Brakes

wavelength · 20 November 2001, 18:59

Moving on from wheel bearings-has anyone got a solution to brakes rusting on with a roller coaster 1 trailer. It seems the main solution around here is to take them out - not a good solution if you trail any distance or become involved with the police! My way around in the past was to avoid brakes by using a big car and smaller boats. At some launch sites I have no alternative to dunking the wheels. I leave the handbrake off in storage but even then they can start to seize on after a week.

Brian · 20 November 2001, 19:04

I had exactly the same problem on TWO Roller Coaster 3's
Never did find the solution...looks like you have to suffer with the rest of us Mr. Wavelength (if that is your real name..See "It's all in the name")

wavelength · 20 November 2001, 19:17

No. suprisingly enough.
Wavelength Training is the name of my RYA powerboat school
Regards
Dave Mallett

Garygee · 20 November 2001, 20:02

You could always try greasing your brakes, same effect as taking them out !!

John Kennett · 21 November 2001, 10:11

I've had brakes seize on during storage a couple of times. Quite why this happens when the hand brake is off, I'm not sure.

However, it is very easy to free them off if you do it the right way: jack the wheel clear of the ground and tap the back of the drum with a hammer. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Dragging the trailer, hitting it anywhere else, trying to avoid jacking it up, will not work (and is the route to madness).

I learnt this lesson the hard way a couple of years ago. After spending two hours dragging, kicking and hitting the trailer in all directions, once I bothered to get the jack out it was all over in moments!

John

Alan Priddy · 21 November 2001, 14:47

What do you ned brakes for? they only slow you down which is what the car in front will do!

Allen · 21 November 2001, 16:02

Is that 'the autoroute technique' then ?

Mike C · 21 November 2001, 21:06

One thought... I've had a lot less trouble with my brakes since I began religiously flushing them out with fresh water after every trip. Flush the engines, then crawl on your knees and stick the hose in that little hole on the back plate. The whole of the inside should fill up with water and wash all that nasty salt away. My first set of brakes corroded after a couple of seasons. Then I began flushing and my current set have been on there 4!

sirzap · 21 November 2001, 23:39

Why wait till you get home...carry a couple extra gallons of fresh water in plastic jugs and a garden hand pump sprayer...frush the brakes right out of the water...drive around the block, heat the brakes up a moment and dry them out in a couple of minutes.

batfalcon · 23 November 2001, 05:28

Is your trailer for "Spirit" equiped with brakes or not ?
Mine isn't though.

Brian · 23 November 2001, 14:28

Just had another thought. How about spraying WD40 all over, outside and in, the brake drum area.
Don't tell me- it would make the brakes ineffective??

John Kennett · 23 November 2001, 15:09

I can't imagine it would improve the performance!

Reminds me of when I was six and I cleaned the rims of my bike wheels with neat washing up liquid -- I got quite a surprise when I ran out road and went into a fence . . .

John