The parking brake on the BE 23/24 and 76 uses a lock that
stops the master cylinder from bleeding fluid back from the
brake assemblies. It is a simple device. The brakes are
not designed to be used for long term parking since they do
not compensate for temperature changes. If the hot brakes
are set and then cool the pressure and therefore the brake
releases. Even if the brakes are cool, over the night, the
air temperature will drop and the brakes release. Worse, if
you set the parking brake when it is cool or cold and then
the temperature goes up, the pressure increases locking the
brake solid and can damage the system. Often the only way
to get the parking brake to release is to open the brake
bleeder valve and that will require time and a mechanic to
re-bleed the brakes.

The manual says that the brake is for short term use, such
as keeping the plane stationary while you get chocks.

To set the brake, apply pressure with the toe brake and
then gently pull the control out, you're just moving a small
valve that takes very little force. To release the brake,
apply pressure with the toe brakes to unload the valve and
then push the control in. The control should have about 1/8
to 1/4 inch cushion and the knob will not sit at rest
against the panel.


"B A R R Y" wrote in
message ...
| On Sat, 04 Nov 2006 04:23:59 GMT, A Lieberma

| wrote:
|
| B A R R Y wrote in
news:ziN2h.754$7F3.71
| :
|
| I'm happy, but we just got the Slowdowner as "perfect"
as I care... G
|
| Took me three years to get to the point where I got every
switch knob and
| button working.
|
| We kind of gave up on the parking brake. G
|
| Next up will be the interior when I get rich and famous
for the money.
|
| I feel your pain...