I'm putting my parking brake handle back together and ran into a problem. I have no idea how to correctly reinstall the small metal "h" piece that stops the brake handle via the slots cut into the shaft. I installed it in the only orientation that seemed to make sense. Seems like it needs spring tension to pop into the slots. I can't locate a detailed assembly diagram anywhere. Can anyone help?
Well then it has to be somewhere on my bench or on the floor. Maybe I can find it. If not, I don't suppose you have one lying around?
Hi Craig, Melvin's had a spring and H bar they claimed fit a Maverick. Neither part works. Either that or I am installing it wrong. The spring is weak and doesn't provide nearly enough tension. It doesn't look like the one in the pictures you sent last month. The Maverick uses a "h" bar and they sold me a "H". It would work but I would have to cut one of the tabs off. I found my original "h" bar but never did locate the original spring that went with it. I can't install the engine until I get the parking brake installed. I'm ready to buy If you have the correct spring or even the entire assembled hand brake. Thank you again for all your help.
The Master Parts Catalog list two different ratchet bar and spring...70 and 71-75. Craig's pic could be the 70 only.
My parking brake is from a 73 Grabber. My brake came off a 1973 Grabber and looks exactly like Craig's. Mystery!
Pics in post #8 came from an early 74. I guess it all comes down on what color car you're working on. The spring you bought will still work on the parts that you have if you put things together like in the pic I posted.
No. Tried that. My ratchet looks like a small letter "h". The spring I have slips off the side. I fixed that by putting a small bend in it so it would stay on the ratchet but then there is another problem. The long end of the spring is on the opposite side of where it needs to be. I crossed it over the coil to slide it into the hole on the tube but then you don't have enough spring tension for it to move the ratchet. The proper spring for my setup is quite a bit different.
I just looked at all my brake ratchets (I have lots). What Melvin's sells only works on a 1970 with the "H". 1971-up uses the little "h" and a different spring. What I pictured above in post #2 and #3 is the 1971-1975 design. Bob...I will help you out. Email sent.
My Comet built Aug of 72 came from the factory with the "H"... Perhaps they were using what was left over from the 70 models.
