Mico Lock v. Line Lock

What's the difference between a Mico Lock and a Line Lock that's used in drag racing, i.e. the Moroso brand. Seems to be a big price difference. Is the line lock only designed for really short holds?

 

I think the main diff is the micro lock can be set to hold the brakes while the line lock has to be held by your hand and when you release it it will release the brakes. I used micro locks on my tow trucks so I could get out and operate the winch. You could use the micro as a sort of temporary parking brake. Mike

 

I thought the diff was mechanical vs. electrical. No?

 

So if you replace the push button with a toggle switch on the line lock what's the difference (other than 2x the cost)?

 

Both plumb into the brake lines - AFAIK and use an electrical soleniod to hold pressure.

 

I dont think the solinoid would like being energized for any length of time. The micro is mechanical in nature no electrics involved. Mike

 

Ahhh - OK - thanks!

 

I coulda swore the one (and only) Mico-lock I saw in a four-wheeler was a lever-actuated valve which was hard-piped into the circuit. Mind you, that was a very long time ago; mid-sixties??

 

Yep thats it the lever operates a little cam which move a valve that closes off the ports going to the brakes locking the fluid in the lines under pressure, thus the name "line lock". Mike

 

Photo here on post #22.
http://earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22767&page=3

 

Bob, one other thing (which I'm sure you already know!) Micro-lock devices aren't acceptible as E-brakes, by law. At least not in Oregon. Here, they require that an E-brake must be a separate means of applying a brake force. Mechanical vs. hydraulic, or separate altogether, as in a T-case E-brake. I'd hate to see somebody get it in the short curlies for thinking this is a way out of making a convential e-brake work. (such as the aforementioned T-case idea)

Just another thought to throw out there.

 

Yup - I shoulda done more reading before asking. Mico also sells an electric switch based system - but there's a lot more to it than plumbing a solenoid into the brake line...

http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/ca...id=8730&secid=73&linkon=subsection&linkid=211

Thanks again guys.

Bob

 

I dunno, either; I thought for a long time it was Mico, but I googled Micro anyway, and it gave a ration of bad news about folks trusting the very device we are discussing, no matter how you spell it. I've seen it pictured recently; here, I think. Thought. Whatever.

 

Mico is a brand name. Micro is really small

I think folks call the lever actuated (additional master cylinder) micro locks.

 

Yup. No plans to use it as a e-brake. My thought was a short term parking brake in conjunction with the big rock under the tire for on the trail. Most clubs around here require you have something - which I don't right now, so I can't play with them.

 

Additional master?? Holy cow, how much pressure can you put in with just one stroke? Oh, that just didn't come out right.....

Seriously, is there a separate cylinder for the system? If so, that would be of real interest!! Not that I need another system to work on, but.........

 

Got that, Bob!! I am OK as long as I stay registered. (Hey!, honest , it worked yesterday!!) There are a lot of times I'd like to hop out just for a sec, without killing the motor.

 

Well - I might have mis-spoke again - on page 3 of this catalog are mechanical levers to hold pressure (no additional system):
http://www.mico.com/litpdf/80-950-152.pdf#search='mico%20brake%20lock'

And this catalog has remote actuators - I believe this is what the dune buggy guys use for cutting brakes:

http://www.mico.com/literature/ractuators.php3

The remote actuator catalog shows schematics on plumbing such a beast. I know jeepngem (the So-Cal Glenn) has something like this plumbed into his system - and it is really slick.

 

I don't have a use for one anymore as I can operate my winch in the JEEP from the drivers seat, thats the main reason you ended up with my old winch Bob the line locks are just another source for a leak as far as I am concerned. I could tell you some real funny storys involving those things, of course I wasn't laughing at the time but since no one died there funny now. I will never forget my old Chev truck firmly mounted on top of a boulder after one failed and it left sans me down a hill. Mike