Well, even though it's still snowing here in mid Michigan, it's time to start thinking about those things that need to be addressed before that first launch. I picked up my new boat last October, ('05' 270 CR), and had a rather difficult time on the 100 mile trip home. Mainly just when I tried to stop! Seamed like the boat weighed 25,000#'s. The monsoon rains didn't help! When I got home I took the cap off the master cylinder, nothing! Not even a residue. Clean and dry. The boat has 100 hours on it so I assumed the previous owners used it regularly. Is it possible the factory forgot to fill it? It's a triple axle Prestige with disc brakes. Anyone ever run across anything like this? 

Thanks,

Jim Nichols 

 

Ouch. I had a similar problem, but mine is only a dual axle with drum brakes on one axle.  I found the best way to deal with it is to take the boat off and then look at all the lines. Mine had a crack in the connection between the line thru the trailer that connected to the lines going to each wheel. The moron at the factory didn't put enough slack in the line from the master to the connection at the wheels and it pulled itself apart, thus no fluid. You will definitely have to bleed the whole system if you can't see any fluid in the master cylinder.  You'll also have to check each caliper and see if their leaking.  I don't know much about disk brakes on a trailer, but I'm guessing their probably ok. Maybe they never filled it at the factory and the other owner never noticed, that would be the best scenerio.  Good luck.

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Mark
2004 235CCR

Hello Jim,

Give us a call at 1-618-542-8313 and ask for Bobby V or myself. We can walk you through a couple of different possible underlying concerns that may help you find your leak.

Byron

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Goober says, "Hey!" Andy!! WoooHooo!!

Hi Byron,

Not sure if you remember our previous conversations or not, but I bled all six calipers on my 270 trailer whch had no brakes. They then worked great!! Because of the weather, I didn't use it for 3 weeks. When I did, It's probabaly 25% of the stopping power than what it was. I had to "C" clamp the actuator to back up the driveway, now it doesn't even effect it. I've noticed no drips on the driveway. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Jim 

 

Hows the fluid level look?  I had a similar problem with my trailer and after a couple months I finally found a hole in the brake line.  I never noticed any brake fluid either but sure enough my brake fluid was about half full.

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Fluid's down. I can only guess it's a line cracked or worn through inside the frame. How did you manage to find your leak? I was thinking of running new line outside the frame and eliminitating the stock one.

Thanks, Jim  

I've got an aluminum trailer so it's an "I" beam construction and everthing is exposed.  Just was under there looking at the bleeders and hoses and found the hole.

I'm guessing from your explanation all your stuff is "inside" the trailer.  Can you pull the lines out after disconnecting them?  I would imagine if you can pull them out you could inspect them.  Otherwise, your idea of just running them outside the frame would probably work.  Mine are just zip tied to the frame anyways.

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Hey Jim,

Thanks for your patience whilst I have been on the road for the last two days.

I would have to second Ryan's' advice on looking for a leak. To have good pressure, then not, would suggest that you are loosing fluids. The first places to inspect will be the fittings, both on the actuator and then on the calipers. There are also connections running from the port caliper across the axle to the port side.

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Goober says, "Hey!" Andy!! WoooHooo!!