Hello, I have searched this vast site for some help with this before posting, but am a fairly green PC user, so decided to ask for advice please.
I have just purchased my first F1 pickup here in the UK. It is in quite good order, save for some small issues. My first problem is the handbrake. When you pull the lever it does not "click" at all. I am assuming that it should have a ratchet type clicking action. It is sort of working, but if you push back on the leaver you can just push the handbrake off again. It is not locking on. I am sure this must have happened to other owners as well. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated..please.

Suffolkman

 

It does have a ratchet built in with a spring in it that clicks when you pull it up. You can buy replacement parts to repair it.

 

Many thanks for your reply. The picture you posted is the ratchet mechanism ?. Not sure if I can get one this side of the pond or not yet. Could you give me an address (website) where I might obtain the correct parts please. Until I take a look of course, I do not know which parts I require.

Suffolkman

 

 

Many many thanks. I will strip it down this week and see what the problem is. Suspect it is one or the other...or both.Thanks again.

Suffolkman

 

Actually when I clicked on the link you gave, Macs Auto Parts listing says it only goes up to 1947 trucks....

 

Sorry the link for the spring I was talking about.

 

Welcome to the forum!

I hate to see anyone order from MAC's, their shipping and customer service are legendary, and not in a good way. Read here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ecklers-ind...s-titusville-2

Many others have the part, which is Ford p/n 91A-2788, for instance C&G Ford Parts: https://cgfordparts.com/ufolder/ford...umber=91A-2788. Search around, you can do better! The part was used on many Fords from the '30's thru the '50's.

 

Thank you so much. This looks like the part. I may be able to get one this side of the pond. But at this price ...I think I know where I am going.

Suffolkman

 

I have a complete e-brake handle assembly from my 1951 f-1 that I am not going to use. Email me at burnettd01@sbcglobal.net and I can provide photos.

 

Update help please
This morning I tried to remove the parking brake handle assembly. I removed the bolt that passes through the fork on the end of the brake cable, and then dropped the cable and fork away. I removed the two x 1/2" bolts holding the bottom of the handle assembly to the bulkhead. There is one more bolt holding the top of the handle assembly up under the dash, The p brake cable comes up through the cab floor and passes through a bracket with a hole in it at the bottom end of the handle assembly. I removed a circlip from the end collar. To me it looks like I now need to unscrew the fork on the end of the cable to be able to remove the handle assembly. BUT that fork does not want to unscrew, the cable appears brand new (just purchased truck). Am I doing something wrong. Any advice would be much appreciated.

After further inspection....The bolt that I removed that passes through the hole in the p brake handle and connects to the fork on the end of the cable is 5/16". This seem wrong because the holes in the handle are 7/16, as is the hole in the toothed ratchet piece. When I tried a 7/16 bolt all seemed much better, only trouble is the holes in the fork on the cable are only 5/16 so cannot connect the cable. Is it may be the wrong cable been used, or the wrong fork on cable ???

 

Someone has done some jury-rigging, or as we call it here, "cooty-bob'ing" on your cable. The clevis (fork) is supposed to have a plain clevis pin, 5/16" dia x 1-1/2", thru it to secure the clevis to the handle. The clevis 7RC-2484 shows to be available from MAC's, but likely others have it too. The pin should be a common hardware store piece, at least it is over here. You should be able to pull the whole handle assembly out from under the dash with the cable still attached to work on it, but probably have to remove the floor plates around the pedals to get some slack in the cable (or you could disconnect it at the back end). There is a jam nut against the clevis, make sure that has been loosened.

 

Thank you again for your help. Still not quite getting it. I realise my handle has been well butchered (English phrase). The clevis pin you mention at 5/16". seems small. If I can remove the item, I was thinking I could get a steel tube milled up 7/16 OD then pass a 5/16 bolt/pin through that ? The holes in the handle casing and the ratchet sector are 7/16. ...so wont it all flop about. Secondly the parking brake cable (which appears new) is held to a bracket at the lower end of the handle. I have removed the circlip securing the outer cable. But the clevis fork does not unscrew from the inner cable (it looks like it should unscrew). So I was wondering if I may be able to disconnect the inner cable under the truck, and pull the inner cable out through the cab. (depending what is on the other end of the cable of course)..I have no shop manual at present. What started as an easy fix, is not working out so well at the moment..

 

Sleeving the hole down to 5/16" should work. Many hardware store bins have such sleeves here, maybe there too?

I fear whoever installed the clevis may have put one with the wrong threads on the cable. You can remove the whole cable but you'll have to remove the transmission cover from the floor of the cab, because there is a clamp holding the cable to the transmission. Then you have to disconnect a clevis on the back end of the cable, and also an anchor that is on the crossmember behind the transmission. None of that is hard, just time-consuming.

 

I think your diagnosis is exactly right. Once I get the handle removed I can probably fix it. I am probably going to need a new inner cable, clevis and clevis pin. Plus a bush made for the handle. Someone has really bodged this up. Hope this is not an omen for things to come !. Many thanks again.

Terry (not the toad ).