Tandem pins not engaging on a new trailer?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Lostmykey, Jul 25, 2021.

  1. Lostmykey

    Lostmykey Medium Load Member

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    I’ve got the air release pins; while inspecting a new trailer, I noted only 2 of the 4 were engaged. The other pins would pop-in. I tried sliding, engaging them in multiple positions, and wiggling to no avail. I sprayed wd 40 as well; the pins looked out of alignment. Any suggestions?
    6A55397F-4D1D-4059-ADC2-C7980884064B.jpeg 23428965-8BF6-4164-8644-01C1B96FC91E.jpeg
    Pictures aren’t really that good.
     
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  3. Opus

    Opus Road Train Member

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    You'll be fine with just 2.
     
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  4. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    I’ve seen where they are offset a bit on purpose so when they do pop into place then the bogies are aligned straight.
    Just try driving around the parking lot making left and right turns. They should pop into place then.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2021
  5. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

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    This^^^

    Also, make sure you are on level ground.
     
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  6. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    I would not ride with that without a go from the company. On old trailers we used to spray them with a water hose to help them slide a bit. Had to use tire chalks at times.
     
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  7. Lostmykey

    Lostmykey Medium Load Member

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    Yes, that occurred to me. I did move it back and forth in the spot. The place was pretty tight and I didn’t do turns with it. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get it back in a hole once I pulled out.

    I called my company on what to do and they were adamant on me not driving with it until all the pins engaged; not even to the truck stop 3mi away. I spent about an hour on it, maybe I should’ve reported after I arriving at the truck stop.

    Noting that only 2 of the pins were engaged to begin with was a bit of a red flag to me. Trailer was mfg this year and I’ve slid others from this year with no problems. If sliding them empty didn’t engage them, would being loaded change anything?

    Company called for a tech; I dropped the trl and bobtailed up to the truck stop to wait.
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2021
  8. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    The two engaged pins are right on the edge, and don't look all the way out. You did rock it with the trailer brakes set, right?

    Looked again. Rear pins out fully, front pins pinched by slider rail. Setting the trailer brakes and backing up should have remedied that.
     
  9. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Yep, if not, try driving in reverse then pushing clutch in and applying trailer brakes only, that should move it. I had the same set up on my last Great Dane. It was great, till it wasn’t. Always had one stuck, till I ran it down the road a bit. Once had to fix it at the scale, before I could leave. The only reason I wasn’t OOS, is because the DOT Lady saw Me pick a rock from my tires tread. Said She rides a Motorcycle, and appreciated that. Lol.
     
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  10. Lostmykey

    Lostmykey Medium Load Member

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    Yep, one side looked like it was almost wanted to come out and play; the other side had more overlap with the rail and seemed like an alignment issue. The picture of that side isn’t great.

    I tried to set it up so that the front set of pins would engage first when sliding but they never did.
     
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  11. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    Yeah. Those pins are pinched. Just need to be moved to get the pressure off the pins and they'll pop out.

    Service guy ain't gonna get it done either unless he gets the yard dog to hook up to it. Or Service guy will charge even more and bring a truck over. Keep that in mind next time and I bet you'll be rollin.
     
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