Why should manual adjustments of Automatic Slack Adjusters be avoided?

The avoidance of manual adjustments of Automatic Slack Adjusters primarily centers on the fact that they do not effectively address the true adjustment needs of the brake system. Automatic Slack Adjusters are designed to maintain the proper brake shoe clearance through their automatic adjustment feature. When manual adjustments are made, it can lead to an incorrect setting that does not reflect the current wear or operational condition of the brakes. This can compromise braking efficiency and safety because the adjustments may not facilitate the necessary brake response.

The design of Automatic Slack Adjusters is to compensate for wear and maintain appropriate brake performance over time, making manual adjustments redundant and potentially detrimental. Users rely on these automatic systems to provide consistent and accurate adjustments in line with actual brake system conditions, thus ensuring optimal functionality and reliability.

In contrast, while other options may touch on concerns related to adjustments, they do not directly address the primary issue of misalignment with the automatic mechanism's intended operation and design. Hence, focusing solely on the effectiveness of the automatic function highlights why manual adjustments should be avoided.