Grain trailer air brakes acting up

[CORK]

Hi all

We have a Smyth grain trailer here.

it has load sensing air brakes and oil brakes.

Recently, the air brakes have been giving trouble. When loaded and braking, the trailer brakes don’t release when the brake pedal is released in the tractor. This has meant stopping on the road, connecting the oil brakes and releasing the air manually so I can go on with my journey.

Now, I must confess that I did adjust the load sensing linkage a year ago as I felt that it wasn’t braking strongly enough, perhaps that’s the cause of my trouble.

The trailer isn’t old and doesn’t get much use but I’d much rather be using the air brakes are they are generally nicer than oil brakes.

Does anyone have guidance on how to set up the braking properly?

Tractors using the trailers are Fendts and our other air braked trailers are fine on them.

 

[Hilly]

Hi all

We have a Smyth grain trailer here.

it has load sensing air brakes and oil brakes.

Recently, the air brakes have been giving trouble. When loaded and braking, the trailer brakes don’t release when the brake pedal is released in the tractor. This has meant stopping on the road, connecting the oil brakes and releasing the air manually so I can go on with my journey.

Now, I must confess that I did adjust the load sensing linkage a year ago as I felt that it wasn’t braking strongly enough, perhaps that’s the cause of my trouble.

The trailer isn’t old and doesn’t get much use but I’d much rather be using the air brakes are they are generally nicer than oil brakes.

Does anyone have guidance on how to set up the braking properly?

Tractors using the trailers are Fendts and our other air braked trailers are fine on them.

Is it the air side or just sticking in the drums might be stuck due to lack of use .??

 

[CORK]

Is it the air side or just sticking in the drums might be stuck due to lack of use .??

The drums seem to be releasing fine so I don’t think it’s lack use although it crossed my mind.
It brakes and releases no problem with the oil. When it locks up, it’s very definite so I think it’s the air side of things that’s the issue.

 

[Hilly]

The drums seem to be releasing fine so I don’t think it’s lack use although it crossed my mind.
It brakes and releases no problem with the oil. When it locks up, it’s very definite so I think it’s the air side of things that’s the issue.

What make is the air system ?

 

[CORK]

What make is the air system ?

Flexequip

 

[Hilly]

Flexequip

Give them a ring ?

 

[CORK]

Gibe them a ring ?

I’ll probably be doing that tomorrow, Smyth are based over here so I’ll ring them.

 

[killie_cowboy]

I had the same problem then discovered that when I let the handbrake off, if the button on the handle hadnt popped out because of the ratchet then it would do exactly this. I pulled it slightly so the button clicked back out and made sure every time and never had any trouble since.

 

[davidroberts30]

First check the couplers release and open fully,tractor and trailer
Checked the inline filters?

the distance between the 2 red marks,you've not adjusted that?
I take it the drawbar doesn't move much from loaded to empty?

 

[CORK]

First check the couplers release and open fully,tractor and trailer
Checked the inline filters?

the distance between the 2 red marks,you've not adjusted that?
I take it the drawbar doesn't move much from loaded to empty?

I didn’t adjust the distance between the red marks although I did adjust the length of the bar going to the drawbar.

The drawbar would move upwards when the trailer is loaded.

 

[davidroberts30]

I didn’t adjust the distance between the red marks although I did adjust the length of the bar going to the drawbar.

The drawbar would move upwards when the trailer is loaded.

how much movement as the sorter the distance there the higher the output on the brakes
if the drawbar only moved an inch or so then fine,but if more than 2 inches i would say your going from 1 extreme to another

 

[Jc1160]

It might be worthwhile contacting distag. They supply the likes of Smyths and Broughan’s with axles and flexequip components. I have found them helpful in the past.

Home - DistagQCS

DistagQCS - Quality Components Solutions are a leading manufacturer/distributor operating from three locations across the UK and Ireland.

distag.com

 

[Lakesdigger]

Have you checked the tractor?

 

[CORK]

Have you checked the tractor?

No, what should I check on it? The trailer is giving the same issue with both tractors and both tractors seem fine on two other trailers.

 

[Chuckie]

Those flexequip valves have crappy little mesh filters behind the pipe fittings for the red and yellow lines from the tractor. Has the trailer got in line filters at the front?

 

[CORK]

Those flexequip valves have crappy little mesh filters behind the pipe fittings for the red and yellow lines from the tractor. Has the trailer got in line filters at the front?

I honestly don’t know, I must have a look, I never knew these systems had filters! . A call to Distag is planned too.

 

[texelburger]

We've had brakes sticking on after being parked up in the field.New trailers last year so rang the manufacturer who said try swapping the tractor onto another trailer to see if it still happens. If it does then it is a valve on the tractor.They have had a few examples of this in recent years.Going to swap them over,tomorrow, to see.

 

[Abacus]

Have you ajusted the bracks if so Just check the s cams arnt over sentering

 

[Lakesdigger]

No, what should I check on it? The trailer is giving the same issue with both tractors and both tractors seem fine on two other trailers.

You need to be sure the yellow line from the tractor has no pressure in it when the brakes are released, even a few psi will keep trailer brakes on.
Although ok on other trailers (assuming they are air brakes) and the same issue on another tractor does point to trailer issue. Being that hydraulic brakes work ok does point to the air system on the trailer being the culprit.

 

[gone]

I had similar happen here and it turned out to be very slight damage done to the self sealing valve on one of the quick attach airlines, it stops the air being let back off after the brakes are applied.

Trailer Air Brakes - Carpenter Goodwin Ltd

Trailer air brakes parts supplied by Carpenter Goodwin Ltd Leominster Herefordshire

www.carpentergoodwin.co.uk