"Steve B" wrote in
:


"ATP*" wrote in message
...

"Steve B" wrote in message
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Today, I took a friend's trailer a few miles to pick up some
material. It is a tandem axle 16' trailer. I looked back, and there
was smoke pouring out of one wheel. I had just started from a stop,
and was doing about 15 mph. I pulled over, put it in reverse, and
then went forward and all was good. The tire had jammed up in some
way, and the smoke was from the tire skidding, and not from the hub.

This trailer has electric brakes, but they are not hooked up. When
I got home, I had driven about eight miles. That one wheel was
very warm, and the outer brake drum was nearly hot.

I think what has happened is that some component has come loose
inside there, and jammed. Backing up unjammed it, but there must
still be something causing the shoe to come out and engage the drum
making it hotter than the rest. The rest were cool to the touch.

I am going to block the trailer up tomorrow, and take that wheel off
first, and look for loose parts, or obvious failure.

Should I just put a spring on there to hold the electric brakes
closed? I would do this to all four wheels. Plus, check the
bearings while I have it in the air. This trailer is not used for
heavy loads, and my friend would probably not want to spend the $$
to have it put back as new, as it was manufactured in 1965.

A mechanic friend of mine said to just take off all the shoes and
everything, and not be bothered in the future. My friend pulls this
with a 3/4 ton truck, enough to handle the trailer and load.

What would you do?

Steve
The brake assemblies are not that expensive, if you have it apart,
replace them.

It quit raining, I got the pavers unloaded, so took off the wheel.
Steel salad would be the best description. Something cut loose,
shredding lots of stuff in there. One brake show was bent out of
shape. The backing plate was seriously bent inward toward centerline.
The opposite side was rubbing the drum, so had to hammer it back
enough for the wheel to turn. The whole backing plate, and whole
brake assembly will have to be replaced. Oh yeah, the tire has a flat
spot on it, too.

Bearings looked good, tho. ;-)

Supposed to talk to the owner in the next day or so. Will see if he
wants to fix it, or remove all the brake assemblies.

Steve

Visit my blog at www.cabgbypasssurgery.com




In your shoes I'd fix all 4.

Just in case...