Original coupling with handbrake operating attachment, new brake shoes adjusted correctly, correctly functioning handbrake levers, cable adjusted correctly and unless your Arnie the handbrake cannot be applied and released.
Solution found remove the original handbrake operating attachment and install a McHitch HB35, problem resolved, the finer pitch ratchet provides improved mechanical advantage to apply and release the brake when adjusted to provide total wheel lock.
This is an easy fitment as the hole centres on the McHitch match the coupling attachment bolt centres.
Did better than me then. Bought a new gypsy trailer a couple of months ago and it has hydraulic brakes - which is good. BUT the same hydraulics acts as the parking brake via a very coarse ratchet.
I always thought hydraulic parking brakes were illegal??
-- Edited by Tony LEE on Friday 5th of February 2021 07:57:56 PM
Original coupling with handbrake operating attachment, new brake shoes adjusted correctly, correctly functioning handbrake levers, cable adjusted correctly and unless your Arnie the handbrake cannot be applied and released.
Solution found remove the original handbrake operating attachment and install a McHitch HB35, problem resolved, the finer pitch ratchet provides improved mechanical advantage to apply and release the brake when adjusted to provide total wheel lock.
This is an easy fitment as the hole centres on the McHitch match the coupling attachment bolt centres.
Interesting, as my handbrake is not as good as I would like.
From memory the ADRs call for a maximum force of 60 Kgm force to hold a vehicle at maximum mass on a 18 % grade to be compliant. If this cant be achieved with the supplied equipment then the vehicle does not meet registration requirements and should become a serious problem for the original supplier.
Alan
PS I would think a hell of a lot of trailer handbrakes would not comply because of the coarse ratchet system that they use.
Alan.
Had another look at the ADR relevant to park brakes and amended the above to the correct figures
-- Edited by Brenda and Alan on Saturday 6th of February 2021 12:53:56 PM
