alko auto reverse trailer brakes adjustment

[244t]

Hi there,
I have a problem, the trailer fitted with a braking system as described about will not reverse, as the coupling slides into the housing the brakes jam on preventing the trailer reversing.

The instructions say adjust all the slack out of the system by adjusting up the threaded bar, but having done this the spring loaded handbrake does not go into the vertical position when applied, and certainly does not go beyond the vertical positions when the trailer is pushed backwards.The instruction says there should be 6 to 8 mm of free travel on each cable of the four wheels, but how is this so when the slack is taken up with the threaded bar.

I have had the drums off and everything is nicely free and greased.

Any pointers would be gratefully received, done a few and not had this issue for some reason.

Thanks in advance.

 

[normspanners]

Have you adjusted the brakes first ?

 

[244t]

Yes, freed off the adjuster, made sure the rotating heal to the other side of the adjuster is free, adjusted the shoes up to the drum, turning the wheels in direction of travel only.

 

[normspanners]

The slack they talk about is none sprung IE, you have free movement 6-8mm against the springs but not slack in the cables you have to start at the wheels and work forward. have you run the trailer to clean off any rust if the trailer is reversed in and left the shoes are left against the drums I never park mine with the hand brake on because they stick and it is a hammer to the hubs to free them

 

[244t]

So, say 8 mm between the cable being pulled taught to being pulled so the shoes are against the Drum with firm hand pull? So I have likely adjusted the shoes too tight to the drum roll not allowing the heal to rotate?
No idea don't leave those handbrake on anything if I can help it,

Thanks for your input.

 

[bricol]

I've auto-reverse brakes fail to over-ride on slippery surfaces simply because there isn't enough grip - wheels just slid.

Had Brian James car trailer brakes jam as the cables had pretty much siezed - used to think it was the shoes sticking. A journey with grease running out of a hub cured that idea ;-)

 

[244t]

The cables are new, no bother with them,
It's got to be something simple, it's a very simple system.

 

[normspanners]

http://www.uk-trailer-parts.co.uk/adjusting-al-ko-brakes/ you have probably seen this

 

[244t]

Thanks for that, on the alko instructions it have of the impression there should be no slack in the system, did not say adjust the rod until the handbrake is vertical etc.