journey on
New member
Journey On’s trailer has electric-hydraulic brakes, and this posting is just information for those who have the same.
First, I think those brakes are mandatory on any heavy boat’s trailer, >8000#. I’m certain there’s disagreement, but there you are. They came with the E-Z Loader trailer and I’m thrilled to have them. However, they are mechanical and thus not perfect. This leads to the rest of this missive.
Second, those brakes have a pressure source called an actuator. This is a hydraulic reservoir, a pump and a feedback pressure switch/sensor. This specific actuator is a Carlisle 1200 powering the disk brakes, which I believe is standard for EZ-Loader trailers. The truck electronic brake controller, which has worked well, is a Tekonsha Voyager.
Third, concerning the innate perversity of inanimate objects. As we pulled into the driveway at the end of our 8000 mi summer trip, the trailer brakes quit. The driveway is a 10 % grade, and you haven’t lived until you’ve tried to back a C-25 down that hill, trying to turn it into the parking slot, without trailer brakes. The front wheels don’t steer they just slide.
Anyway, I finally found that the actuator wouldn’t actuate, just got a click out of it. The warranty is for 2 yrs. And this one was 2 years and 3 mos. Calling the Carlisle factory, I found out that they don’t rebuild them, and I should just get a new one. At $500, on the Internet, dealer in California: Carlisle actuator dealer .
Moving right along, I took the front actuator plate off, and looked inside. That body is an extrusion, with the top compartment forming the hydraulic reservoir, and the bottom containing the motor, pressure sensor AND a relay board. Disconnecting the motor leads from the board, I found that the motor ran, and all I needed was a relay board. Yes, the hydraulic fluid spilled.
I found out later that this testing procedure can be done without disassembling the actuator by using the yellow wire feeding the actuator. This is the emergency power wire and it bypasses the relay board. Live and learn and that’s why I’m writing this epistle. The manual that describes this procedure is here: Hydrastar Brake Actuator Manual
Note that it doesn’t say anything about a 1200, but it’s the correct manual.
I finally got a new relay board, appropriate gaskets and a new bleed valve. The procedure is as follows. 1. Call Carlisle customer service. They will tell you they don’t sell parts. 2. Mention it’ll be a cold day in a hot place before you buy another Carlisle product. 3. They will refer you to a field engineer, who will ask you if you ran the above tests. 4. Tell him what you found, and 5. he’ll give you a phone no. and allow you to order parts. The relay board, etc was about $70. Put it together and bleed the actuator and (hopefully) you’re back in business. I was.
Comments:
1. Apparently I own a Carlisle Gen 5 actuator. They’re now up to Gen 7. The relay board I got had a different layout and a bigger relay. The moral of this statement is that as soon as I buy something it’s outdated.
2. Other actuators are:
a. Brakerite
b. Dexter Axel
c. Carlisle
Nothing against Carlisle, but if you’re going to buy an actuator, find out if you can get parts. You may need them. Also, actuators are interchangeable as long as they are rated for disks, and run at approximately the same pressure (1200 psi.)
Boris
First, I think those brakes are mandatory on any heavy boat’s trailer, >8000#. I’m certain there’s disagreement, but there you are. They came with the E-Z Loader trailer and I’m thrilled to have them. However, they are mechanical and thus not perfect. This leads to the rest of this missive.
Second, those brakes have a pressure source called an actuator. This is a hydraulic reservoir, a pump and a feedback pressure switch/sensor. This specific actuator is a Carlisle 1200 powering the disk brakes, which I believe is standard for EZ-Loader trailers. The truck electronic brake controller, which has worked well, is a Tekonsha Voyager.
Third, concerning the innate perversity of inanimate objects. As we pulled into the driveway at the end of our 8000 mi summer trip, the trailer brakes quit. The driveway is a 10 % grade, and you haven’t lived until you’ve tried to back a C-25 down that hill, trying to turn it into the parking slot, without trailer brakes. The front wheels don’t steer they just slide.
Anyway, I finally found that the actuator wouldn’t actuate, just got a click out of it. The warranty is for 2 yrs. And this one was 2 years and 3 mos. Calling the Carlisle factory, I found out that they don’t rebuild them, and I should just get a new one. At $500, on the Internet, dealer in California: Carlisle actuator dealer .
Moving right along, I took the front actuator plate off, and looked inside. That body is an extrusion, with the top compartment forming the hydraulic reservoir, and the bottom containing the motor, pressure sensor AND a relay board. Disconnecting the motor leads from the board, I found that the motor ran, and all I needed was a relay board. Yes, the hydraulic fluid spilled.
I found out later that this testing procedure can be done without disassembling the actuator by using the yellow wire feeding the actuator. This is the emergency power wire and it bypasses the relay board. Live and learn and that’s why I’m writing this epistle. The manual that describes this procedure is here: Hydrastar Brake Actuator Manual
Note that it doesn’t say anything about a 1200, but it’s the correct manual.
I finally got a new relay board, appropriate gaskets and a new bleed valve. The procedure is as follows. 1. Call Carlisle customer service. They will tell you they don’t sell parts. 2. Mention it’ll be a cold day in a hot place before you buy another Carlisle product. 3. They will refer you to a field engineer, who will ask you if you ran the above tests. 4. Tell him what you found, and 5. he’ll give you a phone no. and allow you to order parts. The relay board, etc was about $70. Put it together and bleed the actuator and (hopefully) you’re back in business. I was.
Comments:
1. Apparently I own a Carlisle Gen 5 actuator. They’re now up to Gen 7. The relay board I got had a different layout and a bigger relay. The moral of this statement is that as soon as I buy something it’s outdated.
2. Other actuators are:
a. Brakerite
b. Dexter Axel
c. Carlisle
Nothing against Carlisle, but if you’re going to buy an actuator, find out if you can get parts. You may need them. Also, actuators are interchangeable as long as they are rated for disks, and run at approximately the same pressure (1200 psi.)
Boris