Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

O

OMARiverRat

Seaman
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Messages
62
Hey everybody... I'm new to the "trailers and towing" category, so please bare with me here. I currently have a 1993' Crownline 225ccr with a 1993 Prestige tandem-axle trailer w/ surge brakes. Since I have purchased the boat, I have come to find out that the surge brakes do not work at all. It appears that the part of the hitch which connects to the ball travels backwards and forwards, as indicated by a pin which sticks out of each side of the tongue. The pin moves in a half-moon-shape slot which is cut out of each side of the tongue. When I hit the brakes in my truck, I can feel those two pins "slam" into the full-braking position. Then when I go to accelerate, I can feel those pins jerk back into the typical towing position. I don't tow my boat very often, however when I do I want to be able to stop. Does anybody have any ideas on what I should be looking for? The brake fluid reservoir is topped off. Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. <br /><br />Thank you!
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,922
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

Bleed the Brakes........<br /><br />They're Air Bound,+ not working........
 
tommays

tommays

Admiral
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
6,768
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

i would start buy pulling the hubs if the wheel cylinders ARE NOT frozen i would be shocked<br /><br />you are in fresh water but the wheel cylinders still require a lot of TLC<br /><br />the boots that cover them do a great job of holding in water and rusting the cylinder<br /><br /><br />tommays
 
jlinder

jlinder

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jul 5, 2004
Messages
1,086
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

Could be a number of items. First thing to do is disconnect the trailer.<br /><br />Check the brakes, lines, coupler, etc. for signs of fluid leakage. If you find leakage you hae something to fix.<br /><br />Pull the wheels and look at the brake pads. See if they are severly worn. Look a the rotors too to see if they are smooth.<br /><br />If not, take a 2x4 of wood, wrap the safety chains around it so that you can use the wood as a lever to push the coupler in.<br /><br />Does the coupler push in all the way? Sounds like it. If so, I would want to check to see if you have air in the lines. This is done by bleeding the brakes.<br /><br />There are a number of ways to do this, but I use the old 2 man way. Others here can tell you how to do it with 1 person, but I like this method as the 2 people can observe if there are bubbles comming out of the bleeder screw, and if you are starting to get resistance on the coupler.<br /><br />Take a small clear hose and put it on the bleeder screw at the wheel cylinder. The other end of the screw goes into a bottle with some brake fluid in the bottom.<br /><br />The first person puts pressure on the coupler, which basically pumps the brakes. With the pressure on, or the coupler all the way in the other person opens the bleeder screw.<br /><br />Tighten the bleeder screw, have person 1 release pressure on the coupler and make sure it comes back out. Then repeat the whole process. Make sure you keep the brake cylinder topped off or else you will suck air into the lines again.<br /><br />You will either get air bubbles or fluid out. If you get air, there is a problem. Keep bleeding until you get no more air out for a number of pumps. Now do the other brake cylinders.<br /><br />Hopefully you should now find that the coupler does not go in all the way, but goes in a little bit then gets hard/impossible to push in much further.<br /><br />Let us know what you find out.
 
O

OMARiverRat

Seaman
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Messages
62
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

Amazing... two answers in 10 minutes. I love it! Thanks guys.... Bondo, I'm assuming bleeding trailer brakes is the same principle as a car or truck? Tommays, I'll pull the wheels off tonight and take a peek. I'm sure trying to get replacement parts for this will be a lot of fun.<br /><br />Thanks Again...
 
jlinder

jlinder

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jul 5, 2004
Messages
1,086
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

tommays,<br /><br />If the wheel cylinders are frozen would the coupler go in all the way? Sounds line if they were frozen you would get coupler action like a normal brake, but no braking action.
 
O

OMARiverRat

Seaman
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Messages
62
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

I take that back...3 replies. <br /><br />Jack, thank you for the information. I'll take a look this evening, and let everybody know how it turns out.
 
O

OMARiverRat

Seaman
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Messages
62
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

Jack - by the way, you are correct. The coupler pushes all the way in with very little hesitation.
 
jlinder

jlinder

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jul 5, 2004
Messages
1,086
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

I had that also. Found someone had left the fluid go too low in the cylinder and that caused it to suck air.<br /><br />As you get the air out the person pushing on the coupler should notice it go from all the way in to spongy to solid.<br /><br />Make sure you are meticulus in keeping everything very clean. You cannot let any dirt get into the cylinder.
 
T

travism

Seaman
Joined
Apr 15, 2004
Messages
62
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

I had similar symptoms and followed the steps pretty much already outlined above. Everything looked good - brake fluid level ok, noticed no leaks, no air bubbles when I bled the brakes. Then I followed the brake adjustment feature in this link<br /> http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html#adjust_brakes <br />and it fixed my problems. I have drum brakes, so this may not apply to you if you have disks. In my head I thought maybe the brake pads were too far off and were not engaging until the coupler had traveled too far and bottomed out. I don't know if this explanation is right, but the solution worked for me. Good luck.
 
jlinder

jlinder

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jul 5, 2004
Messages
1,086
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

BTW, my knowledge comes from having the same problem and requesting help here. <br /><br />Take a look at the discussion at Brake bleeding discussion <br /><br /><br />Also, for a picture of the 2x4, chain and coupler method here it is.<br />
Bleed.jpg
<br /><br />(I cant' claim credit, it is from someone else)
 
tommays

tommays

Admiral
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
6,768
Re: Malfunctioning Surge Brakes on 22' Prestige Tandem-Axle Trailer

i go with the if its new to you you have no idea what kind of shape all the inportant parts are in<br /><br />once you check everything and its GOOD you can then tow your boat AND FEEL SAFE :D <br /><br />the brake fluid went somewere :confused: and i have never seen a trailer from 1993 with the orginal brakes that still worked unless it has never seen WATER<br /><br />on long island at least 90% of the trailers have NON_WORKING brakes in fact most dont even bother to make it look good<br /><br />I SEE TANDEMS WITH 6000# 50000+ DOLLAR BOATS WITH NOTHING BUT A SET OF HUBS NO BRAKES AT ALL EVERY WEEKEND :mad: :mad: <br /><br />last summer i had to show 2 folks with BRAND NEW name brand disk brake trailers were there tires were rubbing holes through the flex hose :eek: to the disk brake because the dumb a?? trailer maker uses big wire ties to secure the flex hoses :mad: <br /><br />tommays
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top