Handbrake ratchet and pawl issuesam

hi folks, my ratchet and pawl isn’t pulling on fully, if i stick my finger against the pawl, I can cause it to click into the ratchet, otherwise it goes a couple clicks but won’t pull on fully.

So, am thinking either ratchet and pawl are worn or one or more of the springs in the handbrake lever assembly are knackered.

I’ve never had the lever system out and I cant see how to get the lever separated from the rest of the mechanism, any advice in getting it out would be much appreciated.

P.s mine is a left hander, if that makes a difference,

Thanks in advance

I am wondering if this is wots knackered

Never been brave enough to take the handle apart. I know mine didn’t have a spring until recently and what fun that was to fit. So in answer, the big spring underneath won’t stop it pulling up.

Fatrover said:

I am wondering if this is wots knackeredView attachment 272597

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Get a few for when they fall to bits

It may be a spring issue or it may just a grub issue! the mechanism is of course underneath in exposure to all the mud and road grime. I have a similar issue with mine and have not investigated it yet (has been like it for years but there is always something more pressing on the list). My first port of call was going to be to thoroughly clean everything and see if that made a difference before striping and replacing parts. if you find the issue with yours please do post it up hear (with lot of pictures) so I can check the same parts on mine! Mine might be a slightly different issue however as I can get mine to ratchet correctly for the first couple of click but then not any further, hence starting with a thorough clean.

Thanks guys, its def an issue with the ratchet, ideally I’d like to take the whole lever handle oot and clean it etc an check if the rods are bent apparently that can derail the ratchet mechanism but I’m buggered if i can see how to get tit oot

I have one off and in bits but was a while ago I did it...the cotter pins that have the split pins in it are threaded and screw in...

Ah thats interesting, must check and see, I couldnt budge any of it!

Had mine out cleaned and painted, you can dress up the ratchet teeth with small file if burred over a bit
Page 70-14
http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/2010/03/series-iii-workshop-manual/

steve2286w said:

Had mine out cleaned and painted, you can dress up the ratchet teeth with small file if burred over a bit
Page 70-14
http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/2010/03/series-iii-workshop-manual/

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Excellent, thats what I was looking for, will give it a go tomorrow, many thanks

Extracted the entire mechanism today, heres what seems to be the problem, a lot of burring on the ratchet

That don’t look too clever, they seem pricey to replace , so worth a go with small file first maybe triangular or wedge shape file, is the paul ok

steve2286w said:

That don’t look too clever, they seem pricey to replace , so worth a go with small file first maybe triangular or wedge shape file, is the paul ok

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Yes, will try and reshape the ratchet a bit first, pawl seems ok, perhaps slightly rounded, so I think I might re profile it slightly as well! Nothing to lose really!

P.s thanks again for the workshop manual link, really helpful

I think, altho not sure, that I’m missing washers and or a spacer between the ratchet and handle housing, which, I think, has caused the rod to pull the pawl on at an angle over the ratchet causing the burring and eventually the symptom I have of the handle not pulling on fully and jumping off the highest spots therefore reduced handbrake effectiveness......I think

Fatrover said:

Yes, will try and reshape the ratchet a bit first, pawl seems ok, perhaps slightly rounded, so I think I might re profile it slightly as well! Nothing to lose really!

P.s thanks again for the workshop manual link, really helpful

Click to expand...

No probs , the parts manual on that site too.
I would dress the Paul too and use it as a guide on how best to shape teeth so it fits in and locks nicely , bu looking at some close ups of new part the teeth shape might be simple

I think it should be fairly easy with a bit of care ! Now to find a decent file.....

Update: handbrake removed, ratchet reprofiled along with pawl and reassembled. It turns out that someone in the dim and distant past had put the plunger rods in the handle in wrong, and while they worked, just, they didn’t provide the correct tension on the pawl. Anyhow, I removed the plunger rods, straightened them in the vice, reassembled them correctly and now all is well. Not as hard as I first feared, quite an interesting exercise actually.

Fatrover said:

Update: handbrake removed, ratchet reprofiled along with pawl and reassembled. It turns out that someone in the dim and distant past had put the plunger rods in the handle in wrong, and while they worked, just, they didn’t provide the correct tension on the pawl. Anyhow, I removed the plunger rods, straightened them in the vice, reassembled them correctly and now all is well. Not as hard as I first feared, quite an interesting exercise actually.

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Your a sick man

Bobsticle said:

Your a sick man

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Entirely true. Add sad and lonely for the full effect.

I only said it was an interesting exercise because :
A) all the bits went back, but not necessarily in the right order
B) there were no bits left over
C) I didn’t have to buy any bits
D) it works.

Oh and Mrs Fatrover is highly pleased. Which in and of itself is a miracle.