Brakes sticking, cant work it out

[tom_20000]

Last month i overhauled the braked on my Alko axle and draw bar & hitch.

It has full new drum internals, new cables, new bar from draw bar to axle. On the front, the draw bar was removed and greased, damper replaced and the linkages changes as they were seized.

Set everything up as per alko manual, first tow 200 miles and it towed like a dream, MPG was up, no more "Thud" under braking as the draw bar compressed, Safety check after 5 miles and again at 100 and everything was the right temp, all good.

Launched the boat, and then 5 days later recovered and flushed all the drums. Towed 5 miles and the drums were boiling. Jacked up the trailer and both wheels were completely seized going forward. Left everything to cool, whipped the drums off cleaned down the polished shoe and drum, replaced and still seemed to be catching (both drums required 9 clicks of adjustment).

Now this is what i dont understand, everything was still clean and free moving, no corrosion or such in the drum. Why were they fine on the way up and a nightmare on the way back, has someone been playing with my trailer while i've been away for 5 days? (far fetched i know)

Unfortunately that wasnt the end of the issue. One wheel cooled down and remained cool, the other kept getting warm and we had to keep stopping.

I've also noticed the draw bar doesn't seem to be returning it's whole length on it's own last inch it's sticking, and doesnt seem to return even when being pulled with the car.

Next steps take the draw bar off and clean and grease, reset the brakes etc start over. I just cant work out why my problems started.

Cheers

Tom

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by tom_20000

Last month i overhauled the braked on my Alko axle and draw bar & hitch.



It has full new drum internals, new cables, new bar from draw bar to axle. On the front, the draw bar was removed and greased, damper replaced and the linkages changes as they were seized.



Set everything up as per alko manual, first tow 200 miles and it towed like a dream, MPG was up, no more "Thud" under braking as the draw bar compressed, Safety check after 5 miles and again at 100 and everything was the right temp, all good.



Launched the boat, and then 5 days later recovered and flushed all the drums. Towed 5 miles and the drums were boiling. Jacked up the trailer and both wheels were completely seized going forward. Left everything to cool, whipped the drums off cleaned down the polished shoe and drum, replaced and still seemed to be catching (both drums required 9 clicks of adjustment).



Now this is what i dont understand, everything was still clean and free moving, no corrosion or such in the drum. Why were they fine on the way up and a nightmare on the way back, has someone been playing with my trailer while i've been away for 5 days? (far fetched i know)



Unfortunately that wasnt the end of the issue. One wheel cooled down and remained cool, the other kept getting warm and we had to keep stopping.



I've also noticed the draw bar doesn't seem to be returning it's whole length on it's own last inch it's sticking, and doesnt seem to return even when being pulled with the car.



Next steps take the draw bar off and clean and grease, reset the brakes etc start over. I just cant work out why my problems started.



Cheers



Tom

In the 5 days between the launch & recovery when the brakes were stood & wet, the cranked expander arm has corroded & gone tight. Also, after you launched, did you reverse into a parking space? What usually happens is you reverse & un-hitch & the brake shoes stick in the reverse position, when you move off forward they bind in the drum. I used to run backwards & forwards a few times to loosen things up. I always make a point of chocking the wheels & easing forward to ensure the hitch is fully extended if I'm going to be parked up for any length of time, especially if the wheels have just been dunked.

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

In the 5 days between the launch & recovery when the brakes were stood & wet, the cranked expander arm has corroded & gone tight. Also, after you launched, did you reverse into a parking space? What usually happens is you reverse & un-hitch & the brake shoes stick in the reverse position, when you move off forward they bind in the drum. I used to run backwards & forwards a few times to loosen things up. I always make a point of chocking the wheels & easing forward to ensure the hitch is fully extended if I'm going to be parked up for any length of time, especially if the wheels have just been dunked.

Yep would agree with Dave 100%. I have come a cropper forgetting to pull forward after reverse.

[tom_20000]

[emoji106] cheers guys. Will give everything a clean down and then reset. They didn't appear to be working at all in the past, hence probably the reason I've not having this issue before. Will be sure to run them forward next time

[two stroke mick]

Every day is a school day, I have had problems with a cattle trailer like this for years. Now I know where the problem was coming from

Regards

TSM