Wheel Lock Up

[oldballs]

While backing with a 2 ton load on, the RF wheel locked up on my tandem 12 ft trailer. I thought that it would break loose when I got back on the road. But it is really stuck and ruined the tire in that effort. Now I can't get the hub off to check out the problem. It has surge brakes and standard shoe brakes. How can I get that hub off? I guess a spring broke and the shoes are jammed. Thanks, brake guys.

 

[slowzuki]

Cut the bolts holding the backing plate on?

 

[oldballs]

Cut the bolts holding the backing plate on?

That sounds like a possible. Thanks. Is there such thing as a hub puller for this application? So far I haven't tried another approach.

 

[schmism]

That sounds like a possible. Thanks. Is there such thing as a hub puller for this application? So far I haven't tried another approach.

ya usually there is a threaded hole in the drum that you can screw a bolt into that will push against the backing plate thus pushing the drum off the shoes.

sometimes they will feature 2 holes. I have used such holes in the past to pull a drum off a car. i folded the shoes in as i pulled the drum off, surfaced the drum, put new shoes and linkage kit on and was good to go.

 

[rus_geek]

If these hubs have the adjusting screw, you may be able to get the brakes loosened up enough to get the hub to slide off, too.

-rus-

 

[Renze]

If these hubs have the adjusting screw, you may be able to get the brakes loosened up enough to get the hub to slide off, too.

Yes, most surge brakes have a backlash adjuster which you can turn back.

But more likely, you yanked a bowden cable in half, which is now stuck and holding your brake on. Cut it off as close as you can to the brake hub.
These steel wires tend to brush out inside the inner cable..

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yes, most surge brakes have a backlash adjuster which you can turn back.

But more likely, you yanked a bowden cable in half, which is now stuck and holding your brake on. Cut it off as close as you can to the brake hub.
These steel wires tend to brush out inside the inner cable..

No cables in the US on 99% of the stuff we have with Surge Brakes, they are hydraulic with a master cylinder setup.

I would do as other say and try to back off the adjuster. If that does not work you will have to burn the bolts off the backing plate with a torch or if there are nuts just remove them and work on it at the bench or replace.

Chris

 

[oldballs]

Thanks, everybody. I'm going to let the Redi-Haul trailer dealer take a look at it for an estimate. If he is too expensive, I'll pick it up and do it myself. I don't have the welding skill or such tools for cutting the bolts off the back however. humm-mm-mm.

 

[blueriver]

Can you get at it with a BFH ...

 

[oldballs]

:thumbsup:Thanks again everybody. The dealer mechanic backed the adjuster off and the hub came right off. He didn't explain why that wheel locked up solid. Otherwise there was nothing wrong and put it all back together. It has been working fine ever since carrying heavy loads, with new tire(s) of course. I think the problem has something to do do with Surge brakes and backing/manuevering uphill, but that never happen before.

 

[Diamondpilot]

If you do not have one already I would invest in a (back-up lock-out solenoid). I put them on all my boat trailers. You can get them for $35 at any marina or online. Its simply a solenoid that mounts somewhere between the master cylinder and the first brake in the circuit. 9 times out of 10 they are threaded right into the outlet port of the master cylinder and the brake line. It has a single wire that hooks up to a 7 pin round plug, center pin, and blocks the flow of pressure when backing up via a signal from the reverse lights, center pin.

Kodiak Solenoid Valve for Reverse Lockout - Normally Open Kodiak Accessories and Parts KBASV-O

Chris

 

[Mace Canute]

He didn't explain why that wheel locked up solid.

It could be that the inner lining on the flex line to the wheel brake cylinder has come loose and folded over on itself. Pressure will pass fluid one way but then it acts as a one way check valve and prevent the fluid from flowing backwards when you release the brakes. Sometimes it's an intermittent thing, sometimes it happens every time. I've seen it do just the opposite too where it prevents a brake from actuating.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I had just this very thing happen on a boat trailer in 2008 Pain to track down.

Chris

 

[oldballs]

It could be that the inner lining on the flex line to the wheel brake cylinder has come loose and folded over on itself. Pressure will pass fluid one way but then it acts as a one way check valve and prevent the fluid from flowing backwards when you release the brakes. Sometimes it's an intermittent thing, sometimes it happens every time. I've seen it do just the opposite too where it prevents a brake from actuating.

Thanks, Mace. That senario sounds "far out"! But the next time this comes up, I going to replace all those rubber(?) lines. I should have done it the last time I was under there doing maintenance. Cheers.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks, Mace. That senario sounds "far out"! But the next time this comes up, I going to replace all those rubber(?) lines. I should have done it the last time I was under there doing maintenance. Cheers.

Its not as far out as you may think. I have seen it a few times and like I said it drove me nuts 2-3 years ago on a boat trailer. I had replaced every possible part and had it apart numerous times before I figured it out.

I have also seen it on fuel lines. Ethanol and Bio-Diesel can break down lines internally and it will look like a new fuel line on the outside. I have a Craftsman riding mower with a Kohler Engine this happened to and I have seen it on a few older Diesel tractors running as little a 5% blend of bio-diesel.

Chris

 

[Mace Canute]

Not only that Diamondpilot, it can also happen on your tractors' hydraulic lines. I wonder how many people have trouble with their loader and everything they check says it's just fine but they have a problem raising or lowering or curling the bucket. Remote cylinders can suffer the same problem. Heck, it applies to anything that uses hoses and fluids. It's not common but it's not exactly rare either!