busted cable

[jka]

Alright, I'll admit I'm a dummy. Now I need some help. Before block the rear wheels on my trailer...my daughter cranked the boat off its hitch....the boat moved back a few feet and snapped the steel cable from the surge brakes off the trailer.<br />Please fill me in on the repair. Is it costly? Should I attempt (even though I don't know how)?<br /><br />thanks a lot

 

[cp]

Re: busted cable

Is the cable the only thing that broke? If so that's a simple fix. Just get an equivalent diameter cable of similar length and crimp/attach it like the original one was. Don't forget to reset the emergency brake function of your surge brakes which should have actuated to stop the trailer when the cable came taut. Follow the instructions for your surge brake to do that.

 

[jka]

Re: busted cable

ty! the cable is the only thing that broke that I can tell. the section is about 20 inches long. does that cable run all the way back to the brakes or just attached at the hitch?

 

[cp]

Re: busted cable

Don't know what make/brand surge actuator you have, but seems that most emergency/breakaway cables run from the hitch on the tow vehicle to a lever on top of the coupler/actuator. See the below link for an example. Note that for this company (Titan) you can actually buy a pre-made replacement breakaway cable; check with your local dealer for your brand.<br /><br /> http://www.titandist.com/pdfs/page22-23-24-25.pdf <br /><br />Again, be sure to reset the emergency function according to your owner's manual/instructions for your surge brakes.

 

[jka]

Re: busted cable

ty guys

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: busted cable

For me, I'd have it fixed and the coupler/actuator checked out by my "trailer guy". I'm thinking that if the force was enough to snap the little cable, it might have bent or damaged something inside that the cable connects to. But I'm just paranoid enough about this stuff to spend the $50. Disregard if you're comfortable with doing the maintenance and repair yourself.

 

[jka]

Re: busted cable

THANKS d....I'm running the boat in next week for some repairs...i'll get their opinion. I'd do it myself...but...don't know where the cable connects to. I look at the url pchonda sent in...it looks like it's just attached to something up front.

 

[cp]

Re: busted cable

jkarch - What brand & model surge brake do you have?<br /><br />In the link provided previously it should be fairly obvious that the cable connects to the lever atop the surge brake unit. (That lever actuates the emergency/breakaway function to lock up the brakes if the trailer breaks loose from the tow vehicle.) If your surge brake is not like that and you can't figure out where the cable connects then, my friend, you need to find that out somehow.<br /><br />The reason that is necessary is that if your emergency/breakaway function actuated as it likely did when the cable came taut prior to breaking, then your brakes have locked up your wheels (what stopped the boat/trailer after it rolled back?). Without resetting the emergency/breakaway function of your surge brakes, you won't be able to tow the boat/trailer to your dealer for repairs as you're planning to do, or to have your "trailer guy" check it out as D. suggests. Does your "trailer guy" do house calls?<br /><br />If you've been able to reset the emergency brake, or it somehow didn't function , but just can't figure out where the cable was connected, then by all means drag her down to the dealer and let them figure it out and check it out. Good luck.

 

[jka]

Re: busted cable

oh boy PC.....<br />I'd better get on this! I'll have a buddy come over and check this out before I try to tow 'er in on locked brakes. The cable does attached to something on top of the brake unit. I'll have to figure out where. thanks a bunch guys.

 

[jka]

Re: busted cable

pc....<br />I hooked up the unit to the car tonight and drove it around abit (25yards).....the wheels turned freely indicating to me that the brakes have not locked up. so, it should be safe to drive to the shop for repairs. I'm wondering though....will I have the trailer brakes available for stopping or should I not count on them functioning properly. <br />ty

 

[cp]

Re: busted cable

Hey, that's good news in a way...you can get the trailer to the dealer for them to make sure everything is working as it should. But it seems unusual to me that the emergency/breakaway cable got so taut that it broke, yet the brakes were not locked up, so please make sure the trailer guy thoroughly checks that function out, in case some day you actually need it (I hope you never do). Oh, and since you no longer have an emergency/breakaway cable, make sure the trailer is hitched up good .<br /><br />As far as the trailer brakes working on the way to the dealer, you can probably make it there with no trailer brakes at all if you drive safely, leaving lots of room for stopping, anticipating when to stop, etc. Only you can make that final decision. If you're really concerned about the trailer brakes working on the way to the dealer, you should be able to check them at home. There's a master cylinder in the trailer coupling with a piston that gets depressed by the forward momentum of the trailer when the tow vehicle slows. The whole front of the trailer coupler slides back and forth to do this, so if you can block one side of the trailer securely so it doesn't move, then jack up the other side, you can test whether the brakes actuate by pushing back (toward the stern) on the coupler to simulate the forward momentum. You'll need a 2x4 for leverage and someone to spin the wheel in the forward direction while you push on the coupler. If the brake works, the spinning wheel should stop when you push. When I replaced my trailer brakes I had my kid use a big screwdriver to pry directly on the end of the rod that actuates the master cylinder piston; that worked easier than using a 2x4 on the coupler. Alternatively, you could use the truck in reverse to actuate the coupler but this is kinda scary and must be done very carefully to avoid knocking the trailer off the jack with someone right next to the wheel spinning it.<br /><br />If the spinning wheel stops when you actuate the master cylinder, you should have braking action on the way to the dealer. If it doesn't then you'll likely have no trailer brakes and be back to driving safely and carefully should you decide to go. And your dealer will have lot$ to check and repair. Good luck.

 

[jka]

Re: busted cable

pc........ty. great resource!

 

[cp]

Re: busted cable

You're welcome ; hope the info from this forum helped. Let us know the final outcome.