air compressor for trailer air brakes??

Hey folks,
Just ran across a real nice wagon for a real good price (come pick it up). Needs a little TLC but not real bad. Only thing is, it has air brakes and I don't have air on the tractor. Is it possible to power the brakes with a 12 volt setup?
If so, can someone splain it to me in dummy terms?? Maybe with pics? Or am I better off passing on it?

find the hose thats comin from zee trailer, put it up by zee steerin wheel, and when ya wanna stop the wagon wrap you lips round zee hose.... then BLOW!
Just kiddin Dave...lol
Is there service pots on there or maxi pots??? or maybe over that might be a whole different system then here?????

I don't know much about it... Just that I saw it at some folks place a couple years ago and mentioned I'd like to have it..... Guess I better look at it again...

Or just hook the hose to a laptop with this web site on it. That should blow the brake line. lol

(quoted from post at 21:30:30 07/13/12)
I don't know much about it... Just that I saw it at some folks place a couple years ago and mentioned I'd like to have it..... Guess I better look at it again...

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ake a pic under the wagon of the brakes, I might be able to help then if I see it.

Ell, that would blow the whole wagon apart.

Need to know what kind of air brakes they are to really help
you Dave, but yeah I think it could probably be made to work
in an off road setting

Regs might be different over there, but a nice wagon for free would be an opportunity for some sort of conversion over here.

Shoot the way Dave is he blows enough hot air to do it on his own

I can't imagine you could add a belt driven compressor,to that tractor, after the power steering, would probably be some cantankerous looking arrangement, then to you may need a small tank, w/petcock, all the plumbing, some sort of trolley lever/brake control, gauge(s?), air dryer possibly, sure would be slick if you could get it to work, and wring out the details, sometimes you ask about some interesting scenarios, I would never associate air brakes with an ag tractor, of course what in heck do I know LOL !!!

There are a lot of nice little 12v compressors available. If you don't have any leaks it should not take very much air! It would also come in handy if you need to air up a tire. I carry one in my truck all the time, its hard to find a place to air up a tire where we go fishing in Canada.

Yes - That and a plug kit will save your butt.

Couple kinds of air brakes, one kind uses compressed air at maybe 25/40 pounds pressure to engage large drum brake shoes with large cylinders. Next kind is Simplex shoes in drum with spring engagement- the air at 40/60 pound in cylinder diengages the brake shoes- release air pressure and the brakes engage, this is common on some large over the road trailers and has the safety feature of air line failure-like from accidental disconnect from tow vehicle- means brakes engage. A 12 volt low volume pump charging a small air tank for a pressure on engage would be relatively simple to rig with a battery on trailer and maybe a simple relief pressure solenoid- the low pressure engage with a 2 minute leakdown bleed from air cylinder would mean engage brakes to slow down/stop and couple minutes later brakes are free again- if you want to move earlier the relief valve vents enough to release brakes. this means trailer can be pulled without brakes if no air pressure like around yard and charge engagement tank when needed on road. The other type means no air=no move unless manual back off of brake adjuster. Ask a tow truck driver how bad that is for a semi trailer that got disconnected at side of road when towing vehicle broke down and had to be towed seperate, no relief tow available in time to remove trailer in winter. RN.

Are the brakes required where you are? If not, is the wagon too big/heavy for your tractor to handle without brakes on the wagon? Maybe you can back them way off and run without them .If the system is like a truck system here, it may be a service brake only( air applied , spring release)- one hose to each brake chamber , or maxi"s with a parking brake built in ( spring applied , air release) along with a service brake side. 2 air hoses to each chamber on these. You will need approx 100-120 psi to make them work right. It could be done with a 12v compressor and an air tank , maybe the wagon has a tank already? If you need more help post back with pictures.

No offense RN but you are way off with some of your advice. Air brake systems on trucks and buses is usually 120-130 psi. On trucks with maxi's 40-60 psi will not release the brakes. 60 psi is just starting to release them. I have spent nearly 30 years working on air brakes on a daily basis.

Good excuse to get one of those JCB tractors.

Have to get there and see it and will take pics.... Could be a simple thing. As far as brakes required, yes. Not really enforced on a wagon unless the lack of causes an accident I guess.... Already have someone wanting to take it and give me a good wagon just a little smaller with the surge brakes that I need. Just don't like to deal that way with a gift. I'll talk to the guy and see if he's OK with it. The bigger wagon would be a little tight in my barn also. We'll see what comes out.

Thanks.

if they work like truck air brakes,you can make them work, hopefully the trailer has at least one reserve tank, if not you'll need to put at least one on it, the compressor will have to be large enough to keep up with the demand that shouldn't be too big on a farm trailer unless your going to town with it, then the demand will be higher to keep the tank charged, you'll also need a trolly valve or some kind of brake application valve so you can apply the brakes from your tractor, set up so it doesn't use a hand, foot ect, that you already need to operate the tractor, the principal is simple enough the fab work might get interesting

Great idea, Dave, but beware of the TUV/ TUEV.... we Germans make things difficult!!

dave2
Trade your tractor for a Belarus. They have an air compressor built on the engine.

(quoted from post at 09:12:44 07/14/12)
dave2
Trade your tractor for a Belarus. They have an air compressor built on the engine.

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almost bought a belarus before getting what I have now... Got overbid on ebay....