help with trailer brake line

[Michael Snow]

1999 911CDC on a Nitro trailer. It has the UFP brake system, including the surge hitch. My reverse lockout solenoid gave up the ghost and started leaking. Its fitting broke off in the master cylinder... fine, replace the guts...



The issue I have is the flexible brake line that goes through the swing-away tongue seems to end IN the tongue. If I remove the bow winch thingy that comes up off the trailer, is there an opening in there or just a full tube like the rest of the trailer? HOW can I get at the other end of that fine brake line?

 

[Jim B]

Funny you mention this Mike. I just went thru the same thing last weekend. On mine the little rubber tube from the reverse lockout to back into the master cylinder cracked and i lost the brakes when all the fluid leaked out. To get at the end of the hose what i did was i removed all the clips that hold the hard line on the trailer as well as the one that holds the hard/soft fitting near the wheel. From there i had to straighten the two bends that are at the front of the trailer so i could push the hard line into the tounge and get at the fitting to remove it. Its a pretty crappy design, there mist have been massive amounts of brainpower at work there. Just make sure you are very careful banding that hard brake line bacause it kinks really easily, go slow and im sure you will be fine. Also use a flange nut wrench on the fitting or eose you will round it off, you need a 3/8 size. also i toook some pictures of the dissasemble of the coupler if you want to see how it comes apart, i was thinking of mabye making a grab bag article so people can see whats involved.

 

[Bryan McDonough]

If you are talking about that flexible hose that is connected to the master cylinder, but not long enough to allow you to pull out the actuator to unscrew the hose. Well i've been through it and i feel your pain. Replaced the whole brake system on my last 896. When i finnally got the hose unscrewed i said i never do that again, bought an 18 inch flexible extension hose and attached that to the existing hose. No problems next time, of course i sold it and will have to do it again, one day. I do not think there is a hole cut in the trailer frame, that would definetly weaken the frame.



Good luck.

 

[Michael Snow]

CRAP! So Tracker Marine decided to put it together so it can't come apart easily? WONDERFUL!



Also, on that little rubber tube (hose) that Jim refers to, it is held tight on the ends by WIRE TIES (you know, the little plastic things). Needless to say, when I put it back together, I'll put a second wire tie on each one, just to make sure.



But, before I say anything rude here...



..."My Nitro 'tis of thee, one fine piece of engineering you see, of it, I sing..."

 

[Michael Snow]

Went to BPS in Grapevine and spoke about the issue (while picking up the part). The mechanic said what he does is take the bolt out of the tongue and turn the tongue to unscrew/screw the fitting in. Interesting.. Now, I just have to see if that bolt will come off.

 

[gone bye bye]

It is not only Nitro with the same design.....pretty standard in the industry for that type of surge brakes.



Mini

 

[Michael Snow]

I ended up just taking all the ties off to the back wheel. I left the coupler in place back there, just removed the bracket. That gave me enough room to pull the line out and do what needed to be done.



Let me tell you, replacing the actuator assembly isn't hard, but sure is time-consuming. I'm thinking I could do it blindfolded now though.