Tandem slider maintenance

If the brakes won't hold to slide the tandems, they are badly out of adjustment.

They will sell the adjustment set to anyone. Or if your in California, just steal one.

Let the air build up fully in the trailer(s) before you dump it to release the pins.

Rock the trailer back and forth to get them to release, and engage.

 

Often the pins wont release because the rails are holding pressure against them. Set your trailer brakes and rock the tandems.

Usually not lined up with slider rail, or pulled in too far allowing them to drop behind slider rail. Use a flat tip screwdriver to lift up

Often it's just weak brake chamber springs. Try applying more pressure by releasing your trailer brakes, and applying your hand valve (if equipped).

And to end, most problems are caused by friction. Slilder plates are never maintained. A spray lube applied to the slider plate usually solves problems.

1 more. If you're talking a chassis from Trac or DCLI, those are the most neglected pieces of equipment on this planet.

 

It's a dumb question but are you letting the trailer air up fully first?

 

You don't mention if the trailer tandems are mechanical or pneumatic. Different systems with different tricks. I use trailers with pneumatic release systems most of the time. As mentioned, you need to leave the air on (trailer brake button pushed in) for awhile to ensure the air tank has enough pressure to operate the pneumatic pins properly, before you pull the trailer brake and push the tandem pin button. I usually push the trailer brake in and leave it in until I can't hear anymore air flow. It can take a few minutes. I also have a small mallet with me. If one doesn't retract, I'll tap it with the mallet and pop it in.
I don't have as much experience with the mechanical ones. But, I know for those, all the pins are kinda coupled together and don't work independently like the pneumatic pins. For those, rocking the trailer back and forth usually works. And, sometimes you need a pair of vice grips to hold the tandem slider bar out, as the notch that's supposed to hold it doesn't always work and hold it out like it's supposed to.

 

No. They just don't hold as well set.

 

The system is air operated. So if you don't allow enough air to build up. They don't function properly and only partly disengage.

Think of how bad your brakes would be with no air.

 

Re trailers needing maintenance , I think you are very much correct about the trailers needing maintenance. Brakes could very easily be out adjustment. Check brake adjustment.