Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

btw, the wiring was frayed and split in tons of places. I ripped most of it out and am going to replace.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Any help with this brake set up guys?
Been browsing online and can't find the same set up......Hmmmm

 

[rbh]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Put 12vdc to the wires, you should see/hear/feel the brakes activate, beware they could open and pop off so put the drums on.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

12v to both wires?
or black ground and white positive?

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Forgive me if that sounds dumb....
I tried black to neg, white to pos and got nothing.

 

[rbh]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Sounds like its time to replace the puck (electric brake actuator thingy)

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

This is only one hub on a tri-axle trailer, i'm going to test the others and see what i get....
Thanks for your help!

looking around at the magnet actuators, i see them with a cross in the center.....mine is round.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Ok. Looks like i have "hayes" older magnet style.....$50 per magnet!!!! I hope the others are good.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Ok guys...getting into it again today!
Well, the magnets on the driver side of the trailer all work!
Didn't realize the drum had to be on to test them. Duh.

However, the springs on the bottom that hold the shoes together are all broken....
Advance, autozone do not have them.
Where can I find these?
I have the bearings all cleaned and regreased ready to put back together..just need springs.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Only have enough jacks and stands to do one side at a time....
Hoping to put this back together today if i can find the springs I need.
Would lowes or something have them perhaps? in the screw/nut/bolt/hardware section maybe....

 

[rbh]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Monday morning at the RV/trailer shop is you best bet.


Make that tuesday if mondays a holiday.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Thanks rbh..
Looks like thats what i'll have to do.
Gonna rewire everything as well.
The old wiring is cracked and busted in many spots.
Browsing now for trailer wiring kits...
Any suggestions?

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Well, believe it or not, I found the springs today.
However, need 1 bearing replaced on far rear driver side axle. Also, the brake assembly there is shot.

Can I run with brakes on only two axles?
I had NO brakes before, figured two axles would be better than zero.
Just can't afford new brakes for that axle now. Already a few hundred into it with bearings,grease,wiring,springs, new lights, and new bunks.

 

[rbh]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

I would not advise you to put the brakes on just one axle, I think that if I said that there is that due dillagence thing to worry about.



(but if push came to shove?????)


(I still woudn't)

 

[NYBo]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

(but if push came to shove?????)

With brakes on only one axle, push may well come to shove!

Better to save up the $ for a proper fix, IMO. Plus, it appears to be illegal in your state to have brakes on only one axle.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

the brakes will actually be on two axles.
Missing on one axle.
Finished repacking all the bearings. Ran out of light to reinstall the drums on the passenger side.
I will be replacing all of the brakes eventually as they are 30years old.....
Been browsing around and can get a whole brake set up for one side for like $50 or so....not too bad. I'll do the missing axle first and as money permits replace the other two axle brake assemblies.

Don't tell anyone, but I took it to the lake several times with zero brakes. Took my time and slowed waaaaaayyyyyy down before my stops.
Going this next weekend and will have brakes on two of the three axles.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Btw, thank you for the sound advice.
I WILL have all brakes working properly!

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Oh! one more question....

Upon repacking (and replacing one set) of bearings, when I reinstall the drum and tighten the castle nut,
every source I find says to tighten down and then back off 1/8 to 1/4 turn and insert cotter pin.
I have followed this wisdom, however I could literally remove the nut by hand if it weren't for the cotter pin.

Ease my mind please....Is that correct? Something about it just doesn't sit right with me.

I did the bearings on my little runabout trailer and felt comfortable....this big ol' boat won't be so forgiving if a wheel goes flying.

 

[rbh]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Setting bearings-
remove all weight from the tire when torquing down nut, slowly spin wheel while increaseing torque on nut.

(You are trying to bed the bearings)

tighten till wheel slows/drags, back off, repeat till wheel starts to drag, back off till you can get the cotter pin in the first hole.
1/8-1/4 turn back

then it should be seated.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Questionable Trailer Brake and Light Wiring

Thanks for the reply sir.
I did exactly what you suggested.

That 1/8 or 1/4 turn back makes the nut so loose, I could spin it off by hand if I wanted to. (without cotter pin)
I'm just verifying this is correct???