B7100 Parking Brake Mod

[Lil Foot]

As anyone who owns one knows, the parking brake on the B7100 leaves much to be desired. It consists of a 5/16" rod that lays on the floorboard- push down the brake pedal, lift the rod, release the pedal, & the teeth at the end of the rod hold the brake pedal in the down position. Works OK, but it's hard to pick up the rod, & it's a long reach. Not readily apparent if the brake is engaged, either.
My first mod was to pull the rod off & chase a 5/16"-18 thread on the end so I could screw on a 1 1/8" ball knob. (pic #1) This was a big improvement, as it lifted the rod off the floorboard & gave you more to grab on to.
The next mod was to add a rod & knob setup at the dash level- bigger improvement. (rest of the pics) Just bent & threaded a 3/16" SS rod, attached an eyebolt at one end & a knob at the other, drilled one 1/4" hole in the dash, and assembled it.
I also drilled a 1/16" hole & pressed in a 1/16" roll pin to keep the eyebolt from walking too far forward on the rod.
Works great, much easier to use, & now it's obvious when the brake is engaged. Most importantly, the wife likes it better!
Zero cost, everything was laying around the shop.
P.S.- the rod looks close, but does not interfere with the hand throttle, hood latches, stop rod or anything else.

 

[Lil Foot]

More pics:

 

[olthumpa]

Simple but effective, always the best way. I like it.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Another great mod, and I can see this mod saving some brake pad abuse!

 

[kubotasam]

Here is how I solved the "I can't reach that darn lever" problem. Not as elaborate as Lil F's but it puts it within easy reach. I drilled and tapped the side of a 7/16" nut to except a 1/4-20 bolt. Inserted a 4" bolt with a jam nut. Tighten it all up, then bent the bolt slightly to make it easier to reach.

 

[Lil Foot]

Here is how I solved the "I can't reach that darn lever" problem. Not as elaborate as Lil F's but it puts it within easy reach. I drilled and tapped the side of a 7/16" nut to except a 1/4-20 bolt. Inserted a 4" bolt with a jam nut. Tighten it all up, then bent the bolt slightly to make it easier to reach.

Simple & effective….. and I knew I wasn't the only one who had a problem with this….

 

[torch]

I borrowed your idea too. However, I used a couple of 1/4" Heim joints. I threaded the existing handle 1/4-28, slipped a female Heim joint over it and secured it with a nyloc nut. I threaded a piece of 1/4" rod and made the appropriate bends. The standoff is a male Heim joint, with a nut on either side of the dash sheet metal.

 

[Win22wrf]

Simple & effective….. and I knew I wasn't the only one who had a problem with this….

Nice mod. I might use that. Thanks

 

[Lil Foot]

I borrowed your idea too. However, I used a couple of 1/4" Heim joints. I threaded the existing handle 1/4-28, slipped a female Heim joint over it and secured it with a nyloc nut. I threaded a piece of 1/4" rod and made the appropriate bends. The standoff is a male Heim joint, with a nut on either side of the dash sheet metal.

I like it, pretty stout too.

 

[Yooper]

Simple and effective. I like that! But where did you get that knob?

 

[Lil Foot]

[But where did you get that knob? QUOTE]


To quote Travis Bickle: "Are you talking to me?"
If you're referring to the knob on mine, it's the knob from the pull lanyard to release my garage door opener.

 

[Lil Foot]

But where did you get that knob?

To quote Travis Bickle, "Are you talking to me?"
If so, the knob is from the lanard to release a Garage door opener.