How do you measure push rod stoke by your self?

Question 3: May a driver or other motor carrier employee be qualified as a brake inspector under§396.25 by way of experience or training to perform brake adjustments without being qualified to perform other brake-related tasks such as the repair or replacement of brake components?
Guidance: Yes. A driver may be qualified by the motor carrier to perform a limited number of tasks in connection with the brake system, e.g., inspect and/or adjust the vehicle's brakes, but not repair them.

 

ok, so now one must be qualified by the motor carrier rather than just have an air brake endorsement? BTW there is no such thing as an air brake endorsement.

Best regards

 

Here we go...

 

Funny how my Virginia CDL had Air brakes as a endorsement printed on the D/L, also other states say air brake endorsement as well.

Edited to ad, it says clearly may be qualified by a carrier

 

I feel bad for the newbs trying to sort out the BS in this thread.

 

No it didn't and no they don't.

Best regards.

 

Ok you are the expert

 

To confuse you further, the FMCSR's do not have OOS regulations. The CVSA establishes OOS criteria.

Ok, this is understandable. To be placed OOS the number of defective brakes has to equal or be greater than 20 percent of the service brakes on the vehicle or combination. A defective brake includes any brake that meets certain conditions. 2 defective brakes out of 10 brakes gives you 20% OOS. If you have a 4 brake vehicle then 1 defective brake puts you at 25%, which puts you OOS (20% or over). A 16 brake vehicle would need 4 defective brakes to put you OOS, because 3 defective brakes would round to 19%, while 4 defective brakes is 25%. Just multiply the total number of brakes by 0.2 to get the number of brakes to be 20% and round to the next higher number when necessary. (ie: 18 brakes 18x0.2=3.6 rounded to 4 defective brakes to be OOS).

Now consider brake adjustment. It is one of the aforementioned conditions that indicates whether a brake is defective or not. If I remember correctly CVSA identifies 31 types of chambers, each with their own adjustment limit. A brake found at the adjustment limit is not a defect, but if one is 1/8" over it is only 1/2 a defect, so it takes 2 to make 1 defect. For instance if you have 5 at 1/8" over the adjustment limit, you have 2 1/2 defective brakes. If an adjustment is 1/4" over it is 1 defect. For instance if you have 5 at 1/4" over the adjustment limit, you have 5 defects.

If you have identified the number of brakes it takes to get to 20% on your vehicle (First paragraph) and you meet or exceed this number based on the second paragraph, you will be placed OOS.

BTW, even if you do not meet or exceed the 20%, you can still be cited, or a violation noted on an inspection, but you shouldn't be placed OOS.

The "DOT" doesn't say "you" should have adjusted them. You just get the due penalties if they are not adjusted.

Everyone who has adjusted manual slack adjusters knows it's a no brainer. Heck, it's less effort to adjust them than it is to manually check each one, and while possibly not idiot proof it's not much more complicated then putting air in a tire. But government in it's infinite wisdom decided there must be some evidence that you know what you are doing. A motor carrier can train a driver to inspect and adjust without a hell of a lot of time or money, then give the driver a wallet card. You an also adjust with a qualified person giving you instructions over the phone.

Best regards

 

Me Too. I also keep the key in my pocket just to be as safe as I can.

 

So,to adjust them I turn it all the way to the right,then back it off 1/4 turn? What size wrench fits the adjuster?