Trailer axle help

[excossack]

Just picked up one of these wee beasties

The drums have the markings, Axles Watford HB 6-10

Questions.
How does this type of brake linkage work? from what I have tried it looks like the rods going to each drum brake operate when the rods are pushed inwards and release when pulled outwards?

Any ideas on the maker of the drums? A quick google doesn't show much

Next task is to get the drums off, which might be easier said than done as the brakes on one have seized.
Looking the hubs, there is a split pin and a big castle nut that comes off and hopefully the drum will pull off.

This is the brake linkage and the axle

 

[CKJDJK]

More likely that the shackle connects to a pull rope from the draw hitch which causes the crank to rotate and pull the push rods. The two bolts are pivots for the compensator. Evens out the pull to the two hubs as the lining wears and ensures both brakes operate evenly. Inside the hub will be an expander between the two shoes forcing them apart when the rod is pulled and hence the brake operates. A very common system. More recently the use of cables instead of rods is used.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

From a legality point of view if you are going to use the axle on a new build trailer that is over 750kg then the brakes have to be autoreverse (which I doubt these are).

Paul H

 

[excossack]

Cheers CKJDJK. I think someone has assembled the pivot bit wrong as the rods should push to operate the brakes.
Compo, the axle will be used for a trailer that (Harvey Frost Crane) that does not weigh more than 750kG. The only time it will be more than 750KG is when doing a suspended tow and that will be on a closed road or a forest stage.

 

[normspanners]

Sorry to disagree but
I doubt the brake rods push to operate the brakes, I have never seen that on any axle of any kind the ring on the arm is for a cable I would say that pulls to operate the brakes, as there is no strength in a thin push rod system unless the rods where at least 1/2"- 5/8" thick.
Sorry I lie,
I remember one type of truck brakes that had air actuators on each wheel, that pushed but the rods where 14mm ish and about 200 mm long

 

[garethp]

Brake rods never push as they'll do nothing but bend, if I get a chance (could be next weekend) I'll take a couple of photos of the links on my trailer as it's in bits at the moment. It's setup with a compensator to take up any slack first before the brakes come on.

 

[excossack]

I might know more once I get them apart.. Pulling does make more sense.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Are you aware of the rules regarding trailers built after 28/10/12 ?
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca/vehicletype/trailers.asp
Whilst you are still allowed to DIY build trailers they have to be submitted for inspection before used on public road. There are requirements of components that have to be abided by and overrun brakes are no longer legal on new builds no matter what the capacity. The determining aspect about whether brakes required is weight of trailer PLUS payload and not just that of the unladen trailer. The inspector therefore will expect current specification components. Beside autoreverse brakes there are rules governing the type of hitch to be used as well.
Sorry to be negative but better you are told now than at a later date when trailer build and you have submitted it for inspection only to be told it can't be used on the road.

Paul H

 

[normspanners]

I am pretty sure in this situation this is a refurb of a (very) old trailer!

There are requirements of components that have to be abided by and overrun brakes are no longer legal on new builds no matter what the capacity.

I thik you may be wrong on this, how else can the brakes operate?
unless they are connected to the hydraulic system. I have not seen many systems that employ this, There was one in belgium I worked on many years ago that had a QR coupling into the vans hyd brake system. But I thought that was a little dodgy.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I am pretty sure in this situation this is a refurb of a (very) old trailer!

I thik you may be wrong on this, how else can the brakes operate?
unless they are connected to the hydraulic system. I have not seen many systems that employ this, There was one in belgium I worked on many years ago that had a QR coupling into the vans hyd brake system. But I thought that was a little dodgy.

My wording is wrong. What I mean is brakes have to be autoreverse. The old type brakes where you have to move a switch to stop the overrun brakes operating when reversing are no longer legal on new builds after April 1989.
BTW not trying to be a killjoy about OP project.When I recently posted messages about altering my own 3 year old little Erde 102 trailer people pointed out to me that doing such would require it having an IVA test and as such I gave up on the idea.

Paul H

 

[excossack]

I am working along the lines of an old trailer getting a better axle. The trailer is still an old one and is certainly pre 28/10/12, its more like 1960s!

Maybe a grey area?

When does an old trailer become a new trailer?

 

[AndyStobbs]

When you're daft enough to admit you built it this year and not 5 years ago.

 

[normspanners]

I called my local trailer specialist re this a few months ago they said just do it nobody checks old trailers. As long as it is safe!!
I got stopped with mine the other day by a very nice traffic cop and he just wanted to make sure the lights tyres and coupling including the break away were safe.
Btw he was pleased I had a strap to join the trailer to the car in the event of a break away. at least with that you regain some control of the trailer.

 

[Jester]

I am working along the lines of an old trailer getting a better axle. The trailer is still an old one and is certainly pre 28/10/12, its more like 1960s!

Maybe a grey area?

When does an old trailer become a new trailer?

Only Fools & Horses - 17 year old brush, 6 new handles 8 new heads

 

[normspanners]

they could check the steel forensically, but sir, in its past life this trailer was a ford escort and before that it was washing machine--------

 

[excossack]

Well I have one drum off and the brakes a seized. What I thought was a push operated brake system looks to be a pull operated system. Got the mechanism sitting in a tub of two stroke mix and ATF (as that's all I had to hand) and several sprays with Wilkos quality £1 lube spray!