Early 1928 service brake crossmember

Ken B

Senior Member
I was hoping someone could email me a picture of an early (June of 1928) service brake crossmember where it is clamped under the frame. I am more familiar with the later ones that used a bronze bushing on the ends. When I posted this question earlier, I received a reply that the early ones didn't use a bushing on the ends. The crossmember that I am helping a friend with slides back and forth on the ends about a half an inch on both sides. It looks like the clamps were stamped this way. I would have to believe that they need to pivot there and not slide. Maybe the clamps are bent out and need to be reformed around the outer ends of the shafts? I don't have a copy of the Judging Standards that might show the correct connection on the ends. Any help or advise would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Ken
 
I am new to A models, but I saw that too on my june 28 phaeton.

Large ovalled brackets that surround the cross shaft that could not even looseley be called a bushing.

I assumed it was to so the cross shaft could flop around and equalize each side?
 
You are correct, the shafts will move back and forth, the mounting brackets are made this way so the braking system will equalize, however this is only one part of the equalize system.

When setting the length of the brake rods, you put a wood spacer on both sides of the shaft to hold the shaft in the center of the mounting bracket, make you adjustment, them remove the spacers.

Ron
 
Thanks Ron.

Every little piece of the jigsaw puzzle certainly helps .

(I once saw a 10,000 piece jigsaw of all the one colour (no picture), lucky these cars ain't as hard as that would be.)
 
These were posted on the old fordbarn and on Ahooga in 2004. No access to the links of the post, so the links to the pic's is the best I can do. I am not the one that uploaded or posted them. The actual post had more to do with the socket springs than the outside mounts, but I think these will all help. Rod

http://www.ahooga-graphics.com/upload9/ARBrake01.jpg

http://www.ahooga-graphics.com/upload9/ARBrake02.jpg

http://www.ahooga-graphics.com/upload9/ARBrake04.jpg

http://www.ahooga-graphics.com/upload9/arbrakespring.jpg

http://www.ahooga-graphics.com/upload9/arbrakespring2.jpg

http://www.ahooga-graphics.com/upload9/ARbrkspring.JPG
 
Thanks for the replies and pictures. I guess I now have to search for the correct repair instructions to set up this style of brake arm.
Is this style of cross shaft covered in one of the manuals offered by the parts supply houses?
 
Since the June through Sept brake rods are a fixed length the only real adjustment is at the wheels. Center the shafts in clamps and set them accordingly. Rod
 
Thanks for the info. I will try this when we work on the brakes again. I wonder why Henry changed this "floating cross shaft" design. It seems that is would better balance out the braking load to all the wheels. Ken
 
Ken B. ............................
I have one of those early "U" joint housings (lower half) listed in the "A" FOR SALE section, if you need one.
MIKE :)
 

Attachments

  • UJHousing.jpg
    UJHousing.jpg
    51.8 KB · Views: 16
Rod,

I'm glad you posted those photos, one of my springs is missing and the other is
destroyed. Do you know were to get new ones? If not, can you give me the
free length, OD, and the wire diameter?

Thanks, Dudley
 
Ken,

Those pics are great info, the frame is a later style, maybe OCT-NOV, it doesn't
have the bolt on horse shoe bracket( over the torque tube ), like the JUNE frame
that you asked for.....yah I know....nit-picking.

Dudley
 
If someone is looking for the cross shafts and they have the non-adjustable brake rods, I have 2 complete sets (clevis over clevis) and also 2 complete u-joint housing including the inside bell, the bolt pattern is different than the later equal hole spacing so its best to get a complete u-joint set.
Regarding the cross-shaft socket springs (A-2483) they are 9/16" long X 7/16" diameter; they stop the cross-shafts from rattling.

Ron
ronrude@digitalpath.net
 
Looks like it does not work. Archives there must be a mess also. wire dia is 0.072. length is 0.057, may have been abit longer when new coil dia. is 0.475. Dan K was the original poster of the info. Rod
 
Thanks Rod. I saw this question the other day and couldn't get into the archives to retrieve it and I don't have it written down any where. I think you have a typo - the length should probably be 0.57

Dan K
 
Had to dbl check.. typo for sure on my part. I printed it off when it was posted at the time, just had to find the right binder I had it in. I really need to organize them at some point. Wish the entire archives would have been revived here instead of just 7 broken pages of scattered posts. Very dissapointing. Rod
 
dan a quick side note. The U.P. 844 is due back through here next week. Missed it heading East, but may get pic's when heading back west. If you still have my e-mail address and want pic's please e-mail me. Rod
 
dan a quick side note. The U.P. 844 is due back through here next week. Missed it heading East, but may get pic's when heading back west. If you still have my e-mail address and want pic's please e-mail me. Rod


Rod,

Saw that train in Pendleton, Oregon the day after the GREAT 100th Annual "Let'er Buck" Pendleton Round-up. There were about 20 or so UP passenger cars behind that GREAT looking UP 844. A magnificant sight it was!

Pluck
 
Hoping to catch it just West of Cozad under full steam. They dampen it down abit going through towns. Just looks alot neater with the smoke and steam pouring out of it. Going to be cutting it cloes as I will be going to work about that time. Missed it by 20 minutes last time when heading west. I get to see it or the Challanger several times a year. Still would like to see a BigBoy on the tracks again. I was one of the fortunate feww who seen the very last one under full steam heading to its final resting place. I beleive I was in 1st grade at the time and everyone in the school went outside to see it go through pulling freight. Rod
 
Back
Top