82 



BRAKE 



CH. V 



A K 



Fig. 43. 



is disengaged from the tooth. The shape of the 

 teeth of the rack is important. If they are too 

 square, as in A, Fig. 43, the handle will jump out 

 with the shaking of the coach ; if they 

 are cut back too much, as in B, it will 

 be difficult to disentraore the handle. 

 This should be carefully looked to in a 

 new coach, since either fault is serious. 



There is a difference of opinion among 

 coaching men as to whether the brake- 

 handle should move forward or backward 

 to put on the brake. Fig. 44 shows the 

 two arrangements. In A, the handle, 

 when the break is off, is far forward and 

 down ; to reach it, the coachman must lean for- 

 ward somewhat, but he can exert a crreat d ea l of 



force upon it as he pulls 

 it back. In its off posi- 

 tion it is much in the way 

 in getting up and down. 

 If it is placed further back 

 to avoid this difficulty, 

 the arm of the coachman, 

 when he has the handle 

 nearly back, and needs to 

 exert the most power, is in the worst position for 

 so doing. If the handle works by pushing instead 

 of pulling, as shown in B, it is always out of the 

 way, and in putting on the brake, the coachman 

 has to exert the least force when the handle is first 



Fig. 44 



