Trailer hydraulic surge brakes

[Jaime Illmer]

First what's first..thanks Bill and Nancy Berg & Sean Coerse for their suggestions & help about topping lift.Second what's second..I need further help..this time with trailer operation as yesterday wheels were initially locked when towering but after hard drag and "magic & mystery touches" they finally rotate.Where can I find a manual or instructions for the hydraulic surge brakes?What is the sliding knob for?What effect (if any) to the brakes when knob is in towering position?What effect (if any) to the brakes when knob is in the other position?Does the wire with the hook has another use than disable locker lift during towering?Any help will be highly appreciatedJaime

 

[Ken Koons]

240 trailer

Jaime,It looks like your trailer surge brake head is a newer model than mine. I have a 1999 and am also having problems with the brakes. I broke the hydraulic line on my surge system and have not been able to get it to function correctly. Ray Bowles or Dave Condon are frequent correspondants in the Hunter forums and one of them probably has good advice regarding trailer systems. My advice would be to bleed the brakes -there may be air in the lines causing your malfunctions. To do so block your tires front and back. Open the "bleeder" fittings on the wheel hubs one at a time (back side)push head of surge system in "squeezing" fluid towards the wheels, tighten bleeders-pull head forward -repeat until only fluid comes out -no bubbles. Amateur advice.

 

[Bill and Nancy Berg]

Champion web site.

Champion Trailer web site has a technical section that answers lots of questions.Sometimes, backing down the ramp will push on the brake and cause it to "brake" I think there is a way to insert a pin or something to prevent that. We printed all the usefull info from the web site and have it in the boat for reference.

 

[Marcel Ralbovsky]

Trailer Brakes

First and probably most important is the S-hook on the cable. This is the EMERGENCY trailer brake actuation cable that has to be hooked to the hitch on the vehicle. If the trailer should break free from the vehicle, this cable would lock up the trailer brakes and stop the trailer. There should be a separate bolt or trailer lock installed on the boat hitch to keep that locked. The knob on the side of the hitch is put in the down position to lock out the trailer brakes so they do not engage when you are backing up.

 

[Marcel Ralbovsky]

More Trailer Brakes

As for the brakes locking, the only way to check is to remove the brake drum. If there is a lot of corrosion on the brake linkage the brakes will engage when you tow, and the corrosion can keep them engaged. Also check around the hitch and brake master cylinder for corrosion. When you put that round knob into the back-up position, make sure it goes back to tow automatically when you drive forward. If it sticks, the brakes stay on.

 

[Michael Bell]

My 2 cents

First, I hope the problem with your brakes locking up is just from being sticky or from backing up (that is the “other” position on the sliding knob – it locks the brakes out. Not generally needed unless your pushing hard on the trailer in reverse).The cable with the hook you have the answer for.If you don’t get any info about your trailer from your search, E-Mail me and I’ll scan what I have on my trailer (’98 H26).If you put your boat trailer in salt water – then here is my story…Started out on a long trip, burnt out a pair of bearings. Replaced them, then later burnt out another pair. Thought that was odd, but fixed it and got under way. Stopped after traveling about 10 minutes and checked things out. A third wheel was so hot you couldn’t touch it.What was happening is that because I had been putting the trailer in salt water, and water had seeped into each of the wheel brake cylinders – the surge head would apply the brakes, but they would not recede. In other words, I was riding the brakes. $750 and four new galvanized brake sets later, I now use a hoist. It could have been worse. It could have blown out tires or started a fire. And we did make it to water (on three tires).Lastly, the brake repair people said that rinsing the trailer off with fresh water would not help, nor would installing “rinsing kits” on the brake plate.