Slack adjuster how to#
So what we're going to do today, we're going to demonstrate how to do that, so stick around, we'll be right back with that information.
Slack adjuster manual#
Manually apply the brake, take your wrench, and back it off a third to half a turn, and then make sure that the locking sleeve is re-engaged over the adjusting nut, the 9/16 nut, put your pry bar in and make sure that it's within adjustment.Īfter you do that you have to adjust both manual slack adjusters on both sides of the axle so know that as well that if you do one you've got to do the one on the other side of the axle as well. Turn it until the adjusting nut goes tight, check that it is in fact tight because what you've done is manually tightened, or manually applied the brake.
![slack adjuster slack adjuster](https://www.pepinstruckparts.com/uploads/1/2/2/4/122470124/s361097886770843535_p1114_i2_w2560.jpeg)
If so, you're probably going the wrong way. If you're turning it more than one or two revolutions. Then you turn it all the way until the nut goes tight and you shouldn't have to turn it more than one or two revolutions at the most. If you turn the nut more than 2 turns and it doesn't go tight - you're probably turning it the wrong way! Turn the adjusting nut so the S-cam rotates in the same direction as a brake application. Once you determine that it's out-of-adjustment you take your 9/16 wrench, push it over the adjusting nut, you'll have to release the locking sleeve and we'll show you how to that, and then turn the adjusting nut so the S-cam rotates in the same direction as the brake application. You might have to use the applied stroke method and I'll put a card up in the corner for you here on determining air brake adjustment. Get out, determine that it is in fact out-of-adjustment by using the pry bar method for the most part.
So we're going to do that today, we're going to show you how to do it and at some licensing centers here in British Columbia, for example, if you cannot explain how to set up a manual slack adjuster it's an automatic fail on the air brake portion of your CDL test so you have to be able to do it.
Slack adjuster license#
So you're not going to ever have to adjust a manual slack adjuster it's really unlikely because they've gone the way of the dodo bird, but for the purposes of a road test a CDL license test, you're going to have to do it.įor Some Tests You MUST Know how to do this You can tell how old this truck is because it actually says on the hood diesel engine which signifies the transition between gasoline engines and diesel engines.įor big trucks, that happened in the early-70s and that was one of the selling features for this old Ford Louisville and at one time the Ford Louisville actually was the industry standard so it's a pretty old truck. You can see here in the salvage yard I had to walk around here for about a half an hour before I actually found this old probably 1970s maybe early 80's Ford Louisville that was equipped with manual slack adjusters.
![slack adjuster slack adjuster](https://www.truckspring.com/images-nwm/slack-adjusters/cb22102/cb22102-lrg-03.jpg)
You are not going to do this on any modern air brake system, they're all going to be equipped with automatic slack adjusters.
![slack adjuster slack adjuster](https://www.chromeandparts.com/images/virtuemart/product/bap40010212b.jpg)
Hi there Smart Drivers, Rick with Smart Drive Test talking to you today about how to adjust a manual slack adjusters for the purposes of your CDL license test. How to Adjust a Manual Slack Adjuster for your CDL Air Brakes Learn how to adjust a manual slack adjuster for your CDL Air Brake Test.