Folding Hand Brake Won't Disengage

[wcballance]

My folding hand brake won't disengage. I removed the driver's seat to get a better look at the hand brake. I didn't see anything obviously keeping it from disengaging so unbolted it, wiped it down to clean it up a bit, and then put it back together. I discovered that the gear was a little tricky to put back in place but I managed to put it back the way it was. Before removed, the gear's teeth were not inside the brake lever at all. It seems that the lever will have to go back down over the gear but I don't see how to get it to start traveling on the gear again. Am I right? Any suggestions?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I haven't pulled one apart, but I recall that you often have to pull the handle up, then push the button, then push the middle of the handle (just aft of the hinge) downward with your other hand.

Or you ditch the folding handle, swap in a one-piece handle and forget about it.

--DD

[wcballance]

Ditching the darned folding handle is becoming an attractive idea at this point. I tried pulling up on the handle, pressing the button, and then pushing down from the middle of the handle. I'm unable to apply enough pressure to get it to go down. I'm wondering if I should try hammer??? It's a tight space even with the seat out of the way. I might have to use an extension of some sort. Maybe a thick dowel rod?

If I go with the one piece handle, how does it bolt up? I found a picture of one that is for sale. I see a hole in the handle where it would fit over the post that sticks out, but I don't see anywhere to bolt it up. How would install it so that it stays in place?

[wcballance]

I broke out my parts CD to find a diagram of the two handles. Here's the one piece design.



Questions:

1. What is the part circled in blue?

2. Is the area circled in red where the handle would bolt up?

The area circled in green is the only part that I recognize from the photo of the handle that is for sale. It looks like the part that fits over the post.

[wcballance]

OK... I bought the one-piece handle and have it installed now. I've learned a few things in the process.

1. The part circled in blue in the diagram of my previous post is there to rest against the switch that alerts you if your brake is engaged.
2. I'm not exactly sure what is circled in red, but it is in the area of the ratchet gear that bolts on the same as with the folding handle (same exact part).

I discovered why my folding handle was not working. The ratchet claw that grabs the gear was pushed up into the back half of the handle. Pressing the button should have open it up so that it would be able to drop down over the gear but it was not. The rod that pushes against the claw to open it does not work if the claw is pushed too far into the handle because contact is not made with the back of the claw. With the handle out, I was able to observe how it worked and figured this out. If I opened the claw with the tip of a screwdriver then I could press the button on the handle and the rod inside would make contact with the back of the claw and push it open. Anyway... it doesn't look like I can rely on the folding handle so I believe I will keep the one-piece in for now.

I'm also thankful that I found a photo of the part that holds the cable to the handle (see below). After seeing it, I was able to figure out how to remove the cable without damaging anything.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Interesting--that looks like the clutch cable clevis pin! I fussed with my handle in my previous 914 for a while, but didn't see how to pop it off...

Glad to hear that you solved the problems!!

--DD

[wcballance]

Dave,

You are correct about the photo being that of a clutch cable clevis pin, but it is the same style, if not the same exact part, as the one found on the hand brake. I used the open end of my 13mm wrench to lift up on the clamp portion. Once that was free, I used a flathead screwdriver gently pry the pin out of the handle.