MacGregorSailors.com

I've been having trouble with the brake shoes not letting go completely due to surface rust inside the drums, salt water etc etc. Is there any way that these can be made to be more resistant to rusting when dipping the trailer in and out of the sea? Failing that, would it do any harm to drill a couple of small holes in the wheel centre and drum so that a hose with fresh water can be put up to it to flush the salt out?

The other thought was to use something like copperslip grease in tiny quantities to help the moving parts keep moving. I don't believe that copperslip would be so suseptable to melting if the hub got hot.

Paul.

About all you can do is flush the brakes after saltwater launches. There is actually a drum brake flush kit that installs nozzles in the brakes.

sure the cables not rusting/binding on/draw bar lubed? else, drive the trailer around for a mile or two with braking before putting away, to evaporate the water on the shoes/drum.

PO used what looks like copperslip, seems to have done the trick/not melted. I'll lightly smear waterproof bearing grease on innards next time.

I believe under the green plug (alko hubs) there is a hole for the flush kit. direct water in there for while can only help. I suspect though, any water salt or fresh left sitting there causes problems.

Consider replacing them with disc brakes. SS if you really want rust resistance.

If you back up into a parking space and leave the trailer with the brakes touching the drums, they will attach and stick. Mine did that after a one week trip on the water - I ended up replacing with discs that were Cd plated.....I rinse them after every salt water trip.

On a previous m22 I drained the brake lines and removed all internal components of the drum. If your like many of us, your tow vehicle is more than sufficient to stop the boat and trailer. Remember some of the heaviest boats, m25, were made when many vehicles were on the road with only drum brakes or only disks in front. This day and age most trucks and SUVs are equipped with 4 way disk. There really isn't a need for brakes on the trailer when towing these light loads. Luckily my previous M25 and M26c which I have now had no brakes from the factory. On the M25 I did wish I had electric brakes many times as it started swaying, but surge brakes are nothing but trouble. I am towing with a stock trailer behind a 2004 Chevy Avalanche Z71. Now for the record when I have the 7000lb(loaded) travel trailer behind the Avalanche I love having brakes. The Boat loaded weights the same as my jet skis and they are both not significantly noticeable when braking. just my 2 cents

As it happens I do have to reverse into the parking spot for my boat, maybe if I chock the wheels and then drive forward against the resistance of the chocks it will release the brake shoes?

No thoughts on drilling a large hole in the front face of each drum and wheel to use a hose to flush through? Good idea or bad?

korn_kid_12 wrote:On a previous m22 I drained the brake lines and removed all internal components of the drum. If your like many of us, your tow vehicle is more than sufficient to stop the boat and trailer. Remember some of the heaviest boats, m25, were made when many vehicles were on the road with only drum brakes or only disks in front. This day and age most trucks and SUVs are equipped with 4 way disk. There really isn't a need for brakes on the trailer when towing these light loads. Luckily my previous M25 and M26c which I have now had no brakes from the factory. On the M25 I did wish I had electric brakes many times as it started swaying, but surge brakes are nothing but trouble. I am towing with a stock trailer behind a 2004 Chevy Avalanche Z71. Now for the record when I have the 7000lb(loaded) travel trailer behind the Avalanche I love having brakes. The Boat loaded weights the same as my jet skis and they are both not significantly noticeable when braking. just my 2 cents

... When I got the 26m I had to drive 1000km... At the End I noticed that the brakes NEVER was in funktion at all. The towing car was an old mercedes 124 E Class, 1600kg. And yes, it was quite ok to drive and to break was also possible.
BUT: Guess what will be when there is an accident... or when you have to brake very fast... The gouvernement will kill you....

kitcat wrote:
No thoughts on drilling a large hole in the front face of each drum and wheel to use a hose to flush through? Good idea or bad?

credit to a guy over on the UK site, who suggested simply removing a wheel bolt to flush, as is drilled right through on alko drums. Good idea I will try.

133bhp wrote:

kitcat wrote:
No thoughts on drilling a large hole in the front face of each drum and wheel to use a hose to flush through? Good idea or bad?

credit to a guy over on the UK site, who suggested simply removing a wheel bolt to flush, as is drilled right through on alko drums. Good idea I will try.

I haven't seen any small trailers with lug bolts (instead of studs and nuts) here in the US. Is that a UK thing? Like wheel bolts on vintage VW's?

there's still quite a few around,especially pre 70's drum brake drums.

Good to know. Thanks.

Drum Brakes are not for Salt Water.
Even SS Disk surge brakes require maintance but is best for salt water, protect all bolts and plates with a corrisive heavy duty marine protection.
Dave

kitcat wrote:I've been having trouble with the brake shoes not letting go completely due to surface rust inside the drums, salt water etc etc. Is there any way that these can be made to be more resistant to rusting when dipping the trailer in and out of the sea? Failing that, would it do any harm to drill a couple of small holes in the wheel centre and drum so that a hose with fresh water can be put up to it to flush the salt out?

The other thought was to use something like copperslip grease in tiny quantities to help the moving parts keep moving. I don't believe that copperslip would be so suseptable to melting if the hub got hot.

Paul.

or you can just hose them down with fresh water every time and accomplish the same thing.

Da, do it evertime, apperant you don't launch in Salt Waters.
Dave

raycarlson wrote:or you can just hose them down with fresh water every time and accomplish the same thing.