The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop line lock use

has anybody used a line lock instead of an emergency brake on their truck? ron

Yes, but I never trusted it if I was more than about 3 seconds away from the truck.

If you read the instructions they will say something about it not being a substitute for a working emergency or parking brake.

Please don't try to use one as an emergency brake, or parking brake.

Another thought, if in an emergency you need brakes, and your regular ones don't work, then the line lock won't either.

Grigg

Hi Ron, All of the line locks I'm familiar with are solenoid controlled....release the button and go. Guess you could wire it so it would stay engaged but sooner or later the solenoid will burn out or your battery will go dead.

As Grigg pointed out....it's not going to be a viable alternative to the stock truck mechanical unit. Getting your footstomp emergency brake to work with a replacement rear end is a major pain in the butt! I've spent a disproportionate amount of time trying to get my stock unit to move the shoes out enough to lock and still get a full release. Figure I will need to add some length to the lever that connects with the long rod to the pedal assembly. I used some threaded eye bolts and cable clamps with my Camaro cables. It isn't all that "pretty" but it holds (barely) and with some tweaking it will function properly. It would be nice if there was a viable option but I haven't stumbled onto one yet!!!

Dave

Parking brake/Emergency brake
It once was an emergency brake. Why is it now a parking brake?

Perhaps that's how some work, but the one I have needs no power to continue holding after it is set.

I would turn on the switch, then power goes to the solenoid, but there is a pressure switch in line, so no power actually gets to the solenoid until the peddle is pushed and the switch closes.

The solenoid engages a one way check valve, keeping pressure in the wheel cylinders.

once the peddle is released the pressure switch opens and the solenoid is deenergized, but the check valve still holds.

To release the brakes the switch is turned off, the peddle depressed enough to supply more pressure than on the other side of the valve, and the valve springs open and stays, the brakes are released.

confusing enough?

Grigg

They also make a full mechanical line lock...no solenoids, no juice!. I put one on a Cat forklift at work. They work as Grigg described, but one always wonders if the little valve will leak, and your brakes will slowly release as you sit with your girlfriend in the Chinese restaurant eating Moo-Shoe-Poorrk! The Chinese restaurant on the steep hill, near the dock by the bay.

Stuart-san

i took my original brake off years ago and rigged up one from a dodge van and it worked great until i change the rear end and the cables are to short. i now wish i hadn't but it was the easiest way to repair the floor. Automarc, do you know where i can get the mechanical type. Studebaker was the one that i remember to have what they called a hill hold to not let the car creep backwards with a manual shift. help all. Ron

Ron,

I have enclosed a link to Mico products. I have used their Lever Lock product on several forklifts at work. These products are not intended for over the road vehicles, but take a look anyway.

http://www.mico.com/products/displaysubinfo.php?id=43

I think I got my units at NAPA!

Stuart

I drove a 57 Dodge 1-ton wrecker several years ago that used a Mico LeverLock brake system. We used it, in addition to the parking brake, to lock all the wheels during winching jobs. Apply the brake pedal, FIRMLY, and hold it while moving the lever to the "locked" position. It stopped off the return line to the master cylinder, and trapped the fluid in the brake lines. On a dual-line master cylinder, I assume the valve would have needed two circuits. To release, just swing the lever to the "open" position. No, I didn't trust it for parking!
Jerry

I was thinking of installing one in my street rod as an anti-thief device. Most of the streetrods are stolen at night from motel parking lots. They don't start them, they just push them around the back of the motel and onto an enclosed trailer. So, fuel cutoffs and electrical cutoffs don't work. But. if it will not roll then it will not go.

automarc, thanks very much, i downloaded the info. thanks again all. ron

The LeverLock used to be a standard item on nearly every municipal truck and hiway truck all over the country. In over 40 years I've never heard of one failing but of course they have been replaced by more modern Mico products.

The one that came with my 58 gmc 3/4 ton (i dont think it was factory) is a box aprox 2"x3/4"x1 1/2" . It has one line going in and one going out. It located under the cab, with a cable that goes around and up into the dash that operates it.

Let me know if you want a brand name and i will crawl under it and look.

It will also leak down overnight.

Brian

Another option to the mico lock is a pinion brake. They are available for several different rear end configurations and offer a completely seperate brakin mechanism.

I used a Mico brand mechanical caliper when I made the parking brake for the back of my 10 speed.

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2883658070080251109AlznhL

Grigg

My mechanic is sceptical of the mico because of the constant pressure on the bake shoes. i am still looking at the possiblity of a mecanical brake lever next to the shifter. still looking for a adapter plate to attach to the t-5 trans. steppenwood has a good example but he has an adapter plate to put the trans to his engine and that is what he attached the adapter plate. my trans is a direct hook up. Locar has the lever that i want to use but there lever is designed to hook up to their auto trans adapter. maybei should have gone auto . a little late now. ron

We have used the Micro-lock style brake lock on our wreckers for years.They are great for winching. I would not trust it for a long period of time (overnight) as your only way to keep your truck from rolling away.I have seen them bleed down over time.

Does anyone have a picture of a dash-mounted control lever (for one of these brake locks) that might have been used in the mid 50s?

Thanks,
Tim

I have some sort of brake widget that was mounted to the steering column on my 48, not sure what is was for for the longest time. Never drove the truck, as it had no engine, and brakes were shot I am sure.

It looks like a lever to apply trailer brakes, but it is not.

Has two lines going to it, and I don't remember exactly how it was plumbed. Also has a pressure gauge on it.

Now I am thinking it was a valve to hold pressure at the wheels, working just like a lever lock.

Here is a picture: [img]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/55/455/7/37/35/2112737350080251109lxDpZG_th.jpg[/img]

Grigg

Here is a picture or two of the electric MICO lock that was on my other other truck.

[img]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/62/462/0/38/95/2539038950080251109aNuEKy_th.jpg[/img] [img]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/58/458/6/84/73/2765684730080251109vsNBte_th.jpg[/img]

Grigg