barrytr4 Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 Hi mates how many ratchets clicks can be expected when applying a fly-off Tr4 handbrake , thanks --Barry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 Hi Barry, when first adjusted 4/5 should be the aim. John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 TR4 has also a fly off handbrake? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 Just so, Marco. When our cars are taken for the annual test, a trick played by older mechanics was to ask the young apprentice to sit in the car and operate the handbrake, knowing that they would not know what to do! John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 (edited) I thought only the 4A has the fly off handbrake... BTW at the TÜV the mechanics also test the handbrake, this is always an issue to explain step by step Edited October 31, 2020 by Z320 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 Marco, all Tr's from a TR2 through have a fly off handbrake. earlier cars have a vertical one, the 4A was the first with the handbrake mounted on the transmission tunnel. John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 This is good to know before I tell somebody something wrong! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Triumph Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 Spitfires also had fly-off handbrakes until 1967. My early Mk3 has one, though the 1968 Spit I owned in my teens had a conventional handbrake. Nigel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 2 hours ago, Nigel Triumph said: Spitfires also had fly-off handbrakes until 1967. My early Mk3 has one, though the 1968 Spit I owned in my teens had a conventional handbrake. Nigel Fly off handbrakes are I think a bit of a gimmic! They are awkward to apply as you can never be 100% certain the ratchet has actually gripped ! When a co-driver used my car we got stuck quite a few times at traffic lights and moving away from parking whilst he wrestled with the ‘broken’ handbrake. Had it been the start of a race we would’ve come last. However both set-ups are preferable to my daily Zafira which has an electronic button which can very easily be forgotten ! Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bleednipple Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 8 minutes ago, boxofbits said: Fly off handbrakes are I think a bit of a gimmic! They are awkward to apply as you can never be 100% certain the ratchet has actually gripped ! When a co-driver used my car we got stuck quite a few times at traffic lights and moving away from parking whilst he wrestled with the ‘broken’ handbrake. Had it been the start of a race we would’ve come last. However both set-ups are preferable to my daily Zafira which has an electronic button which can very easily be forgotten ! Kevin Agreed not so good purely as a parking brake. However not a gimmick for rallying, practically vital there even though the vertical type not easy to get hold of when you're strapped in, hence serious players move theirs to the transmission tunnel (on my list of future mods for my 4). And for general driving I find the fly-off handbrake really nice for hill starts in traffic: just pull on, hold, then ease off without touching the button at all. Nigel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
james christie Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 Not to mention handbrake turns in the wet or snow james Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 1 hour ago, james christie said: Not to mention handbrake turns in the wet or snow james Hooligan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 Convert to a conventional handbrake and it is 3 clicks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barrytr4 Posted October 31, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 Hi mates thanks for all the info, got about 6/7 clicks ATM w/ new brakes, going for vehicle inspection, will readjust in a few days before I go----barry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tr4aJim Posted November 1, 2020 Report Share Posted November 1, 2020 I never realized how useful a fly-off handbrake was until the time I lost my brakes doing 50 mph in traffic. While driving with my wife on a busy two lane secondary road, I could see a traffic light turning red up ahead, so I went to apply my brakes to start slowing dow. The pedal went right to the floor! I was able to modulate the handbrake to gently slow and stop the car. Afterwards I kept thinking that if I had ratchet style, there would have been a greater chance to lock the brakes, especially in that first ”oh sh*t” moment. The funny thing is, earlier that year I had contemplated getting the ratchet style conversion kit from Revington. Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted November 2, 2020 Report Share Posted November 2, 2020 On 11/1/2020 at 1:06 PM, Tr4aJim said: I never realized how useful a fly-off handbrake was until the time I lost my brakes doing 50 mph in traffic. While driving with my wife on a busy two lane secondary road, I could see a traffic light turning red up ahead, so I went to apply my brakes to start slowing dow. The pedal went right to the floor! I was able to modulate the handbrake to gently slow and stop the car. Afterwards I kept thinking that if I had ratchet style, there would have been a greater chance to lock the brakes, especially in that first ”oh sh*t” moment. The funny thing is, earlier that year I had contemplated getting the ratchet style conversion kit from Revington. Jim Why? You could just keep your thumb on the button of a regular hand brake lever. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Forey Posted November 2, 2020 Report Share Posted November 2, 2020 A fly-off handbrake is the best anti-theft device fitted to a TR. Mick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tr4aJim Posted November 2, 2020 Report Share Posted November 2, 2020 2 hours ago, Andy Moltu said: Why? You could just keep your thumb on the button of a regular hand brake lever. Well it’s one less thing, when your busy trying to slow down, moving to the shoulder, and avoiding cars, all while trying to keep a “nothing to worry about” look on your face for your passenger. Plus if your thumb slips off, most ratchets require you to raise the handle to release it, which can be quite the surprise to the car behind you. Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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