Association Forum - Hydrauic Brake Actuator

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Hydrauic Brake Actuator

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
1913 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/18/2007 : 19:16:02

I've been getting my trailer ready for some upcoming road trips. Replacing tires, bearings, etc. During my inspection of the brake system I found the Atwood brake actuator piston had rusted up again. I rebuilt it a few years ago and put a new master cylinder in. It appears the Atwood master cylinder is prone to rusting easily, no matter how hard I try to rinse the trailer after use. So this time I plan to try something different. I found this [url="http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=5543&categoryID=150"]Brake Actuator[/url] made by "Tie Down" that has an aluminum master cylinder. Has anyone had any experience with this type actuator?

1997 250 TR WK (sold)
1984 O'Day 28 (sold)
1979 SISU 22
Bath, NC.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2007 : 19:50:35

I have one of those except in the model designed for drum brakes. (they are different, make sure to get one that matches your brake type). The Tie Down 66 works fine, but if I had it to do over again, I'd opt for a heavier-duty 7,000 or 8,000lb rated model that has a coupler for a 2-5/16" ball.

They take a pretty good price jump going to that range, but IMHO peace of mind while towing is worth a boat unit.

Edited by - ClamBeach on 05/18/2007 19:53:18

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2007 : 20:07:14

Bruce, the one I bought is for a drum. I chose the wrong picture for the post. It looks like a good unit. I thought about the larger size, but having to replace the tires and bearings too I was starting to get that stare!

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2007 : 21:16:06

Tom... they also have some actuators made of carbon fiber. My master cylinder and wheel cylinders were in bad shape at the beginning of the third sailing season.

I flushed all the old brake fluid, rebuilt the wheel cylinders and bought a new master cylinder and refreshed with dot 5 synthetic fluid and the system has remained free of rust since. Regular brake fluid is a sponge to water. The day to day heating and expansion and drawing in of fresh air brings moisture with it. The only way standard brake fluid can work is with a closed system having a bladder cap but even so it is still not worth fooling with... it is too easy to purge the system when rebuilding and go synthetic.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2007 : 00:53:43

Yes to everything above. Tomorrow the new disc brakes will replace the drum brakes and have the synthetic brake fluid to finish the installation. Will take pictures and give the #'s. Did use the drums for 26 years but only once in salt water (San Diego). Going North to the San Juans with the new brakes. The surge system is a #10 Titan, a 2 5/16 size, 10,000lb capacity which came with the EZ-loader. All of the parts are still available and include the master cylinder for disc brakes. Yes I also was getting the stare so only one axle this season.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2007 : 13:36:27

C'mon guys, you cannot fall to "the stare" so easily! And this is for trailering safety!! You need to respond with "Honey, I want to make sure we are safe on the highway. I'm giving up some new boat items so that we can have this extra safety on the road."

If you give in to the stare for trailer brakes what happens when you want a big new improvement to the boat??

You represent all of us. Make us proud!

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2007 : 22:22:18

Well, it's those questions that accompany the stare. Didn't the drum brakes work well all this time? Why do you need two axles with brakes? I do want a good budget for the trip.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2007 : 22:04:23

BC now requires brakes on all axles.
I've been happy with my single axle surge drum brakes, but will have to put brakes on the second axle before I haul back over the mountain to the San Juans and Vancouver Island.
I'm going to stick with the surge braking system, and put discs on both axles.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2007 : 00:12:38

Wonder if we come on up on 5 that we would be stopped. The manufacture put on the first axle only. It must be a requirement of both axles for the weight and on new trailers. How do we find out?

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.