Trolley break??

Found this article: http://www.layover.com/newbies/trainer/0104.html/

"The misuse of these hand valves by some drivers has led to their removal from some fleet's tractors. The use of the hand valve while at any speed over a crawl is DANGEROUS! Add bad weather and speed, and the misuse of a hand valve can be deadly to you and to others. You will hear a lot of "trucker stories" about how a driver saved the day by using the hand valve in some situation. These stories are based more on luck and myth than on real fact. The problem with these hand valves is that the valves that they are actually moving are SLOW to react! It's one thing to get on the brakes, but it's not safe if they are slow to release. It's a fact that in a skid, the wheel that is sliding is the wheel that wants to "lead" or come to the front. If you panic and use the hand valve and happen to get the trailer wheels locked up and sliding, they will continue to slide (usually off the side of the road or into other traffic lanes) long after you have released the handle. Use of these hand valves is usually covered in training schools, during carrier-sponsored training and trucking-based defensive driving courses."

 

Your T/T is loaded to around 80,000 in most cases, you have 5 sets of axle brakes to stop or slow down that load. Using JUST TWO of those FIVE sets of axle brakes will enviably cook the brakes that are engaged much quicker than using ALL of your brakes.

To be honest(and I know I will probably get some s*hit on here for it) but every once in a while if I am STOPPED on a gravel,sand, or dirt surface, and I want to make sure all my trailer brakes are working together I will get up to about 3-5 MPH and pull the trailer brakes on, for a SECOND, and then get out and check my "pattern".

I doubt anybody else does this, just a habit started because our trailers run those #### 17.5 small diameter brakes and are known to be hard to keep in adjustment. JMO

Stan

 

I would think that at speed it would be REAL easy to lock up that rear axle, the hand brake, (to me anyway) doesn't have a "good" feel to it. Not like a foot pedal anyways, probably different valving, but I am GUESSING on that. Someone else on here can probably give you a better answer.

I guess my question to you would be WHY???

 

dude really dont use it to stop, you will flat spot tires or worse jack knife if the roads are wet and you have any speed built up. and yes you can cook the brakes if you use it for any length of time. it would be a rookie move period!

 

IF it was stuck on you would have air leak and I would think that you would notice or smell your brakes and hubs. I never say never, but I doubt it.

 

Trolley Brakes were never designed to stop a truck ! They are to be used only for a tug test and to adjust tandems. And yes you will cook your brakes , I see many people fly by me going down steep grades and you can see what they are doing by the smoke coming out from the trailer. The smell is nothing to be desired either ! Best thing is always keep a safe distance while driving ,therefore not having to cause a serious problem with yourself or others. You did not state if you have or use your Jake Brake , shifting down 1 gear on a steep grade with the jake on will slow you down too, again maintaining a proper speed for circumstance is always the best. Of course try not to use the jake in municipalities where its not allowed . I am against these laws as a jake does have many safety benefits and in my opinion don't think it should be against the law especially if you are hauling close to gross or have over weight permits.

 

I went rounds with my company about not replacing hand brakes on trucks where the valve has gone bad. I don't see how you can test your trailers service brakes if there is not a way to engage them separately from the tractor. Sure you can tug on your fifth wheel with the trailer brakes set but how do you know that they are being applied when you hit the brake pedal?