Lately my Edson wheel brake does not seem to be engaging. Anyone have an idea of how this can be addressed, adjusted, etc?
Wheel Brake
- Thread starter Ed6925
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Edson has a rebuild kit
Edson has a brake rebuild kit with new brake pads. More info at the link below on the Edson site including the instructions on-line. I just rebuilt my 270 pedestal. It was a 3-4 hours over two evenings, nothing too complicated. I went ahead and did everything while it was apart: new bearings, brake rebuild, and new cable/chain. Steering is much smoother now.
Edson has a brake rebuild kit with new brake pads. More info at the link below on the Edson site including the instructions on-line. I just rebuilt my 270 pedestal. It was a 3-4 hours over two evenings, nothing too complicated. I went ahead and did everything while it was apart: new bearings, brake rebuild, and new cable/chain. Steering is much smoother now.
Easy fix
When our boat had the same symptoms (wheel brake not engaging) we took it apart, found the brake pads worn and the knurled surface they clamp onto covered with grease from the chain. The fix was to replace the brake pads using the Edson kit, then clean the braking surface with acetone to remove any trace of grease. Doing the repair wasn't hard. The most difficult part by far was removing the compass and binnacle from the pedestal. They are affixed with stainless bolts going into aluminum which almost become one piece of metal over the years. There are new coated bolts (highly recommended and also available from Edson) which prevent this problem. Getting the bolts removed took tons of work, cussing, torches, vice-grips, more cussing, calling Edson, solvents, pipe wrenches, drinking, sawing the old binnacle apart, getting vice grips onto the now-broken-off bolts and finally ...... getting the old bolts removed. Then it was no problem doing the rest. It did cost me a new binnacle though since I had torn the old one apart to get at the stubs of bolts. Did I mention the cussing? Gary Kunkel
When our boat had the same symptoms (wheel brake not engaging) we took it apart, found the brake pads worn and the knurled surface they clamp onto covered with grease from the chain. The fix was to replace the brake pads using the Edson kit, then clean the braking surface with acetone to remove any trace of grease. Doing the repair wasn't hard. The most difficult part by far was removing the compass and binnacle from the pedestal. They are affixed with stainless bolts going into aluminum which almost become one piece of metal over the years. There are new coated bolts (highly recommended and also available from Edson) which prevent this problem. Getting the bolts removed took tons of work, cussing, torches, vice-grips, more cussing, calling Edson, solvents, pipe wrenches, drinking, sawing the old binnacle apart, getting vice grips onto the now-broken-off bolts and finally ...... getting the old bolts removed. Then it was no problem doing the rest. It did cost me a new binnacle though since I had torn the old one apart to get at the stubs of bolts. Did I mention the cussing? Gary Kunkel
Thanks
Thanks for input and the Edson site. My boat is only 26 mos old and the brake is only set to hold the rudder at the dock or when hove to. After talking to my dealer, the rigger told me a number of 310's had the same issue, due to a couple of the set screws holding the pad working loose and rendering the brake useless. He is going to take it apart and repair, making it sound like a factory issue. Thanks again.
Thanks for input and the Edson site. My boat is only 26 mos old and the brake is only set to hold the rudder at the dock or when hove to. After talking to my dealer, the rigger told me a number of 310's had the same issue, due to a couple of the set screws holding the pad working loose and rendering the brake useless. He is going to take it apart and repair, making it sound like a factory issue. Thanks again.
By the way...
Edson's manuals say to oil the chain MONTHLY and replace chain/wire ever 5 years. If you're going to follow their schedule, the bolts shouldn't ever have a chance to freeze up. Mine were pretty tight and I won after a brief battle with them using a philips bit in a ratchet handle, though the cussing helped too. I put some Lanocote on mine to keep them from seizing in the future. I don't remember any setscrews on my brake or pedastal. (Its a 2000 270.)
Edson's manuals say to oil the chain MONTHLY and replace chain/wire ever 5 years. If you're going to follow their schedule, the bolts shouldn't ever have a chance to freeze up. Mine were pretty tight and I won after a brief battle with them using a philips bit in a ratchet handle, though the cussing helped too. I put some Lanocote on mine to keep them from seizing in the future. I don't remember any setscrews on my brake or pedastal. (Its a 2000 270.)
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