Trailer brake surge wires

[Triton II]

Can anyone tell me if it is okay to use Stainless halyard wire instead of gal-steel wire on my trailer brakes? I ask because there's no doubt that the two different steels have different stretch/bending properties (the 2.5mm wire goes around a 30mm pulley at the nose of the draw bar.) I'd hate to have the trailer brakes fail through a broken wire!

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Trailer brake surge wires

Hi T, happy newyear.<br /><br />Ballastrade SS wire come in many forms (strand thickness, number of strands, configuration of strands, stretch etc etc). It can be bought on-line and all the different specs are usually posted. I believe (but can't confirm) that SS ballastrade wire is stronger than gal.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Triton II]

Re: Trailer brake surge wires

Hi Aldo! Happy new year to you.<br /><br />I'll have a search... the main issue is I believe SS is less "bendable" and so may fracture (fray) when going through the front pulley. I suppose I could try it and keep a close eye on the wire, as I've said before I live almost next door to the ramp. I'm doing this as I'm sick of the gal stuff rusting... Botany Bay is v. salty at this time of year.<br /><br />Hope you and yours are well. How's the pair of Saturn V booster rockets... I mean the big 'toon boat?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Trailer brake surge wires

Mark, last year I used SS wire for frame bracing and I discovered many different types on the market.<br /><br />

<br />Very stiff<br /><br />

<br />semi flexible<br /><br />

<br />very flexible<br /><br />Remember that the wire needs to be flexible so that it can wrap around a thimble and be swaged. I used the cable in the last picture. I can't remember the breaking strain but it was better than gal.<br /><br />Houseboats great, had a fantastic time doing nothing for 3 weeks - read 4 books, lost 3 lures (one of my favorite rapalas ) and played cards till all hours with my daughter.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Triton II]

Re: Trailer brake surge wires

Thanks Aldo, just got off the phone to the chandlers. I've ordered 8m of the 3.2mm flexible stuff (7 x 19, same as the last pic in your post) and some SS wire clamps to hold it in place. It has a breaking strain of 510kgs which is way stronger than the gal stuff.<br />Bad luck about the lost lures, but more importantly did you catch anything?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Trailer brake surge wires

Originally posted by Triton II:<br /> but more importantly did you catch anything?

O/K, no laughing now - I'm a very sensitive person. The only fish caught in the three week holiday was this:<br /><br />

 

[Triton II]

Re: Trailer brake surge wires

What is it? (I promise I'm not smirking!)

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Trailer brake surge wires

I think its a baby carp with a big appetite.<br /><br />

<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Triton II]

Re: Trailer brake surge wires

Now I'm smirking! Sorry, I forgot... you're sensitive. Glad you had a good holiday and thanks for the wire advice.<br /><br />Mark.