Test Trailer Brakes
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Test Trailer Brakes
i have a flatbed trailer with brakes on one axle.... i have had them unhooked for a couple of years and now i am trying to get them to work again. i just replaced the small trailer battery and i have some current going to the trailer brake wire but the brakes arent working(no sound when i pull out the break-away cable).... now what i need to know is
... can i check the brakes with a car battery (actually a jumper for jumping cars. 12 1000peak amps) ;....and how do i do it
....and after that long w/o being used is there something that i can clean(or whatever) to get them working again.. or what could be needing to be replaced?---
...would it help if i hooked it up and drove down a bumpy road,to kinda loosen things up... at the same time jik with the manual **** on the brake controller?.
....or could i spray something with wd-40 to help it loosed?
btw.. the brakes were working fine when they were unhooked
-thanx
... can i check the brakes with a car battery (actually a jumper for jumping cars. 12 1000peak amps) ;....and how do i do it
....and after that long w/o being used is there something that i can clean(or whatever) to get them working again.. or what could be needing to be replaced?---
...would it help if i hooked it up and drove down a bumpy road,to kinda loosen things up... at the same time jik with the manual **** on the brake controller?.
....or could i spray something with wd-40 to help it loosed?
btw.. the brakes were working fine when they were unhooked
-thanx
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Dixie
Get a small cheap compass and hold it real close to one of the brake wheels while someone activates the brakes. If the magnets are working the needle on the compass will swing. Check both wheels. I wouldn't spray WD-40 anywhere unless you pull the brake drums. Chances are that the magnet arms are frozen to the pivot although you may luck out and they work ok from the get-go.
Good Luck,
Dorf
Good Luck,
Dorf
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From: N. Georgia
Originally Posted by MaxGainz
....and after that long w/o being used is there something that i can clean(or whatever) to get them working again.. or what could be needing to be replaced?---
...would it help if i hooked it up and drove down a bumpy road,to kinda loosen things up... at the same time jik with the manual **** on the brake controller?.
....or could i spray something with wd-40 to help it loosed?
btw.. the brakes were working fine when they were unhooked
-thanx
...would it help if i hooked it up and drove down a bumpy road,to kinda loosen things up... at the same time jik with the manual **** on the brake controller?.
....or could i spray something with wd-40 to help it loosed?
btw.. the brakes were working fine when they were unhooked
-thanx
Joe
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i did all the stuff.. compass shows little movement when i pull the brake away cable but dont work... the controller looks like its working but no brakes... havent chked the current to the plug though.... does this read like i need new magnets?
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From: Meriden Ct
The magnets do not go bad very offen, more than likely you have a broken wire going to the magnets. Because niether wheel is working the broken wire should be between the battery and the axle. Follow the wire back, where the wire hooks to the first magnet, you should find your problem. This is probable the most common site for electric brake wire problems. Good luck, and keep use informed as to what you find.
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well i FINALLY noticed that the ground wire to the trailer was not connected. and after a couple hours i finally got them to work. but they dont grab like they used to... they barely tug with the adjusting wheel set to the highest setting.... and i got 12v to the magnets. is it possible that the magnets have lost strength? or could i need to adjust the shoes out. -----the brake ctrlr i have is 'Brake Force'
----and if it seems like i need new magnets, do i need to machine the drums?... drums are a little rough(not much though)
-----oh yea.. the pivot arm is not stuck at all but the shoes are a little hard to move back and forth
----and if it seems like i need new magnets, do i need to machine the drums?... drums are a little rough(not much though)
-----oh yea.. the pivot arm is not stuck at all but the shoes are a little hard to move back and forth
Last edited by MaxGainz; Apr 24, 2006 at 09:32 PM.
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From: Dixie
The magnets work on a part of the brake drum called the armature. If it is rusty from non use then the magnets will appear to be weak. As you use the brakes the armature may clean up if it isn't too rusty and the brakes may get better with use.
If they remain the smae however then you may have to get the drums turned to remove the rust on the armature section.
If they remain the smae however then you may have to get the drums turned to remove the rust on the armature section.
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