[AT] Now Ralph Video -- disc brakes

[Dean Vinson]

Grant, as always, very interesting and well-informed comments.  Thanks!

By the way, all last winter I waited for an opportunity to photograph my
Super M in the snow, but never got one.  Today was the day.  (The snow is
even deep enough that I needed to use the disc brakes to steer the tractor.
:)

http://www.vinsonfarm.net/photos/happy_new_year.jpg

Happy New Year, everyone!

Dean Vinson
Dayton, Ohio


-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Grant Brians
Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2012 7:29 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Now Ralph Video -- disc brakes

I have both Disc and Drum Brake installations on my Oliver 77s. Oliver
changed from Drum to Disc in about 1952 and because it was a bolt in swap,
many owners chose to swap. When properly adjusted the Disc Brakes don't fade
and are the same actuating force. I can't see any additional braking power
though. Having operated them for quite a few years I find that at top speed
(depending on the gearing and wheel size it is 10-13mph) they will stop
fast, but it is very tricky to apply force evenly both because of the two
sides and the connection mechanism. Both setups are phenomenally easy to
perform SHARP turns with - my tricycles can literally lock the appropriate
wheel and spin a 180 degree turn such that depending on conditions the
tractor either has not moved the placement of the braked wheel or it has
only shifted over 2-3 inches. A 360 degree turn returns the tractor to the
same wheel placement.
     The system on the Olivers sounds similar to the IH system of disc
brakes, but I have never seen wear on the steel surfaces, only the multiple
discs used on each side. At this moment (4AM) I cannot remember how many
lined and unlined plates are on each side, but I vaguely remember that it
may be 6 per side. The Oliver system is a 100% mechanically operated one.
     Having described the Oliver 66, 77 and 88 setup and performance, I also
have an AC model C and I believe that to convert it to disc brakes would be
nearly impossible and think it would be harder to use. But as I cannot see a
way to do so without immense modifications to the tractor, perhaps I am
wrong.
     Also, I have one of my Studebakers that have disc brakes (the first
production US model to do so). It uses the UK designed and produced Girling
system that requires a power brake booster to operate as it requires much
more force than the drum brakes. This is the same brakes that Jaguar used in
the 1950s and  1960s. My opinion is that again they have less fade by far,
but they do not give any benefits for normal operation. The rotors do last
MUCH longer than the newer systems in cars that use the non-asbestos pads
and the discs are of much better quality too, but the pads last a shorter
time.
     I hope this is informative.
           Grant Brians
           Hollister,California vegetable, nuts and fruit farmer - it is WET
here and that is hampering our current production!