Discussion:
A drum brake question/ why so many broken adjuster cables?

Does any one know why the cables for the self adjustment mechanism fail on so many different forklifts that have drum brakes? I even see Hysters with rod operated adjusters have alot of failures. I think that most of the drum brake problems that I've seen through out the years that I've been in this buisness were caused by adjuster cables broken or stretched. I've spent plenty of time working on cars AG equipment and mudium duty trucks and only ever seen one broken cable in those vehicles (and that was a 1970 ford falcon, so it was old enough to have a good excuse to break)
  • Posted 7 Jun 2009 07:43
  • Discussion started by fixitandy
  • Pennsylvania, United States
Showing items 1 - 4 of 4 results.
The adjuster cables are tensioned every time the hand brake goes on and off. It is the handbrake use that wears them out.
  • Posted 12 Jun 2009 16:41
  • Reply by AndyPandy
  • Staffordshire, WM, United Kingdom
I figured that frequency of use was the most likely reason, but it seems counter intuitive that the self adjuster cables would wear out and break much faster than the shoes wear out. I just replaced adjuster cables on two TCMs whos brake shoes were not even close to worn out today.
  • Posted 12 Jun 2009 14:39
  • Reply by fixitandy
  • Pennsylvania, United States
there are at least 2 good reasons.
the first is the same reason starters (and ring-gears) are replaced in forklifts so much more often than in cars, trucks and ag-equip. In a car you start the car an average of 3 times a day, in a forklift you may start the motor an average of 6 times a shift or more. In a car you may not even use the park brake, while in that forklift the park brake may be used 6 times an hour.
The other is the tendency to run over strapping and stretch wrap, that winds itself around the wheels and brake parts, causing all sort of problems
  • Posted 7 Jun 2009 20:34
  • Reply by edward_t
  • South Carolina, United States
"it's not rocket surgery"
It is simple, forklift brakes are more or less in constant use.
  • Posted 7 Jun 2009 19:27
  • Reply by AndyPandy
  • Staffordshire, WM, United Kingdom

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