Bleeding Surge Brakes

[kfraser]

Well, I've done many a car in my day, but have never bled brakes on a boat trailer.

I've ordered a complete tongue assembly and I'm (hoping) it will have detailed instructions.

I'm moving to Arizona in three weeks and have spent a couple of sleepless nights thinking about those northern Arizona mountains and dreaming of smoke rolling off the front brakes of my truck, and then seeing all the runaway truck ramps....Aghhh

Do you "like... back the truck up" or is there a tool required???

Thanks folks.. on a good note....even after the move, I don't have to loose touch with the Iboats gang.

And on an even better note...I do get to loose touch with my soon to be *%@#%^$%$ ...ex wife...

Hope every one has a wonderful Holiday Season!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

look here a lot of info on brakes, and how to;

http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

Which coupler did you buy?

On the larger Titan/Dico units, I use the emergency breakaway lever to actuate the master cylinder.

 

[Docknocker]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

On some couplers you can actuate the surge useing a large prybar as a piviot to apply rearward pressure to the coupler. Takes 2 people - 1 to pressurize the system while the other runs the bleeders.

Congrats on leaveing the X behind - been there, done that, got the tee shirt. When all the dust settled, got myself a bigger boat - couldent be happier

 

[jlinder]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

I use a 2x4 as the prybar. Wrap the safety chains around the board (below the hitch) tight enough that you can use the 2x4 to push in the coupler.

Needs 2 people, but gives you a really nice feel for how the brakes are working.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

Ayuh,....... I've done the 2X4 trick before,.......
It works Great when you have a Helper to run the Bleed Screws.......

When I'm working Alone,... Which is Usually........
I hook the truck up to the Trailer,+ Block the Trailer Wheels, both fore,+ aft,.........
Back up to Pressurize the system,.. Run back,+ crack the Screws, Tighten'm back up,+ go roll the truck ahead,....
Pause,+ Back the truck up again,+ Continue till the Air is Gone........

Just Don't let the Res. run Dry, or you'll have to Start all over again.........


Btw,........ Kevin, Searsport is East of St. Louis,........ You're moving the Wrong Way...............
Good Luck Bro,....... Us Maineiacs have to Stick Together.............

 

[kfraser]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

Thanks Bondo,

It looks like it will be a solo job, so I think that's how I'm going to go.

Dude your hilarious... The choice WAS either Searport, or Phoenix. She sprang this on me about a week or so ago and it came down pretty quickly so I had to make a choice......Palm trees or Snow...??? Hmmm...

Have a great Holiday !

Kevin

 

[arthat]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

Hi Kevin,
I have replaced the trailer brake lines, surge coupler and bled the lines a few times over the years. When I do the bleeding by myself, I put the ball hitch into the surge coupler and use the hitch as a lever. The weight of the ball and hitch usually is adequate to keep preasure on the lines while I go to the drums to open the bleeders. I usually need to apply preasure three or four times before all the air is out of the lines. When I replaced the surge coupler from Northern Hydraulics, detailed directions were enclosed. As stated in an earlier post, make sure the reservoir does not empty.
I hope this helps.

Successful Boating

Art

 

[Zackman]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

To build on Art's suggestion, there's a simple way to prevent having to go back and forth from the coupler to the brake bleeder.

Fill the bottom of a bottle (a 12 oz water bottle works good) with brake fluid, a few inches is fine. Place the bottle at an elevation greater than the brake’s cylinder where you'll be able to see it from the coupler. Place a length of clear tubing (3/8" tubing, if memory serves) from the bleeder to the bottom of the bottle.

Making sure the end of the tubing is submerged in the brake fluid, open the bleed screw about a half a turn. Now go back to the coupler and slowly actuate the master cylinder. You'll see brake fluid come up the tubing. Once it has reached the top of the tube, stop pushing until you see the air bubble(s) reach the top. Continue to pump the master cylinder via the coupler until all the air is out, making sure the reservoir level doesn’t go too low. Go back and tighten the bleeder and do the same on the remaining brake(s).

Start at the brake furthest away from the master cylinder and it is always easier to bleed if the master cylinder is lower than the highest point of the brake system to allow the air to travel up. You can usually do this easily by lowering the front of the trailer.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

MityVac makes an inexpensive and easy to use manual vacuum brake bleeder. Works on all trailers and cars I've encountered. I think I bought the device from J C Whitney years ago and I know I've seen the device on the internet.

07000 Automotive Tune-up and
Brake Bleeding Kit

http://www.mityvac.com/pages/products_hvpk.asp

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

I use a mity vac too. Works great. Really easy, really cheap. I have done it the "regular" way on the road once when I broke a brake line and did not have my mity vac handy, and think there's a world of difference between the two methods.

 

[Coors]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

as an ex-brake mech; what bsman said works for me

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

WalMart used to sell a plastic version of the MityVac, and I think they still do, over in the automotive section. I wouldn't recommend the plastic version if you plan to use it very often, but for your stated purpose it will do just fine. When you install the wheel cylinders make sure to apply antiseize compound libeally. This will not only make opening them at a later date easier, but it will also "seal" them when they are opened and you are vacuum bleeding them. One way to make sure the reservoir doesn't run empty is to fill the reservoir and then turn a bottle of brake fluid upside-down in the reservoir if possible. It makes a little mess but it's better than starting over. And brake fluid washes off easily with water. Good Luck.

 

[tommays]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

My Dico has a 1/64 orifice reducer to keep the brakes from going on to fast

I have found that the vacume bleeder does not really work well with this and use the hose in the coke bottle

when i am alone a 1/2 rod fits into the Dico and i can pump it with a rope to bleed them solo

Tommays

 

[KaGee]

Re: Bleeding Surge Brakes

Same with the ATWood surge. They have a check valve in the master cylinder so I use a block and a 2x4 to pump the actuator along with a one-man bleed setup on the wheel.