Just fixed a stuck brake on a MRL with a garden hose

Had a 3 year old Otis MRL with a brake that kept sticking, tried the factory adjustment procedure twice with no luck. I was about to order a whole new brake assembly, then on a whim I sprayed the pivot points with water from a hose to check for binding. Ended up being dried out grease gumming up the linkage, now it works perfect. Anybody else ever have luck with just cleaning something simple instead of replacing parts?

3 comments

3 Comments

finley_price2425d ago

Sprayed down a sticky limit switch on an old Dover with just some WD-40 once. Totally saved a $400 service call that was about to happen. It's wild how often dried up gunk or a little dirt is the real problem. You save yourself a ton of headache and money by just checking the simple stuff first. Your mileage may vary but a hose trick is a solid move.

mila_brown1025d ago

Did you ever think about how much moisture that WD-40 leaves behind though... I learned the hard way when a limit switch I sprayed started acting up again after a few weeks because the WD-40 just attracted more dust and dirt over time. That sticky gunk gets replaced by a slow buildup of grime that can be just as bad in the long run. I started using a contact cleaner that dries completely instead, and it's been way more reliable for those sensitive little switches. The hose trick is fine for a quick fix if you're in a pinch but it's not really a permanent solution for something that sees a lot of use. Just something to keep in mind before you think you're done with that problem for good.

mark_mitchell12d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah I've been guilty of that too @mila_brown10, honestly thought WD-40 was the answer for everything for years. You're right though, the residue really does cause problems after a few weeks when dust starts piling up on it. Switching over to an actual contact cleaner sounds like the smarter long term play for those sensitive parts.