bad master cylinder - can I trailer without hurting anything?

fish hook

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jul 22, 2011
Messages
94
Just checked the fluid and the master cylinder is almost dry. I have Tiedown Model 70LP acuator. Is the master cylinder cap supposed to have a small hole in the side? Looks like a 1/16" hole, when I put fluid in the cylinder and press the tongue in, the fluid squirts out of the little hole in the cap. This doesnt seem right. Do I just need a new cap and bleed the system? I'm leaving for a short trip in 2 days - worst case, will it hurt the tounge assembly to pull it without fluid and brakes. I know there's a safety issue not having trailer brakes but the boat isnt that big and I not concerned - just want to make sure I won't have a trailer problem pulling with no fluid.
 

Thalasso

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: bad master cylinder - can I trailer without hurting anything?

If the master cyl isn't ruined, you will ruin the shock dampener if it has one. Get a new cap and bleed. It will be cheaper in the long run Maybe you can find a short bolt that has the same thread for a temp fix. Either way you will probably need to bleed them.
 
Last edited:

fish hook

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jul 22, 2011
Messages
94
Re: bad master cylinder - can I trailer without hurting anything?

ok. took the bladder out of the cap and noticed it was wrinkled up inside and dirty. Cleaned it good and put it back in the cap. Installed cap, pushed on tongue and presto - no leak at all. I can hear the fluid / air moving when I push the tongue in and there is some resistance (feels like suction) when pulling it back out. . Hopefully, just bleed them and i'll be good. That hole in the cap is supposed to be there - I saw pics of some others online. Must be some sort of breather/overflow or something?
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: bad master cylinder - can I trailer without hurting anything?

the resistance is probably the damper (shock) but yep next step is to bleed and look for leaks
 
Top