Cleaning and Inspecting Monarch Tractor Brakes

Brakes on the Monarch Tractor are mechanical, with brake linkages that need to be regularly inspected and kept clean. Inspecting brakes can be done visually without removing any parts.

Inspecting brakes requires two people, one to operate the brake/parking brake and the second to observe brake functioning.

• Washing the Tractor Before Inspection  
• Visual Brake Inspection 

Washing the Tractor Before Inspection

Washing the tractor is the first step prior to inspecting brakes. If you work with livestock, where waste can gather and solidify, cleaning the tractor after each use to keep the brakes linkages clean is a daily maintenance task. In a vineyard setting, branches and tangled leaves can collect in the brake linkages, requiring a wash after operation.

Your Monarch Tractor MK-V was not designed to be power washed due to the computer components that deliver the technology, data, and autonomy on which our customers rely. Since power washing will damage tractor components, daily washdowns with hose water prevent dirt, mud, and debris from affecting tractor performance.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to avoid getting the interior of the tractor wet. The Smart Screen, Dashboard, and other interior controls should be kept dry.

To wash your tractor before inspecting brakes:

1. If the tractor is charging, disconnect the charger.
2. Close the charging port cover completely, making sure you hear it click. Close all exportable power ports.
3. If any implements are attached to the tractor, lower them.
4. Wash the tractor with soap and water, or any solvent your job site uses to remove manure or other ag byproduct. Pay special attention to washing the following:
   • Roof: Keep the camera lenses and lights clean.
   • Radiator Covers: Hose off the front of the tractor to clear the radiator screens.
   • Steps: For operator safety, and to avoid kicking debris into brake lines, wash the steps.
   • Brake lines and linkages: Wash out behind the rear tires, including the brake lines. All components of the brakes should be completely clean.
   • Underside: Wash the underside of the tractor, rinsing off any debris, mud, or waste.
5. If any water gets onto the Smart Screen or Dashboard, immediately dry with a clean towel. Make sure the tractor is fully dry before charging.

Visual Brake Inspection

Once your tractor is clean you can perform a visual brake inspection. In addition to brake components, the Monarch Tractor includes brake sensors. These sensors are necessary to operate the tractor.

The brake inspection below should be conducted at least every 50 hours.

BRAKES (LEFT HAND SIDE; REAR TIRE REMOVED)

1. PARKING BRAKE RELEASE NUTS
2. PARKING BRAKE (IN ENGAGED POSITION)
3. FOOT BRAKE LINKAGE
4. PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR ROD

To perform a visual brake inspection:

1. Wash the tractor, as explained in Washing the Tractor Pre-Inspection.
2. Park the tractor on level ground and power off the tractor. Chock all four tires to prevent the tractor from moving.
3. Ask a second person to sit in the operator’s seat during the inspection.
4. Make sure that there is no debris in the foot brake actuator rod (smaller metal spring) or in the parking brake actuator rod (under the blue spring) on the left-hand side and the right-hand side.
5. With the tractor in N (Neutral) ask the seated person to press the foot brake.
6. Keeping fingers clear of the braking system, ask the seated person to disengage the parking brake while keeping the foot brake depressed.
7. Using a flashlight, have the seated person slowly release and press the foot brake pedal. Make sure that the brakes (behind the rear wheels) are fully operational as the seated person presses and releases the foot brake. Inspect both the left-hand side and right-hand side. Contact Monarch Tractor if you see any of the following issues:
   • Brake linkages don’t operate smoothly, with obstruction(s).
   • Brake linkages don’t move.
   • Foot brake pedal contacts the floor.
8. Ask the seated person to set the parking brake. Ask the seated person to take his or her foot off the foot brake.
9. Watch the brakes disengage, checking for smooth operation. Contact Monarch Tractor if you see any of the following issues:
   • Brake linkage doesn’t fully disengage.
   • Brake linkages don’t move.
10. Make sure that the parking brake is fully engaged, pushing against the S-rod. Contact Monarch Tractor if you see that the parking brake is not sitting against the S-rod.

PARKING BRAKE IN PROPER POSITION AGAINST S-ROD

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. S-ROD
                              2. PARKING BRAKE IN PROPER POSITION

11. Check the two jam nuts on the parking brake. Contact Monarch Tractor if you see any of the following issues:

• • One or both jam nuts are loose or missing
  • Torque mark is unaligned, indicating that a fastener has moved.
  • Threads are not flush with the end of the jam nut.
  • Threads are not protruding through the jam nut.

12. If any issues are seen, contact Monarch Tractor for help.

IMPORTANT: The foot brake should never make contact with the floor when pressed. There should always be a feeling of tension in the brake pedal. If the pedal feels too loose or sinks straight to the floor when pressed, contact Monarch Tractor.