hanbrake issue

[pbarx]

Hi Gents, sorry about this question you have probably had it a million times. The hanbrake on the trailer will not hold, was on a very minor slope when launching, put handbrake on, as soon as was off the car it rolled into the water. Nobody hurt, just me with a red face and wet shoes! How do i tighten the handbrake? its a standard twin axle trailer, the hand brake springs on with some force, but the cable seems a little slack.
Also while im on, i always unhitch the electrics from the car and unwind all the way to the trailer board thus removing it all before launching. This is really time consuming is there another way?

Your help would be fantastic!

cheers
pbarx

 

[VicS]

The brake shoes probably have adjusters... manual adjusting screws or automatic like cars have on the rear wheels

I'd expect to find adjusters in the cable system as well.

Adjust the brake shoes in the same way as you do for car brake shoes.

Adjust the cables to take out all but the last little bit of slack.


BUT if you have been immersing the trailer the whole lot has probably rusted up solid.
If so you will need to strip it all down, free off and lubricate the cable system.
Dismantle free off and lightly lubricate the brake shoe systems.

If the hand brake does not work then the brakes probably dont work when you are towing. I suggest you get it sorted PDQ and certainly before your next tow

What make trailer? Someone may have specific knowledge of that particular make.

 

[pbarx]

Hi Vics,

thanks for that. Has the trailer serviced about 6 months back. Phoned him he said handbrake should just need tightening on the cable? does this sound right? He is a distance so i am trying to see if it just a minor adjustment.

regards

pbarx

 

[Searush]

Use a brick or a plank under the wheels. Tie the trailer to the towbar & let it surge bac slowly under control. Clip the light board too the boat & lay the cable over the top with maybe just a bungee or short line to tie it on.

 

[pbarx]

thanks sea rush,

do you think it is just the cable that needs tightening?

just wondered wether they did waterproof 12 pin sockets and plugs.

thanks for the info

 

[Searush]

Try it & see. Like Vic says, check the operating lever at the drum is free & moves when you operate/release the brake (BOTH SIDES!)

Chocking the wheels is just good practise on a ramp anyway & you can move the chocks one side at a time if the brake is a bit weak. I move my caravan on the drive like that. Don't get ambitious tho, slowly & gently does it.

The adjuster will have a left & right handed thread either side so rotating it one way slackens it & the other way tightens it. Shortening the cable can improve the leverage on the brakes.

Another thought, what happens when you r=try to reverse the trailer without the spring lock on? Do the brakes work then? If so it is definitely an adjustment problem.

 

[TSB240]

We have the same problem with our 4 wheel trailer for our trailable yacht. Even with all proper adjustments of the brakes and tension in cable it will run backwards as the Auto reverse brakes seem to have a mind of their own and usually when you least expect it.

We get around this by using an extending tow hitch and chocks.

We also have a watling front towbar on the Shogun ( thoroughly recommend.)

Push boat down slip.
lower jockey wheel
Chock wheels when just above water line.(remove lighting and put bungs in!)
Disconnect front tow hitch
Fit tow hitch to pusher bar with drop nose pin.
Back vehicle up and slip extender bar into front towball location.
Fit additional drop nose pin.
Reverse slightly to take load off chocks.
Push into deeper water.

Pusher bar is an 8 foot length of 50mm Hollow square tube which the removable front tow hitch slips into

We are handling in excess of 2 ton on steep slips and maintain complete control over launch and recovery.

When not in use it sits on top of trailer main chassis bar.

Rope may work for some lighter weights but you cant push a piece of string!

 

[Searush]

(snip)
Rope may work for some lighter weights but you cant push a piece of string!

Very true. I was assuming that there was enough weight for the trailer to roll down the slip as you let it. I'm surprised that you actually need to push your boat down a slipway! Yeah, I know, only teasing; it would be useful across sand or gravel.

 

[Lakesailor]

If the OP has not been doing a major mileage in the last 6 months, why would the trailer's brake cables need adjusting?
The service would appear to have been a bit superficial.