air brake question

This is so cool. Just by lurking, I'm getting to learn a lot about stuff I've often wondered about but had no easy way to learn the answers to.
Hopefully, it'll be a fair trade for the little bits of radio tech I can impart to the drivers and other radio enthusiasts on the Forums.
Thanks!
-- Handlebar --

 

I always check mine with a quick glance,just to be sure.There are too many comedians out there,"Hey ! wanna see something funny ? "

 

the thing about hooking up air lines before pinning was cause the trailers only had service brakes--- and not sand pads on the dolley legs but a roller instead
i have never seen one on the road--but you can still find them used as storage or tire trailers sometimes

 

Are you calling me Old? Thats the problem...I am! LOL...I can't remember either? Im thinking that they really didn't have a special name as they were the first generation & regular & normal, untill the maxis came along.

 

Just to change the subject a little. Look at the chain link fences in the yard and most have been pushed back by the driver that just rammed the tractor under the trailer without hooking up the airlines.

I don't know if there's any name for the old brake sysytem other than a standard braking system. The maxi brakes have the spring brakes in them so when the air is lost the brakes are applied.

 

We always called them "single action brakes" don't know if this rearl was the exact name--but back when I learned(just after horse and buggy-LOL) thats what my Dad and grandad called them. Also if you are pulling doubles--(I never have) it is my understanding the convertor dollies are still set up this way--my buddy who is a freight hauler say's it is so they can roll the dollies around if they need to to hook up and don't have to take time to air them up to release the brakes--not sure if that is true with all of them or just where he works.
Just my $.02

 

Proper protocol calls for backing up to the trailer and barely getting the 5th wheel under the trailer then setting the tractor brakes and getting out and looking. You're looking for several things:

• Is my 5th wheel too high or too low or Baby Bear?
• Are my 5th wheel jaws open?
• Hook up my air and electrical lines
• Is there a KingPin Lock applied to the trailer?
• Hop back into truck and perform loaded call
• Perform Air Brake Test

I like to do it this way because the loaded call starts 'cooking' while I go back out and finish hooking up the trailer, raising the landing gear, applying the locks and seals, pretrip etc.

Otherwise you'd have to hook the trailer up then send the loaded call and sit around and wait a few minutes for the OK to proceed with the load.

You don't want to park your tractor trailer combination with the trailer brakes (red knob) only. It is OK to use the yellow and red together or the yellow only in combination. Use your best judgment.

 

A bunch of folk here have given you pretty good descriptions of what the buttons do, and all that (and I'd pay REALLY close attention to Palazon - that sort of thing does happen. I ALWAYS apply the trailer brakes, then tractor)

But nobody's answered - really - the question. At least, not to my satisfaction. Why not pop just the red button when you park? (I know why I don't.. I just want to see what reasons others have)

 

Because of what we have been posting about single diaphragm brake pots. Even though they are old style,they are still used. Now tell us why you don't?

 

It should be the red only parks the trailer, when the yellow parks the whole truck. I've always had the red one pop out when hooked up unless I held it in. We won't talk about the blue one!