Please help - Handbrake problem

[J_M]

Hi all. Had the Chim for a couple of months now (yet to update profile-just moved house!). Thanks to all who gave advice.

Just had the most annoying couple of days with her though, beginning with loss of sump plug on the A27 outside Romsey on Sunday (found and sorted now) and this morning finding the handbrake jammed in the 'on' position. The lever has one of the Leven end-pieces. It still has some play in it but the button can't be pushed in enough to release the ratchet. Anybody experienced this before? Any advice greatly appreciated - especially with the weather as it is now!

[alex.tvr]

Have you tried pushing on the brake pedal while trying the handbrake, the only way I can release mine if I'm on 'number 3' notch

[parrot of doom]

Turn the button clockwise.

[J_M]

Just popped out to try that POD. Few turns and back to normal. Cheers for that.

Out of curiosity though, what does it actually do? Some kind of tensioner?

Thanks again for your help.

[parrot of doom]

Probably just part of the design. Good security system though

[Cider Andy]

The button contains a thick rubber washer similar to a tap washer which screws on to a machine thread on the end of a thin bar which runs through the centre of the handbrake lever. This in turn releases a ratchet when the button is pressed.

The handgrip is secured to the handbrake lever by three small socket-headed grub screws underneath it. You may need to slacken these to reposition the handgrip a little further down the lever so more of the button is showing.