Brakes

Bill from Scotland · Jun 28, 2011

Bought this trailer a while back, was supposed to have been a CAT generator trailer so well made with overrun brakes activated throught the hitch. Brake pipes were damaged when I bought it so obviously didnt work. I made up some new pipes, striped the seized master cylinder and bleed the brakes. Seems like I have all of the air out the system as the fluid is clear without bubbles. I have the hitch removed so I can activate the masterclinder with a lever. Problem is master cylinder seems to have gone solid ( little or no movement) and wheels are still free wheeling with no braking what so ever. Any ideas, could it be that all the wheel cylinders are seized (havent had a look in at them yet) or could it be something else.

keh · Jun 28, 2011

Bill,
I'm no expert on brakes so I'm fumbling in the dark, but:

1. Do I understand you correctly that you have rebuilt the master cylinder and have pumped it
enough to bleed the brakes? If so, then you are correct in looking further.

2. It is possible that all the brake cylinders are locked up. Are these drum or disc brakes? Either way, I suggest you get to the brake cylinders with a C clamp or some similar tool and see if you can compress the cylinders. It may be that they need rebuilding or replacing.

3. Is it possible that there is and adjustment issue? I had a similar problem with a European tractor and had to adjust jam nuts. Can you contact the manufacturer and get some advice?

KEH

Tyler Jackson · Jun 28, 2011

My thought is either a bad wheel cylinder, I'm assuming they're drum brakes, or possibly bad electrical connections. I'm not an expert on trailer brakes either but something has to activate the master cylinder when you hit the brakes while driving. I would look into that.

Bob Bancroft · Jun 28, 2011

If you unhook the line somewhere ahead of the wheels and the master cylinder goes back to being movable and it pumps out fluid, then the wheel cylinders have to be the problem.
I suppose whatever condition siezed the master could well have done in the wheel cylinders.
Is your brake fluid similar to ours? That's not the nicest stuff on equipment.
I had a farm tractor with a European rear end(A-C/Fiat) and the brakes used light oil. So much nicer than brake fluid!

Bill from Scotland · Jun 29, 2011

Thanks everyone for your suggestions I will have a look at the brake cylinders, they are drums all round.
Bill

Anonymous-0 · Jun 29, 2011

If it's only surge brakes are you sure that the little lever of whatever type that lets you back up is not engaged? That would make your master cylinder not move. Just unhook the line at the cylinder and see if it works. Can't imagine all cylinders to be frozen at once. Bet it's something simple. It'll save you a lot of damage, shaking and headaches if you do some modifying to get the slop out of that ring/pin hitch also.

Bill from Scotland · Jun 29, 2011

Just checked out the rear left axle and pistons completely stuck, water must have got in. Not an easy task to dismantle and free off as everythings been there for a while and rusted on. I guess it going to take me a while to check them all out. Ring has now been modified to fit the rear of my MF 1155 so excess play now all gone. Thnaks for the ideas.
Bill

Brakes

Bill from Scotland

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keh

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Tyler Jackson

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Bob Bancroft

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Bill from Scotland

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Anonymous-0

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Bill from Scotland

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