Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

[mr300z87]

Today I finalized a deal on a 1989 Invader v210 Cuddy on a dual axle trailer with single drum brakes. I will be picking it up this weekend. Upon inspection I notice there was water in cylinder up on the hitch (not sure what its called) at this point the PO and I removed the water. I have about 12 mile drive home do I just add brake fluid drive it home and deal with cleaning it ups when home. Or do I replace the cylinder thingy in the PO driveway. I am very familial with working on car brakes but this is my first hydraulic brake trailer system and I do not want to ruin anything because of lack of knowledge. Also how do you bleed the system? I do not have a vacuum pump set up yet so when I do my cars I do it the old fashion way of yelling at the wife to pump the pedal and don't release till I say so. Mike

 

[Lakes84]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

Not sure on the water, but bleeding my brakes is fairly easy. On the actuator there is a hole for a screwdriver. I push it forward and backwards, sort of like pumping your car brakes. The bleeder side of the process is exactly like a car, just like what you do now.

See you on the lake

Joe

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

If there was water in there I would say the system probably has some pretty big issues. What do the laws say about trailering a trailer with that weight with no brakes?

What would you be towing it with and what is the drive like?

It seems there are a lot of boats on the road that have inoperable brakes so you won't be the only one.

It's not going to hurt anything to try to fill it with fluid and see if you can get it to pressurize. I tend to believe the damage is already done.

If the drive is mild, I would stay off the highway and fix it at home since it will likely be more involved since water got in there.

Since you have him there to help, you could fill it with brake fluid and purge the lines to get home. Then when you get home start the process of understanding if you need to replace the brake cylinder or the cylinder, the lines and the brakes themselves.

To bleed the system you can wrap a 2x4 with thh safety cables making a lever. When the board is pushed, it pushes the master cylinder just like pushing the pedal in your car. Same rules apply. Do the furthest one first.

 

[Titanium48]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

I'd take it home and do a thorough inspection of the brakes. You may end up needing to replace all of the hydraulic parts. On the way home, assume the brakes aren't working and drive accordingly.

 

[mr300z87]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

I was thinking along the same lines. Add fluid and hope for the best. The good new is the trip is only 12 miles or so and on country roads. I will be towing with a 07 Nissan Frontier 4.0L V6 not the best breaking vehicle I have owned but might be able to borrow my friends 5.4L f150. # 1 rules of trailer be VERY careful and don't go to fast. Thanks for the advice.

Mike

 

[Lou C]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

Before trailering it home, I'd jack up each side and check the wheelbearings for play and roughness, you don't want to be stuck on the side of the road with a missing wheel...
I have towed a similar load with my old 98 Jeep before the trailer had brakes and you have to be very careful about stopping, that boat and trailer will be pushing close to or over 4000 lbs, that's a lot of extra weight for the truck brakes to stop. If there is water in master cylinder, I think you may need to replace it and the drum brake cluster assemblies and flush out the brake lines. But at least then you will be starting with a system that works. Be careful on that tow home....

 

[1216bandit]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

Are you sure your not looking at brake fluid, which is clear when its clean? If what is in the master cylinder is clear, I would just top it up and get it home and go through it.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

You'll need to either fix the brakes before you leave with the boat or tow it home without them. If you simply add fluid without fixing the system it's possible they'll lock up on you, which of course is more dangerous than not having them functioning at all. Once you get her home at a minimum you'll need to replace the master cylinder (cylinder thingy) and wheel cylinders and flush the lines really well. There are several very good threads in this section on how to do that. Also, I seem to recall some others from Joisy saying that a tandem axle trailer is required to have functioning brakes on both axles. I have no idea whether that's the case, but you definitely need to look into it. A call to the highway patrol would be the best way to find out. Good luck.

 

[mwmike270]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

a call to highway patrol is a good start to see what is allowed. then if you did have water in there its best to open and inspect all the hydralics , slave as well as master. things will lock up if the water has caused too much damage. some people still hone the inside of there slaves still but there cheap enough to just replace them. also, all this talk is about breaks but i also agree on inspecting the entire trailer... springs tires bearings wiring and lights. most breakdowns can be prevented, and the cost of a breakdown is almost always more expensive than fixing it first in a driveway.

 

[mr300z87]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

My first concern is getting the boat home and in my driveway so I can work on it. In my past I have lost a wheel on a single axle not a fun deal. So I would never tow any distance with out going through the brake system and check all the bearings. Thankfully I only have a short distance to go on 2 lane country roads on which I could go 40mph or under the whole way. I will bring my floor jack and jack up both sides before I depart to make sure the wheels turn freely and check for play. Thank everyone for the advice. wish me luck. I am sure I will be back here for help getting the system working properly as my only experience with trailer brakes were the electric type on my EX's horse trailer. NO MORE HORES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I like horse power much better.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

my EX's horse trailer. NO MORE HORES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now is that any way to talk about your ex?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

now is that any way to talk about your ex?

.......................................................... Bawhahahahahahaaaa!

 

[Volphin]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

That's funny! And YES it IS appropriate.

V

 

[mike343]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

Your rig is close to being overweight for single axle brakes. If you want to do it right, weigh the rig and check the brake capacity--usuall 3500lbs.

 

[mr300z87]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

Well I made it home safe and sound. We jacked up all the brake wheels and manually pumped the actuator to make sure nothing was locking up. Then we jacked both none brake wheels to check they were rolling smooth. Shot some grease in the bearing buddies and off we went. It felt like the brakes were working as it trailers nice with my 4.0L Nissan Frontier. The bad was we had no lights. Any way its home now and will give the trailer a good going over so it will be ready for spring boating season. Thanks for the advice. BTW the Ex got the horses and I got the farm now I have a barn full of car and boat stuff I have been accumulating over the last 10 yrs :facepalm:. Sounds fair to me.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

Glad to hear all went well. Keep us posted on your progress. By the way, this question will likely open a can of worms, but have you verified that the Frontier can safely tow that rig?

 

[mr300z87]

Re: Trailering home my new boat : Water in the Master Cylinder

Already checked into that Owners Manual stated with 2wd 4.0L V6 (261HP 280 foot/pounds torque) 6 speed maunal trans is rated for up to 8000 LBS towing capcity. The truck did not have any problems towing it and once I get the brakes dial in it will be fine. Actually towed nicer than my single axel no brakes with my 18 ft Stingray. Most of my towing will be less the a half hour 15- 20 miles to the Barnaget Bay or the Toms River. The area of NJ I live in very flat. No Long trips through the Rockies or even the Pocono Mountains for me. I would not even considered this size boat when I had my old 87 Nissan Hardbody Truck it was a bit smaller than the 07.