My studs are the type that are bolts really-so I am not hitting onto a thread but a bolt head. Personally i can never find anywhere I can get a hammer into on the back of the drum cos the axle/brake cables etc get in the way. Doesnt need much of a tap to free them on the studs-but each to their own of course. Another thing we have found useful in keeping the brakes working is to loosely tie the cables with shock cord so that they keep a nice curve but instead of the loop hanging downwards, allowing any seawater to collect in the middle of the cable and rust them away, the curve is upwards so as not to form a water trap.
Originally posted by wavelength If they do stick we find the effective way out is to clout the end of the wheel studs with a hammer as they are bolted into the drum and will give a direct shock to jar them off.
we find hitting the backplate whilst someone rocks the boat back and forward does the trick.
Also I have sen a trailer that instead of the two bowden cables running from the main cable had two open cables around a pulley to pull on the brakes. Hence the cables cannot seize. Also it had a brass fitting screwed to the top of the drum with a hose permanently attached with a hoselock fitting at the front soyou can just plug in and flush brakes. I believe you buy it as a kit but I haven't found it yet
Whacking on the studs is fine and very effective; just wind on a nut (full depth if possible) so you DON'T damage the threads. Whack the drum, too; very high carbon (so it is stiff), and therefore a tad brittle, so don't give Lennox Lewis whacks. Also, if no gas is around, a quick heat with a torch can often break the "rust". john
great tips many thanks guys
at present ive freed the wheel by rocking too & fro attached to the car desprate i know... but thats what i love about this forum more than oneway to skin a cat if you know how.
one other thing worth considering is that not all winches are correctly rated to the weight of the boat. My well known trailer(supplied by uk importer) has a max pulling load of 1000kg with a boat that weighs 1400kg unladen. I drive on but have damaged my boat as i recover on a slip that can have 4kt side tide, so now have side bars for my peace of mind
IF bashing the drum doesn't work for you, there is one other trick left. Thats lots of violence. Hitch up to a big 4x4. Select low ratio and go for it, backwards and forwards. Its not pretty but if someone (Jasper) as left your handbrake on for a fortnight its the only solution.
