Multiquip MP200DLSM, MP200DLTE Maintenance Trailer, Trailer Brakes, Surge Brakes, Electric Brakes

The following trailer maintenance guidelines are intended to assist the operator in preventative maintenance.

Trailer Brakes

Properly functioning brake shoes and drums are essential to ensure safety. The brakes should be inspected the first 200 miles of operation. This will allow the brake shoes and drums to seat properly. After the first 200 mile interval, inspect the brakes every 3,000 miles. If driving over rough terrain, in- spect the brakes more frequently.

Surge Brakes

If your trailer has surge-operated brakes, they function the same way the surge brakes do on your tow vehicle. The surge braking system must be inspected at least as often as the brakes on the tow vehicle, but no less than once per year. This inspection includes an assessment of the condition and proper operation of the wheel cylinders, brake shoes, brake drums and hubs.

Manually Adjusting the Brakes

Most axles are fitted with a brake mechanism that will adjust the brakes during a hard stop. However, some braking systems are not automatically adjusted by hard stopping. These brakes require manual adjustment. The following steps apply to adjust most manually adjustable brakes.

1.Jack up the trailer and secure it on adequate capacity jack stands.

2.Be sure the wheel and brake drum rotate freely.

3.Remove the adjusting-hole cover from the adjusting slot on the bottom of the brake backing plate.

4.With a screwdriver or standard adjusting tool, rotate the starwheel of the adjuster assembly to expand the brake shoes. Adjust the brake shoes out until the pressure of the linings against the drum makes the wheel very difficult to turn. Note: Your trailer maybe equipped with drop spindle axles. See axle manual for your axle type. You will need a modified adjusting tool for adjusting the brakes in these axles. With drop spindle axles, a modified adjusting tool with about an 80 degree angle should be used.

5.Rotate the starwheel in the opposite direction until the wheel turns freely with a slight drag.

6.Replace the adjusting-hole cover.

7.Repeat the above procedure on all brakes.

8.Lower the trailer to the ground.

MAINTENANCE (TRAILER)

You must check the fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir at least every three months. If you tow your trailer an average of 1,000 miles per month in a hot and dry environment, you must check the brake fluid level once a month. The brake fluid reservoir is located on the tongue of the trailer. Always fill with clean, uncontaminated DOT 4 brake fluid.

Figure 19 below displays the major air/surge brake compo- nents that will require inspection and maintenance. Please inspect these components as required using steps 1 through 6 as referenced in the “Manually Adjusting The Brakes” sec- tion on this page. See Table 11 Surge Brake Troubleshoot- ing.

Figure 19. Surge Brake Components

Electric Brakes

Electrically actuated brakes (Figure 20) are similar to surge brakes. The basic difference is that surge brakes are actuated by an electromagnet. Listed below are some of the advantages that electric brakes have over surge brakes:

„Brake system can be manually adjusted to provide the corrected braking capability for varying road and load conditions.

„Brake system can be modulated to provide more or

less braking force, thus easing the brake load on the

towing vehicle.

„Brake system has very little lag time between the time the vehicle’s brakes are actuated and the trailer’s brakes are actuated.

„Brake system can provide an independent emergency brake system.

DRY PRIME PUMP — OPERATION AND PARTS MANUAL — REV. #3 (10/06/08) — PAGE 31