slack adjuster is the adjuster on the brakes of vehicles with air brakes. these are used to adjust and take the slack out of the brakes caused by usual wear on the brakes
With the brakes applied, the angle of the slack adjuster and the actuating rod should be at 90 degrees.
Yes there are slack adjusters on railroad cars. They work much like the automatic slack adjusters on large trucks, and do the same job
I worked for a year and a half as a contractor Carmen on the bnsf. A slack adjuster is a threaed rod with adjusting nuts on the threaed portion that can adjust for proper tension on the brake rigging with includes rods and a chain and an air billow and brake shoes pressing up against the wheel.this slack adjuster must be properly adjusted for the brakes to work correctly.
Remove the cotter pin and pin connecting the slack adjuster to the brake chamber, remove the locking ring on the inside which presses the slack adjuster to the s-cam, slide (or hammer) it out. Installation is opposite of reverse.
An air brake system which uses foundation drum brakes will have one slack adjuster per brake - two per axle. They'll be located inside the wheel well - the slack adjuster is will be located at the end of the pushrod which extends out from the brake chamber.
Assuming we are talking about "S" cam air brakes on a truck, check the angle at the end of the slack adjuster to the actuator rod coming out of the air brake can when brakes are applied, it should be 90 degrees, if the slack adjuster is manual adjust it with the brakes not applied and then test again. If they are automatic slack adjusters and you do not have 90 degrees with brakes applied it is worn out or not installed correctly.
With the brakes released and either the wheels chocked or the trailer brakes set, you rotate the nut on the slack adjuster until the brake shoes are tight against the drum. Then you back it off 1/4 to 1/2 turn. What tools you need specifically depend on which slack adjuster you have... you could have Bendix, Haldex,, or Wabco Meritor slack adjusters.
attached to the s cams in the brakes. to adjust the brakes.
Slack adjusters are the linkage between the pushrod in the brake chamber and the S-cam between the brake shoes.
attached to the s cams in the brakes. to adjust the brakes.
The correct answer is until you get the specified slack. But you will find 1/4 turn will get you close.