Talk about everything happening at once... I posted earlier today about my boat cutting out at the like... well I get home and I'm headed to the car wash and a kid on a skateboard jumps out in front of me.  I stopped in time, but.... I have an issue.  I have a tandem axle roadrunner trailer with surge brakes.  When I got home, about a mile away, I noticed burning smell and smoke coming from right rear tire.  I'm wondering if this is my brakes or bearings... and how do you tell?

 

 

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If your not first, your last!
2001 Crownline 202 BR
2000 Ford F-250 diesel super duty

 Tony,

Sorry for a bad day. If your brakes are smoking, then you could discover that by jacking up the wheel and try to spin the tire. If the brake is locked up the tire and wheel will be scrapping the brake pad. Did your surge unit release after your emergency stop or is it jambed back?

 

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Bill Cook
Saratoga Springs, NY
Charleston Lake, On
'08 200LS 5.0L

Thats what I don't know... how do I tell?

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If your not first, your last!
2001 Crownline 202 BR
2000 Ford F-250 diesel super duty

Well the yoke should not be jambed back so far that you cannot see the hole for the lockout pin. First and easiest thing to do is to jack up that wheel and see if it is free wheeling, if it is dragging, if there are scrappking noises.

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Bill Cook
Saratoga Springs, NY
Charleston Lake, On
'08 200LS 5.0L

Sorry, I'm not very mechanical.. so if its turning free with no noise that means bearings.  If its not, then probably brake?

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If your not first, your last!
2001 Crownline 202 BR
2000 Ford F-250 diesel super duty

My guess would be a corroded wheel cylinder is causing the brake on that wheel to not fully retract, causing the brake to drag and overheat. Jack up the wheel and try to turn it. If it turns hard or drags, back off the star washer adjustement to free it up and tow the trailer to a shop for repair. Trailer brakes you want to work right, especially during those "emergency" situations like you experienced.

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Phil Belcher
2003 266CCR
496 MAG, Bravo 3

Ok, took the tire off... I can NOT spin the tire at all.  I have a drum brake system.  I can't figure out how to take it apart?

 

 

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If your not first, your last!
2001 Crownline 202 BR
2000 Ford F-250 diesel super duty

Spoke to Kent at Roadrunner trailers.  Their customer service is great.  I am going to try to hobble the boat over there on 3 tires.  Anyone have any advice on doing this?

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If your not first, your last!
2001 Crownline 202 BR
2000 Ford F-250 diesel super duty

First, I wouldnt dream of towing on just three wheels. You are compromising too many things including safety. 

Removing the Drum from the axle is a simple job that just about any grease monkey can do in their sleep.  Have you thought about calling a local garage to see if they can send someone out?

Of course, another option is to try adjusting the star nut accessible behind the brake plate (look for an oval shaped rubber grommet. Remove and you'll be able to see the star nut with a flashlight) by sticking a flat head screw driver and rotating the nut, you may be able to remove enough of the tension of the brake shoes to at least have the hub rotate freely.

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1998 268CR 7.4L B2
"La Vida Loca"

If the tire cannot be rotated then you will not be able to remove the drum unless you relese the brake pads from the drum.  You can do this by sticking a screwdriver in the slot on the back of the drum plate.  Look on the opppsite side of the lugs on the bottom you should have a slot, it might have a rubber plug in it.  there is a wheel in there that you can move up and down insert a screw driver in it and try turning the wheel.  It should loosen up the wheel so it can spin.

Tim Crouch

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270CR CinTimental Pleasure, Greenville SC

This is just an I feel you reply . . . the other day, I could not reverse my trailer. Thought it was my brake lockout solenoid. Took boat home (could not get into dry storage) Got home to tired to look. Got up the next day thinking  it has to be my solenoid. Broke out the test light to make sure my plug was lighting up in reverse. . . when I put my aligator clip on I hit the ground and backup lights boom there went the fuse . . then I don't have a spare fuse. Call the wife, she is on her way home from gym she picks up fuses' . . wrong size the big older version !! arrgh.

Run to parts store pickup fuses, reverse lights are up again, more testing, hmm looks like i have a short . . open up the harness that plugs into truck viola wire was broken (not sure how), I cut all the wires so they will all be the same length, boom drop the part of the harness into drainage . . .

By now about to go nuts!  Anyhow, hope it is no big deal and you get her going quick.

 Hang in there buddy! Happy days are coming again.

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Limited Edition 230BR 8.2Liter/502CI (GSI Volo Penta) DP-S

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