Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

electric brake problem

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Dave in NY

05-15-2008 17:48:51




Report to Moderator

Do the electric brake magnets get weak? I recently got a used trailer and have rewired it front to back.New wires to each wheel also.Have the same brand of plug and wired exactly like another trailer I have that works fine.Every thing is well grounded.I can use a 6vt. gelcell battery and jumper wires on the brake and ground terminals of the plug and hear the magnets hum and the wheels will lock.The breakaway system will lock the wheels too.My truck,controller work fine on two other trailers.Im thinking the magnets have gone weak if there is such a thing?

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
buickanddeere

05-16-2008 10:29:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Dave in NY, 05-15-2008 17:48:51  
You just proved the magnets and brakes good. The problem is else where. Odds are it"s the classic high resistance return path through chassis. Run a separate - return from - the connection directly at the brakes up to the truck"s - battery .



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Welding man

05-15-2008 18:36:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Dave in NY, 05-15-2008 17:48:51  
Magnets don't get weak, but they do wear out. The face of the magnet that contacts the inside of the drum can become worn into the wiring and short out or the magnet face and the drum can become grooved until the magnet cannot attach itself to the drum with enough force to pull the brake arm back and apply the shoes.Sometimes the brake arm seizes up on the pivot bushing and the magnets are working fine but the arm can't move to apply the brakes.I'd say the next move would be to pull wheel and see whats going on inside.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dave in NY

05-16-2008 01:23:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Welding man, 05-15-2008 18:36:11  
Had the drums off when I checked and repacked wheel bearings.Every thing looked fine and nothing seized up.Minor surface rust on drum surfaces,polished that off with emery cloth.I don't get a fault indication on the controller.The problem isn't a short,it's more like an open.I will figure it out.Going to take a better look at the socket on truck.All the road salt this past winter might have corroded something.Plug on the trailer is new.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jim H. SW-PA

05-15-2008 18:34:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Dave in NY, 05-15-2008 17:48:51  
I had a camping trailer I bought off a fellow that had a bigger truck had same problem I cleaned magnets on both wheels still not working. Came to find out that he relied on the ball to ground the system. He told me later he always had trouble with the lights too. I just run a ground through the plug directly to brakes, and a secondary one to trailer frame for lights. no more problem.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dave in NY

05-16-2008 01:30:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Jim H. SW-PA, 05-15-2008 18:34:11  
Trailer is grounded through the wiring to the truck.I know the problem you mention,I rewired a boat trailer to fix a that same thing.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jerry Cent. Mi

05-15-2008 18:10:24




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Dave in NY, 05-15-2008 17:48:51  
Isn't your truck 12 volt? Why test with 6 volts?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dave in NY

05-15-2008 18:23:30




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Jerry Cent. Mi, 05-15-2008 18:10:24  
Yes my truck is 12vt.Because thats what sat handy on my work bench.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mike Groom

05-15-2008 18:06:09




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Dave in NY, 05-15-2008 17:48:51  
Dave, If your brakes lock up when you apply power to them it's not the brakes on the trailer,check your wiring to be sure your getting power from the controller to the correct wire on the trailer,if it is you have a bad controller,some are fused so you might want to check that also.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dave in NY

05-15-2008 18:19:26




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Mike Groom, 05-15-2008 18:06:09  
Thing is I have since been hooked to 2 other trailers that the brakes work just fine.One is a friends Hudson car hauler and the other a homebuilt hauler I built about 8 yrs. ago. Maybe I do have something wired up wrong but kind of doubt it.I will check it out this weekend if it doesn't rain too much.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
ScottyHOMEy

05-15-2008 20:52:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Dave in NY, 05-15-2008 18:19:26  
You might double check your work inside the plug. One I put together worked fine for a few trips but eventually one or two strands of one wire or another got loose and crossed over to another terminal. Might be worth a look.

Just another vagrant thought. You didn't step on the brake and activate the controller while you were testing the breakaway did you?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dave in NY

05-16-2008 15:14:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to ScottyHOMEy, 05-15-2008 20:52:15  
Just eliminated the trailer from the problem.Friend stopped by and we pluged it into his truck,had a wheel jacked up off the ground, he hit the control and it locked up the brakes.So-- problem is on my truck. The socket is about 4yrs. old,looks a bit crappy inside.Am going to wire in a new one,check all wires,fuses,breakers, ground etc. Funny thing though truck worked fine on two other trailers after I couldn't get it to on this trailer.Might be intermitent problem.I WILL figure this out!Lots of good advice from you guys! Will update later.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
massey333

05-16-2008 15:57:39




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Dave in NY, 05-16-2008 15:14:34  
dave ,since you said your friends truck worked the brakes OK,do you have a Chevie and he had a Ford or Dodge?Chevrolet factory wired their truck backwards from ASAE standards for a number of years.The brake wire was one of the wires reversed from the others.Just something learned over the years and listening to dealers cussing.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dave in NY

05-16-2008 16:36:23




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to massey333, 05-16-2008 15:57:39  
Both trucks are Chevy.His 2 yrs. old, mine 12 yrs old.Didn't know that about the different brands.Something to watch for if-when I switch.Have an old 3/4 ton PowerWagon,what a workhorse! Don't drive it much lately,THIRSTY!



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
massey333

05-17-2008 05:59:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Dave in NY, 05-16-2008 16:36:23  
Dave his truck will be the same as Ford and Dodge,GM changed sometime around 1999-2001 to the standard.If both your trucks are Fact.wired then they will be different.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

05-15-2008 19:26:38




Report to Moderator
 Re: electric brake problem in reply to Dave in NY, 05-15-2008 18:19:26  
Sounds like its not your truck or the trailer but it sounds like the new trailer is wired different then your other 2 trailers and if thats the case yes you will have problems. I see that all the time because it seems no 2 people wire things the same way. If your truck works on your other trailers but notthat one and you know the brakes work on your 6 volt battery it only leaves one thing and thats how the wiring is

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy