edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
May 19, 2017 18:16:42 GMT
|
Yeah it will not get used on the road until I've done the brakes. I bought it with very little info in advance, and wasn't aware until I went to collect that the brake cables were absent!
It looks very well made for what it is, all welds are good and a lot of effort has gone into it. Part of me thinks it might have been made by a small trailer making business, possibly just starting up.
I popped a hub cap off today, and was surprised to find loads of grease!
All tyres are dated 2007, and the lighting is definitely newer than the trailer, so I think it was all given a makeover 10 years ago.
I'm unsure about the hitch. It's an old spring type, with a reverse lever. I'm sure I read somewhere about trailers having to be auto reverse, but can't find anything about it now. Handbrake lever seems stuck, but might free off.
I have no idea where to start with brake cables, I've got to look into that. Going to have a look at the shoes first.
The wheels are 13". They look factory painted gloss black if that makes a difference?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 19, 2017 18:30:11 GMT
|
All trailers from 1989 are required to have an auto-reverse-brake-type mechanism, where brakes are fitted.
Trailers older than this may have been supplied without auto-reverse. Such trailers are still legal to use on the road as long as they are in a good and serviceable condition.
|
|
|
|
edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
May 19, 2017 19:55:54 GMT
|
Interesting, I guess the trailer is probably pre-1989 then!
I've only towed unbraked or auto-reverse trailers. How much of a pain is this one likely to be?
I'm trying to figure out if I'm best trying to source a second hand auto-reverse hitch off a caravan before I waste time trying to free up the handbrake.
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 19, 2017 20:31:16 GMT
|
It's no drama you just need to remember to flip the bit over before you reverse. Depending on how much load and the terrain you are reversing across you might get away without using it on flat Tarmac.
|
|
|
|
zipgun
Part of things
Posts: 109
|
|
May 20, 2017 16:36:31 GMT
|
My horse trailer wheel looks similar ...
|
|
|
|
edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
May 20, 2017 18:35:14 GMT
|
That looks very similar!
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 20, 2017 21:06:02 GMT
|
If they are the same as those we may still have a set of 4 with buggered tyres nr Worksop.
|
|
|
|
edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
May 21, 2017 16:40:01 GMT
|
I may be interested in them.
Right, bit of an update. I looked over the brakes and bearings a bit today.
Good news is the bearings look alright, tightened them up and the play is gone in all four.
Bad news. Only one 'axle' is braked. Is this an issue?
Bearing in mind I think this was built before 1989, due to the hitch used, does it HAVE to be braked on all wheels?
|
|
Last Edit: May 21, 2017 16:40:22 GMT by edessex
|
|
edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
May 21, 2017 17:23:12 GMT
|
Frantically searching here and not getting anywhere!
The brake laws all seem to relate to the Construction & Use Regulations, which came about in 1986.
Assuming the trailer was made before that date, would it have needed brakes on all wheels?
I'm assuming when they changed the laws in 1986 it only applied to vehicles made after that date?
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 21, 2017 17:38:07 GMT
|
I stuck the cover on quickly today, to try and start it. But that square bar in the centre of the flywheel just spins freely.
The square bar in the centre should spin freely, in one direction only. This is the one way starter mechanism for the pull starter. If you remove the four small bolts - holding the mesh on, you can then take off the circular cover - underneath which you should find about 5(ish) ball bearings. These locate in the spurs of the mechanism, to provide drive for the starter. If you want to reinstate the pull starter - you'll have to source some ball bearings ( about 1/4 -5/16 diameter approx). Obviously, all of this is pointless if you have a working electric start !
|
|
|
|
|
edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
May 21, 2017 18:26:57 GMT
|
There is an electric starter on that mower, but I've got to sort out all the wiring before I can figure it all out!
I'm almost certain I tried spinning the bar both ways. I've got to pull the mower out and have another look at it ...once the trailer is sorted! Lol
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 21, 2017 19:06:48 GMT
|
It looks like you need brakes on all four wheels,but only need the handbrake to act on one axle ....also you may need to plate it ...... it all depends on when it was built ...... Personally i would, given your tow vehicle is a car as opposed to a bigger van or 4x4, get it braked on all four wheels ...... the issue you might face if you get stopped/ have sn accident etc etc , is being able to PROVE when the trailer was built .....
|
|
|
|
edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
May 21, 2017 20:41:02 GMT
|
All 3rd party websites will say the same, as they do regarding auto-reverse hitches.
Considering how the trailer is built, I can't see why someone would only fit two braked units instead of four, unless that was all that was required at the time.
If those hitches became illegal to use on trailers built after 1989, and the Construction and Use regs came in to play in 1986, then it would be reasonable to assume the trailer was built pre-1986.
But the question is, did the 1986 regs replace a previous reg?
I'm too young (I don't get to say that often!) to know about pre-86 regs, does anyone remember about trailer laws from back then?
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 21, 2017 22:16:19 GMT
|
If it helps at all we had one of those hitches on a cattle box we cut up in the late 80s, it was utterly utterly rotten by then so my guess would be early 70s. Our Monza caravan had an auto reverse hitch from new and I think that was about a '76
If in doubt big set of stamps and wack a date into the A frame and a serial number.
|
|
|
|
edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
|
That is a help!
Can you remember if it had suspension units, or leaf springs?
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 22, 2017 15:13:14 GMT
|
To be honest as long as the trailer looks the part, ie properly fitted working lights,proper number plate,secure mud guards etc and it doesn't look over loaded, then the chances of getting randomly stopped are slim. Its when they decide to have a purge on trailers and caravans etc you might get pulled over, but as Dodgerover says, make up your own set of numbers .... even if you just mark up a weight limit that happens to 'just right' for the Astra .......
Don't give them a reason to pull you in the first place.
|
|
|
|
edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
May 22, 2017 17:55:46 GMT
|
To be honest the majority of the loads will be well under weight. The other trailer was mainly used for bulky but light green waste, and things like motorbikes and ride on mowers.
The only time a lot of weight will go in is when it's not on the public roads, and this is low speed as well.
Maybe I'm over thinking it all too much!
|
|
|
|
edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
May 25, 2017 20:27:21 GMT
|
Some photos from the other day of TR-4... The random hole in the wheel matches up with a hole in the brake drum, which makes me think they are legit trailer rims. Farm jack comes in useful again: Possibly not been in use for a while! Anyone recogise any bits? 68VF? Backplate has seen better days. Backplate is bolted onto a metal plate welded to the swingarm (looks factory): Other end...
|
|
|
|
zipgun
Part of things
Posts: 109
|
|
May 25, 2017 21:41:20 GMT
|
You've got Lockheed old style shoes...but they look ok ! Rivet on linings IMO better than bonded rubbish for a trailer! Backplate don't know..
My trailer sits 6 months of the year , rust creeps under the lining and loves to detatch and jam the drum .Lots of tyre squeal and smoke !! Because they're Knott ,you ring the dealer for some (expensive ) new ones and they say "Are they 200mm or 203mm ?" "Errr duno, must be 200 as it's cast on the drum..". "Ahh, 200mm and 203mm use the same drum casting, they've all got 200 cast on them ,just machined out more...." " Why redesign for just 3mm? " "Because Knott .." " Send both and i'll send the wrong ones back..."
|
|
|
|
edessex
Part of things
Posts: 514
Club RR Member Number: 42
|
|
|
Yeah, I can't see 3mm making much difference!
I think I'm going to strip the all the braking parts off, and find out what is salvageable.
|
|
|
|
|