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Joined: Jul 2011
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
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23' travel trailer with dexter axles. I went out and lubed my bearings and went to adjust the brakes. I thought I got them right but when I tested the brakes with the wheels off the ground I had nothing on the right/passenger side of the trailer. I have 12 volts in the leads going to the magnets but they aren't grabbing. I went through adjusting the brakes until they wouldn't turn and then backed off a couple times. I'm thinking the magnets are dead but they don't look any more worn than the left/drivers side and the drums are in good shape. I'm also a little suspicious that only one side is not working. I'm leaning towards just going with complete backing plates and drums anyway but just want to see what the 'fires experiences are with trailer brakes.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
Stupid always finds a way.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,895 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,895 Likes: 5 |
My wires run through axle then out to wheels, wire may be broke, shorted, should be a hum when brake applied, you can hold a compass by wheel and when brake applied compass should move, some measure amps to see how much power is being applied.
"The 375HH is the greatest level of power you can get for the investment in recoil." (JJHack)
79s and losttrail, biggest waste of air.
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Joined: Jun 2019
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2019
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Have you checked the magnet leads for continuity? It sounds like you've got an open circuit in one of the magnet coils. Disconnect both wires and use an ohmmeter to check the coil resistance. It should be the same on all of the brake coils. If you've got the servo type brakes with the metal disc on the inside of the drum, the wheel has to be rolling before the brake shoes will be applied by the lever arm the magnet is mounted on.
Jerry
Ignorance can be fixed. Stupid is forever!
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1 |
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Apr 2011
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Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,845 Likes: 20 |
Have you checked the magnet leads for continuity? It sounds like you've got an open circuit in one of the magnet coils. Disconnect both wires and use an ohmmeter to check the coil resistance. It should be the same on all of the brake coils. If you've got the servo type brakes with the metal disc on the inside of the drum, the wheel has to be rolling before the brake shoes will be applied by the lever arm the magnet is mounted on.
Jerry
This
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,171
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,171 |
I did get the wheel spinning pretty good and couldn't get it to actuate, I'll do the magnet test in a couple days. Thanks all.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
Stupid always finds a way.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,019 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
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You doing this with your vehicles key turned on? Just curious...
Padded VA Hospital Rooms for $1000 Alex My ignoree,s will never be Rock Stars on 24 hr campfire.....Like me!!!! What are psychotic puppet hunters?
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,433 Likes: 13 |
Many electrical problems in vehicles are solved simply by running a new wire, bypassing the old one. Try jumping a new wire from the trailer plug to the brakes to see what happens.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 373
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 373 |
I recently added brakes to my 16 ft lowboy, had absolute hell figuring out why they would barely stop the spinning wheel(up on jack stands) when I applied the brakes on the factory controller in my 2017 f 250, no matter how much gain was applied. I did use 12 ga wire to the magnets. I took it for a spin and found with too much gain, the tires would lock up when the brakes were applied, I’m guessing it had something to do with The traction control or abs, not seeing any wheel speed while the truck was sitting. That’s my guess and I’m sticking to it, the brakes work as designed, as long as the truck is rolling.
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,003 Likes: 8
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,003 Likes: 8 |
Use an auxiliary battery like one for a lawn mower, motorcycle, etc. to actuate the brake magnet right at the wheel. If that works, trace the circuit back one connection at a time until you find the open circuit or high resistance. People sometimes abandon all logic when trying to diagnose electrical problems. I've spent over 60 years (so far) fixing automotive electrical problems others have given up on. The same approach to troubleshooting also works on B-52's, BTW!
Jerry
Ignorance can be fixed. Stupid is forever!
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,980
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,980 |
1. Get multimeter.
2. Use it on trailer brake wires
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,171
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,171 |
Use an auxiliary battery like one for a lawn mower, motorcycle, etc. to actuate the brake magnet right at the wheel. If that works, trace the circuit back one connection at a time until you fond the open circuit or high resistance. People sometimes abandon all logic when trying to diagnose electrical problems. I've spent over 60 years (so far) fixing automotive electrical problems others have given up on. The same approach to troubleshooting also works on B-52's, BTW!
Jerry
That'a a good one, forgot about my bike battery.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
Stupid always finds a way.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,171
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,171 |
Use an auxiliary battery like one for a lawn mower, motorcycle, etc. to actuate the brake magnet right at the wheel. If that works, trace the circuit back one connection at a time until you fond the open circuit or high resistance. People sometimes abandon all logic when trying to diagnose electrical problems. I've spent over 60 years (so far) fixing automotive electrical problems others have given up on. The same approach to troubleshooting also works on B-52's, BTW!
Jerry
That'a a good one, forgot about my bike battery.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
Stupid always finds a way.
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 9,655 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 9,655 Likes: 3 |
I haven't fooled with many, but rust or stuck/slow moving parts impede the function of magnetic brakes a lot of the time. If voltage is present, all moving parts must move freely.
Voltage first, free moving parts, then about all that's left is a bad electromagnet. But both?
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,973 Likes: 9 |
About two weeks after Henry Ford came out with the Model T a guy in Nebraska invented the trailer. We have been trying to keep lights and brakes on them ever since. You are not alone.
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,003 Likes: 8
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,003 Likes: 8 |
Towing a camper trailer in Kansas is called "Trolling For Tornadoes"!
Jerry
Ignorance can be fixed. Stupid is forever!
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,380
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,380 |
About two weeks after Henry Ford came out with the Model T a guy in Nebraska invented the trailer. We have been trying to keep lights and brakes on them ever since. You are not alone. Ain't this the truth... lol....
I work harder than a ugly stripper....
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,433 Likes: 13
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,433 Likes: 13 |
A big part of light and brake problems on trailers is the ground. Some try to ground through the hitch ball and that never works out well. Bolt the ground to the frame and rust will appear sooner or later. It's hard to keep clean.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,003 Likes: 8
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,003 Likes: 8 |
On the trailer connector pigtails I've wired over the past 50-something years, the brakes always have their own ground running through the wire harness to the tow vehicle. That circuit is very important to proper brake operation.
Jerry
Ignorance can be fixed. Stupid is forever!
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,171
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,171 |
On the trailer connector pigtails I've wired over the past 50-something years, the brakes always have their own ground running through the wire harness to the tow vehicle. That circuit is very important to proper brake operation.
Jerry
The way this trailer is wired is the brake wire comes down the left side of the trailer with taps and splits to the right side of the axle. I will power the mags with my MC battery and work from there.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
Stupid always finds a way.
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