Surge brake Problem????

[Divecoz]

.[Done with Hamin and this board

[Chinook]

If you're talking about that small electrical wire that comes off the unit (sorry, I don't know the technical terms for the parts) on the back of the brake, right where the brake fluid line connects, I don't think you have any immediate problems. That wire senses when you've shifted into reverse and prevents the brakes from engaging while backing up. It mainly becomes an issue if you're backing up on an incline. I think you can still back slowly on the flat without having the brakes engaging. If you drill a hole through the surge housing just behind the brake piston and in front of the square stock tongue end, you can slip a 1/4 inch bolt through the hole and accomplish the same thing. When the surge housing tries to slide backwards, the bolt stops its motion before the brakes engage. Just remember to remove the bolt after backing up, or you will have no brakes when you really need them. You should be able to get home fine this way, and order a replacement part and swap it out at your leisure, back home in the driveway.

Good luck.

[Divecoz]

.[Done with Hamin and this board

[Hamin' X]

That is the safety brake engage, Dive. As long as you don't plan on losing the trailer in the middle of the road, you will be fine. It is just another government mandated piece of safety equipment that is of dubious use.

~Rich

[Divecoz]

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[hart]

Shortly after I bought my X I forgot to take the safety cable off when I unhooked the chains from my truck and I ripped it off. IIRC it did engage the brakes and I had to pop the cover off that box the lever is in and reset (as in put back in it's place) something or other to release them, sorry I can't recall exactly what I did but I know it was immediately obvious and it took all of 5 minutes to fix. It was a pain in the butt but not a big deal.

[MadMacX]

A "friend" of mine thought it would be funny to yank on the cable, not knowing what it would do, and tripped the brake lock. Pretty simple fix. You have to remove the four sheet metal screws, and using a screwdriver, push the lever to unlock the brakes. Like Hart said, once you open it up, you'll know what to do. if you need a replacement, try these guys, they have been good to me.
http://www.championtrailers.com/dico_br ... _parts.htm

You can read this, if you want to;
http://www.championtrailers.com/brake_c ... rnings.htm


Pat

[Divecoz]

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[mcgargle]

Well I just did the same thing and it sounds like I have the same coupler. Did you ever firgure out how to reset the emergancy?

Honestly it didn't set my brakes either, now I am thinking I should redo the whole thing. The trailer is a 2003 so it is 5 years old. I am sure the brake pads and other internal bits could use a replacement after diping in and out of salt water so many times.

Never did like that damn latch.