MTFCA Forum

I have recently purchased a 1923 touring car which is fitted with a later large drum back axle and Rocky Mountain brakes which I have relined with new linings from Langs.
What is the adjustment procedure? I have set the lining to drum clearance to .020" and expect to do this a few times as the linings bed in.
Am I correct in thinking that the only thing adjusting the length of the long rods does is change the position of the pedal when the brakes bite?
How do I set the Rocky Mountains to to work just before the transmission brake so that a heavy press of the brake pedal will apply the transmission brake so that I have braking in the wet or in reverse?
Is it a good idea to set the Rocky Mountains to come on with the parking brake or is there a risk of the Rockys coming on before the before the drum brakes and because of the Rockys not working in reverse, the car rolling backwards?

Thanks Paul.

Paul,

This may help you out: https://www.fordmodelt.net/rocky-mountain-brakes.htm

I hope I got that right. Mitch Taylor wrote that up. There's a lot of good info there. Yep, I tried it and it is correct.

Good Luck,
Terry

Hi Paul,
Balancing RM brakes & park brakes is a art in it's own. The pedal travel doesn't change much when the brakes are wet or you are rolling
backwards so I try to set the Rocky's to work with the stock brake but not before. The issue I have is mostly with the park if you ajust the
Rocky's to tight they energize stopping the park brake travel before it is working so if you are rolling backwards & pull the hand brake the
Rocky's stop the hand brake from engaging & sometimes the park brake adjustment will not let the brake handle go far enough forward
to engage the clutch. I found some clevises & milled a slot in them to help solve this issue. Not the conventional solution but works for me Craig.

I adjust the pedal as normal with the transmission brake and then the Rocky is adjusted so apply before the pedal hits the transmission brake but if you push hard both brakes apply. The parking brake is just the opposite. I adjust it lo it starts to apply first and then when I pull to the next click the Rocky comes on. That way I can stop with either the foot pedal if I push hard or the parking lever If I pull hard and it will not roll backward with parking brake on. I also use a chock block on a hill.
Norm

When disengaged, the bands must have no friction/drag on the top or bottom of the drum. Be sure the band sits fully on the drum & has no tendency to wonder to a side. Spacing the anchor in or out with shim washers.

Treat each of the 3 brake systems as separate, at least initially. This helps uncomplicate things.

Use the slider connection between the equalizer & brake pedal. It seperates a direct connection between & the brake light wont be on using the parking brake.

Parking brake. Disconnect the RM rods Adjust them to be locked @ about 10:00 O clock. (1/2 way between vertical on the lever & the seat base.) Drive to a moderate speed & pull on the parking brake. Adjust until you have equal skid with both wheels. Lever must be able to completely go forward to the floor & completely disengage the clutch.

RM adjusting. Disconnect the 2 parking brake rods. The RM's should not engage until after 11-11:30 from the 12:00 position. 12:00 must maintain a neutral.
Run @ a moderate speed & pull on the parking brake lever. Both wheels must leave an equal skid mark.
Tighten or loosen band adjustments maintaining a loose band clearance according to the skid marks.

Transmission brake. Adjust as normal. Its OK for it to engage with the RM brakes. It will wear to its perfect position as long as it engages before the pedal hits the floor. Test in reverse. You should have a very good brake in reverse @ normal reverse speeds & hold on hills.

Now hook up the brake pedal to equalizer. Adjust.
Now comes the frustration of compromise getting them all working together.
Watch the equalizer pivot bolt dosent hit the crankcase & maintain your parking lever positions as best as you can.

Periodically/annually(depending on your mileage) Re-adjust the same way treating the 3 brake systems separately.

Thank you everyone for your answers and suggestions, they have given me something to work with and understand what i am actually trying to achieve.

Thanks Paul.