustment nuts) for 3/4" play between heel of pedal and floor. I don't understand the instruction. To me, it sounds like they want 3/4" slop in pedal movement before the spring on the brake linkage starts to be tensioned. The spring on the brake linkage holds tension on the pedal and is further tensioned as you set the brake. Without any tension, that spring would simply unhook and fall off. So I'm not sure what the manual refers to when it says adjust the adjustment nuts for 3/4" of play at the heel of the pedal. Anyone familiar with proper brake adjustment on this vintage 753 machine? Thanks, Dale
 
Hi All, I recently got a 1991 753 Bobcat. Going over the machine. It has the manual parking brake. O&M manual says to adjust (the linkage adjustment nuts) for 3/4" play between heel of pedal and floor. I don't understand the instruction. To me, it sounds like they want 3/4" slop in pedal movement before the spring on the brake linkage starts to be tensioned. The spring on the brake linkage holds tension on the pedal and is further tensioned as you set the brake. Without any tension, that spring would simply unhook and fall off. So I'm not sure what the manual refers to when it says adjust the adjustment nuts for 3/4" of play at the heel of the pedal. Anyone familiar with proper brake adjustment on this vintage 753 machine? Thanks, Dale
I've always just played with the adjustment until the brake works to my satisfaction.

The problems come if the brakes are worn out. The older machines had break pads similar to a cars disk brake. Operators would forget to release the brake and wear them down. You should probably inspect the pads.
 
Thanks Brdgbldr. I'm fairly mechanically inclined, but this is my first skidsteer. What is a good "test" of the parking brake working decently? I ask this because I know when the machine is off, the wheels are essentially locked up due to the hydraulics (I believe). Hard to know if brake is holding the machine stationary or just the hydraulics. Thanks again.
 
Thanks Brdgbldr. I'm fairly mechanically inclined, but this is my first skidsteer. What is a good "test" of the parking brake working decently? I ask this because I know when the machine is off, the wheels are essentially locked up due to the hydraulics (I believe). Hard to know if brake is holding the machine stationary or just the hydraulics. Thanks again.
Adjust the brake and then see if it will drive forward or back.

Do not have the machine running while adjusting.

What you should get is the machine not moving, or very slowly, and you should be able to hear that the relief valve has opened and the engine will bog down some.

The brake is only there as a safety. Since most operators exit the machine while it is running, BIG NO NO, it keeps the machine from lurching or driving when the sticks are accidentally hit. Of course this only works if the operator actually engages the brake before exiting.
 
Thanks Brdgbldr. I'm fairly mechanically inclined, but this is my first skidsteer. What is a good "test" of the parking brake working decently? I ask this because I know when the machine is off, the wheels are essentially locked up due to the hydraulics (I believe). Hard to know if brake is holding the machine stationary or just the hydraulics. Thanks again.
When I worked in the rental shop we would test the machine to see if it would drive with the parking brake on, the brakes had to hold at full throttle, if not we fixed it, of course some machines would creep as their brakes would never hold at full throttle, however they would bog the machine down, depending upon the machine make, and brake design, we did not have bob cats, some machines had automatic brakes so we tested them on a hill as that was the best that we could come up with.
 
Appreciate the info Ward - I'll check brakes as-is as you and Brdgbldr suggest and adjust if needed. Hopefully if they are not holding, there is enough pad left to adjust them up. Thanks.
 
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