Hand brake very slack.........

Hi, I seem to have broken my hand brake - it was working fine until Broxhead day when it stopped working for a couple days (I cleaned the brakes before leaving Broxhead and then drove through a near by ford a couple of times to clean the under side bits and bobs.), then it started working again, but today the hand brake lever goes all the way up and the brake only just starts to catch (may not be sand related afterall). The brakes seem fine when the lever is/was working, there are no noises coming from the rear when the brake is applied (i.e. no scratching).

I've just been reading the service manual pdf and can see several areas to check - from cable adjustment through to balancer at the rear. But if anyone can give me a few tips I'd be grateful - before I forget its in gear and ram Mrs B in Backs car on start up :whistle:

I would put money on it being seized adjusters. I clean mine out after any outing and give the adjusters a good spray of wd40 and yet they still seize up.
Pull the brakes apart and undo the adjusters, give them a clean and either use some copper ease on the threads or loads of wd40.
My handbrake was useless but was 4 clicks once i'd given them a going over.

I always leave every car in gear anyway as a precaution too, its a habit thats rarely taught along with dipping the clutch when starting.

i agree go straight to ajusters bet they full of c**p

definately crap in the adjusters - we never had a properly working hand brake after any trip off road - now got a rear disc conversion and a fab handbrake - nice not to have to park it against trees anymore!

Thank you for the replies. Its the sort of tips that come from experience.

I'll have a crack at the adjusters - wouldn't be suprised to find a hand full of sand in them!! Mind you, I'll probably fill them up again on Sunday, but at least I'll get the hang of doing it.

I was having a look at the drums when I got home (with a torch) and could only find a bleed nipple on the passanger side, couldn't see one on the drivers side! Is this correct or should I look again in day light??

just checked the manual again, and there is only one rear bleed nipple on the passangers side - just need to see if I've got a LSPV (Load Sensing Proportioning Valve) and bleed that (if I have one)!!