Clark C40B:
Brake help

I recently bought an old C40B-538-893 107 forklift with problems. After getting the engine to run I found it would not move in forward or reverse. It has an automatic transmission. I did get it to move only to find it had NO brakes. I found the master cylinder full of water so I've ordered a new one. While removing it I discovered something that has me puzzled (I've never worked on a forklift before). The line from the master goes to a cylinder built into a valve body on top of the transmission. Next to this another brake line leaves another port which tees off to each side of the drive unit. The small cylinder is frozen. I plan to drive the piston out the back, clean the rust and replace seals. I would like to know how this setup works, I have a theory but I'd rather have someone explain it to me. Moving the arm attached to the rod of the cylinder is how I got the thing to move. Another question is what fluid actually works the brake, transmission fluid or brake fluid?

Any help or information will be appreciated very much.
  • Posted 16 Jul 2020 12:45
  • Discussion started by Paul_Lineberry
  • Tennessee, United States
Jack-of-all-trades
Showing items 1 - 4 of 4 results.
I'm hoping the shoes are good, wet or dry. At any rate I'm not planning on removing the drive unit to get to them. After more inspection I have found a small pilot hole inside the inching cylinder that takes the brake fluid back out to a hard line that tees off to each drive wheel (Once the inching cyl bottoms out). Bleeding the system looks like an adventure in itself. I see too many places for air to get trapped. Searching for parts for the inching cylinder now.

Thanks for your help.
  • Posted 17 Jul 2020 08:17
  • Reply by Paul_Lineberry
  • Tennessee, United States
Jack-of-all-trades
It's been 40 years since I've done a brake job on one of these but I thought the brake line went straight to the wheels from the m/cyl. The shoes are "dry" unless there's a problem. One thing I do remember is that you don't want to do a brake job if there's any possible way to trick some other mechanic into doing it for you. It involves pulling the final drive and possibly sacrificing chickens. The first time I lifted a final drive up onto the bench by myself my back went out for a week. The next time the shop foreman tried to assign me one I faked a head injury and pretended I couldn't speak english.
  • Posted 17 Jul 2020 07:48
  • Reply by lumberjack
  • Maryland, United States
That was my assumption and thank you for that information. Now can you tell me how the brakes work? I assume they are "wet" as they seem to be internal. Are they supplied with ATF or is brake fluid ported through the valve body to the brakes?

Thanks again
  • Posted 17 Jul 2020 06:03
  • Reply by Paul_Lineberry
  • Tennessee, United States
Jack-of-all-trades
The cylinder on top of the transmission is an inching cylinder. It kicks you out of gear when activated. This allows you to rev the engine to speed lifting without having to fight the transmission.
  • Posted 17 Jul 2020 02:36
  • Reply by lumberjack
  • Maryland, United States

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