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had a little scare but carried on

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by casby, Jul 30, 2008.

  1. Jul 30, 2008 #1
    casby

    casby Bobtail Member

    3
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    May 24, 2008
    edmonton
    0
    so i was hauling our new equipment down the highway, which is almost 100000lbs, and i got up on a hill and looked behind me to find out everything was smoking. immediately i stopped of course. it was my brakes which was pretty obvious. so i waited for the brakes to cool off a bit, than i checked the slack adjusters to make sure they were fine. it's a triaxle and just the back axle was off a bit, and since im sure they are automatic i just did some brake applications at 90psi and checked it again and they were still off. so once everything cooled off, i just kept on truckin. it was a really hilly area so i was pretty skeptical but i made it. i was just wondering what you would have done in that situation since im sure lots of you have been there before?
     
    casby, Jul 30, 2008
    casby, Jul 30, 2008
    #1
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  3. Jul 30, 2008 #2
    RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Jul 22, 2008
    Owensboro , KY
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    Not enough info here . Had you gone down a hill using heavy brake applications because you were in too high of a gear . What is "a little" off ? Had the trolley brake been applied ? You should never adjust self adjusting brakes . If they are out of adjustment it is a sign of other problems . In some cases a mechanic should be called out .
     
    RickG, Jul 30, 2008
    RickG, Jul 30, 2008
    #2
  4. Jul 30, 2008 #3
    GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    Oct 23, 2005
    Vegas/Jersey
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    You're 100% right we need to know more. I've pulled plenty of loads over 100,000lbs and never smoked the brakes. And I've been down some steep grades too. If the problem was not the driver then a mechanic is the only option. Plus if the brakes did get real hot there could have been damage to the drums or pads. casby you can consider yourself extremely lucky you didn't have anymore problems.
     
    GasHauler, Jul 30, 2008
    GasHauler, Jul 30, 2008
    #3
  5. Jul 31, 2008 #4
    casby

    casby Bobtail Member

    3
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    May 24, 2008
    edmonton
    0
    sorry guys! this was a real stupid problem that should of been avoided but it happened, so i live and learn. when i hooked up, i accidentally switched the service and supply line hook up. the glad hands are not marked properly and i was in a rush so i neglected to double check(yup, stupid). so the trailer brakes were dragging. the front 2 axles were fine but the back axle was .5 inch off between the 2 slack adjusters. but i still don't understand how it pulled so easily after i hooked up if they were crossed? anyways, thats my shameful story so any comments or laughs are welcome.

    also they are automatic slack adjusters but is it possible they have a manual adjustment bolt? if so could i adjust it myself?
     
    casby, Jul 31, 2008
    casby, Jul 31, 2008
    #4
  7. Jul 31, 2008 #5
    RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Jul 22, 2008
    Owensboro , KY
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    By regulation you should only adjust brakes if you are certified . It's been a long time since I adjusted automatic adjusters so they may have changed . There is a cap on the plunger and this has to be taken off and the plunger removed before adjusting . But really , if they are out of adjustment the adjuster is bad or there is another defect in the brake system . Adjusting is not the solution . http://209.85.215.104/search?q=cach...tic+slack+adjusters&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=16&gl=us
     
    RickG, Jul 31, 2008
    RickG, Jul 31, 2008
    #5
  8. Jul 31, 2008 #6
    jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    Oct 1, 2007
    Duncannon, Pa
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    If you crossed the lines then how did you even get the trailer to move? I mean it is mandatory for all trailers to have spring brakes now a days. The only way to move a trailer is by hooking up the red airline which actually releases the spring brakes when the valve on the dash is pressed in. The blue line controls the amount of air pressure deployed to the brakes by use of the foot brake (or trolley brake) but otherwise is not pressurized.

    The only way to move a trailer otherwise is to "cage" the brakes. This means the brake shoes are no longer able to touch the brake drums even though there is no air pressure to the brake chambers. Only mechanics and tow operators will "cage" brakes normally though.

    Sounds to me like you had a brake dragging or a partially pulled trolley brake.
     
    jlkklj777, Jul 31, 2008
    jlkklj777, Jul 31, 2008
    #6
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