I have simple brake gear for an 0-4-0 but I don't know the best way to get a balanced action.

The brakes on each side are joined by a cross bar, and I have tried putting a variable length connecting bar bewteen them but this clearly isn't good enough. I understand the best way is to have the pull from the weighshaft top the centre of a lever with two equal arms that then pull the centre of the two basr that connect the pairs of brakes. But how long/short should the balancing lever be, how far ahead of the brakes and should it pivot horizontally or vertically?

Neil

At the risk of talking to myself, all the examples I can find use quite long levers, but I can't see hey shorter ones won't do the job, if reasonably accurately made.

I've made a triangular link with three holes at roughly 3/16" centres to fit on the rear cross bar it has a link to the front cross bar and the centre hole will go to the brake lever.

I intend to use back-emf braking, so I only need the brakes to come on for 'show' and it only needs a very gentle movement to get the brakes on and off. I have made the lever to apply the brakes using a small solenoid (the manual crank is a no-no as it would be in the cab which will be full of battery!)

My brake blocks swing around a little to much… how far should they withdraw from the tyre when off, and is there an easy way of 'stiffening' them up – I thought of a small leaf spring inside the block?

Neil

Thanks Clive,

I think I know what you mean by a scissor spring – I can see that working better than my idea of a single leaf.

Neil