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Brake lever ass. Jennings Chief Gov repair

PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2026 1:12 am
by HenkdeJ
I am new here and from the Netherlands. I would like to have an opinion or direction from a member who ran into the same problem.

After 20 year I took my Jennings Chief Govenor from the storage and tried to spin again.
Because of goo the reels did not spin correctly. Took them apart and I cleaned that out, now works smoothly again.
However, the first two brake (L to R) arms between the reels are sticking together at/on the axle so they stop almost at the same time when cycling. The 3th runs free.

My problem now is that I have no clue how to take the brake assembly (rod/axle with the three levers) apart for cleaning. The rod/axle is completely stuck. Telling by the locking pin hole in the rod (LH side) it should move from left to the right to slide out. Totally stuck and sewing oil does not do the trick.

As many can dream these machines, could someone be so kind to have a short look at the attached pictures.
May I ask you for an advise or directions how to take this assembly apart? Am I overlooking something? I also could not find it in the Jennings repair manual or in videos.

Your help is appreciated, I am from the Netherlands and these machines are not very common here and we are lacking restoration specialists.

Thank you on forehand, regards Henk

Re: Brake lever ass. Jennings Chief Gov repair

PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2026 7:52 am
by flyingfred
I believe that there was an old Army saying that fits this particular situation. If it moves, salute it. If it does not move, paint it green. My change to that saying would be, if it moves, salute it. If it does not move, spray it with WD40. I have been mostly successfuel in getting mechanical parts moving again that way.

-Fred-

Re: Brake lever ass. Jennings Chief Gov repair

PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2026 8:04 am
by HenkdeJ
Thanks Fred, I will give it a try!

Re: Brake lever ass. Jennings Chief Gov repair

PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2026 8:38 am
by RickHector
Greeting Henk,
I have had this same problem several times. I have found that if you gently heat the assembly all the way across the shaft with something like a small butane torch it will soften up the hard grease and the shaft can be removed for cleaning. It doesn't need to get very hot, just enough to get the hard grease to start to melt. Good luck! Rick

Re: Brake lever ass. Jennings Chief Gov repair

PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2026 10:11 am
by HenkdeJ
Thank Rick! Will get back, give it also a try tomorrow. Regards Henk

Re: Brake lever ass. Jennings Chief Gov repair

PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2026 11:40 am
by HenkdeJ
Dear Fred and Rick,

Both tricks worked like a charm.
Putting a heater and melt the old grease took some time but the rod is out.

Thank you all!
Regards Henk