Pioneer forecart

[Jeroen]

6 months ago I got myself the Pioneer draft horse forecart and while pricy for a European I got myself a fine piece of equipment, really a pleasure to work with and way better than my old one. Strangely for a forecart sold that much I was a bit surprised by a few things:
– the real poor quality of the paint job, after six months the paint has become dull and it chips off easily. Stocked indoors!
– the short seatstem, welded one myself and now I am 4 inches higher, can look over my horses and am comfortable (I am rather tall)
– position of the brake pedal, way to close to the seat, you have to look where to put your foot.
– The brakes are making an awful squeeking noise which wakes up the whole neighborhood.

I am curious about the experience of other users and would like some tips on solving the brake issue. Thanks!

[Ellen Anderson]

I am having the same experience with the paint. It is flaking all over. I am treating the rusty spots and will have to repaint. Very strange to have it do this. I guess I assumed the metal was powder coated.
We got hydraulic brakes and they don’t work but I haven’t asked a mechanic to look at them yet because we don’t really need them.

[bird]

Purchased my forecart this spring. I chose the mechanical brakes and both drums arrived with machining errors. The guy who sold it to me had some extras and they were fine, so back in business thanks to a good dealer. I, too, was disappointed in the paint. Bout the time I got ‘er all up and running, mowing season began, so I’m mostly out on the MD #9.

[Ellen Anderson]

We had a mechanic look at the brakes. He unlocked them. Who knew they were locked? I got a heavy duty axle so hydraulic breaks were required. So far still haven’t used them but the mechanic said they looked fine.

[Jeroen]

Purchased my forecart this spring. I chose the mechanical brakes and both drums arrived with machining errors.

Can you tell me what they were? I have the impression one of my brake drums is not exactly round and therefore touches the brake band each turn the drum makes. Loosened the brake bands, but now I am to quick at the end of my pedal.

[bird]

The guy who sold me the cart and sells a lot of them told me that the bands should be tight, rubbing on the drums. Mine are. After a few outings, they seemed to wear into place nicely. I left them as they came from the factory and feel they’re good.

The problems I had were in the machining. One drum had a misaligned lug hole. The other had its central disk not welded flat along the edge of the drum. Looking at the design, I can see there is a huge potential for error in the manufacture of those drums.

[Author]

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