Trailer reversing brake problem ???
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From: thelane on 4 Jan 2008 14:10 >Looks like an auto-reverse hitch, so either the brakes aren't adjusted >properly (usually they just don't work on the handbrake if the adjustments >that far out), the shoes are seized so they're not releasing on reverse, the >shoes are fitted the wrong way around so you're in effect getting an >auto-forward, or the wrong shoes are fitted (highly unlikely, but not >impossible). >It could also be somebody has fitted a new hitch. > >Best option is to strip all the brake drums of and see what's going on. If >it's more than a few years old, it's always wise to do to make sure >everything is still attached where it should be (linings tend to start >lifting of the shoes after a few years), and moving freely. So I am looking for a non existent catch or peg. If the handbrake was not effective, surely the brakes would not work forward or reverse ?? The hitch does not look particularly new, by the state of the grease around the handbrake lever Any good sites or links to show me the correct method of assy of the brakes ???
From: Chris Whelan on 4 Jan 2008 14:11 thelane wrote: >>Looks like an auto-reverse hitch, so either the brakes aren't adjusted >>properly (usually they just don't work on the handbrake if the adjustments >>that far out), the shoes are seized so they're not releasing on reverse, >>the shoes are fitted the wrong way around so you're in effect getting an >>auto-forward, or the wrong shoes are fitted (highly unlikely, but not >>impossible). >>It could also be somebody has fitted a new hitch. >> >>Best option is to strip all the brake drums of and see what's going on. If >>it's more than a few years old, it's always wise to do to make sure >>everything is still attached where it should be (linings tend to start >>lifting of the shoes after a few years), and moving freely. > > So I am looking for a non existent catch or peg. > > If the handbrake was not effective, surely the brakes would not work > forward or reverse ?? > > The hitch does not look particularly new, by the state of the grease > around the handbrake lever > > Any good sites or links to show me the correct method of assy of the > brakes ??? Any help? http://www.towitall.co.uk/trailer_spares/lockheed.htm Chris -- Remove prejudice to reply.
From: Harry Bloomfield on 4 Jan 2008 14:24 "thelane" <thelane(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:c1msn354urvefcp05k8f5jjme6f5gcrf5g(a)4ax.com... > My 4 wheel ifor williams trailer drives perfectly OK forwards, and > when fully loaded. > > Seems to be OK when reversing with no load. > > But as soon as I get some weight in the trailer and try to reverse the > trailer brakes come on. > > Any idea of what the problem is, and is there an easy fix at the > roadside. As I do not want to get caught out. There are two basic types of brakes on these types of trailer. The older type needed to have some sort of reverse lock put in place before you reversed, then taken off after. The second type were automatic, operated by the rear ward rotation of the wheels to disable the brakes. The brake operation of both relied upon the coupling being pushed back by the force of the trailer catching up the towing vehicle, hence the need for the trailer brakes to be applied until the coupling opened up again. A lightly loaded trailer probably would need much effort to push it back, hence your not having a problem until it is loaded up. For the first type, look for a catch or a flap of metal which would prevent the coupling closing up and apply it only while reversing. If it is the second type, then your brakes need some adjustment. You need to find out the name of the manufacturer and seek advice on how they should be correctly set up.
From: Harry Bloomfield on 4 Jan 2008 14:55 <smarshall(a)gmx.co.uk> wrote in message news:2bb5ccac-c916-479b-8b7c-d095e8ee40ba(a)x71g2000hsx.googlegroups.com... On Jan 4, 4:47 pm, "Tim.." <the.farm...(a)spam.btinternet.com> wrote: > Unless trailor brakes are very different from caravan brakes they are > not meant to do that, when reversing a caravan, loaded or not, the > brakes do not work. > Steve Quite true for modern trailer and caravan brakes with automatic reverse interlock, but not for earlier designs. The early ones required you to get out of the car after making sure the hitch had not compressed and manually throw a lever, or insert a pin before you could reverse. The only exception was an electrically operated system, where a solenoid on the hitch powered by the reversing lights inserted a pin for you.
From: Mrcheerful on 4 Jan 2008 15:02
"thelane" <thelane(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:o11tn3d03f8iglgv1upp77m782nfdvfkp9(a)4ax.com... > >Looks like an auto-reverse hitch, so either the brakes aren't adjusted >>properly (usually they just don't work on the handbrake if the adjustments >>that far out), the shoes are seized so they're not releasing on reverse, >>the >>shoes are fitted the wrong way around so you're in effect getting an >>auto-forward, or the wrong shoes are fitted (highly unlikely, but not >>impossible). >>It could also be somebody has fitted a new hitch. >> >>Best option is to strip all the brake drums of and see what's going on. If >>it's more than a few years old, it's always wise to do to make sure >>everything is still attached where it should be (linings tend to start >>lifting of the shoes after a few years), and moving freely. > > So I am looking for a non existent catch or peg. > > If the handbrake was not effective, surely the brakes would not work > forward or reverse ?? > > The hitch does not look particularly new, by the state of the grease > around the handbrake lever > > Any good sites or links to show me the correct method of assy of the > brakes ??? > auto reverse release brakes work by the brake shoe assy moving and releasing, I have never worked on them, but as someone else said the fault will lie in the drum. Older hitches with non auto reverse brakes had a lever to allow reversing built onto the hitch assy. Trailers need servicing too!! Mrcheerful |