juddy Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I have a wide track sankey And I need to get it serviced for its roadworthy ( trailers must have one here ) what things do i need to look for or do to ensure everything is how it should be. The little brake fluid tank is empty, so I take it the brakes will not be working, do you have to bleed them, and how does the towing car, send the instructions to the sankey brakes to stop? is from one of the wires in the electrical connection cheers Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrettkitt Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 (edited) It has overrun brakes which would be applied when attached to the vehicle when the vehicle slows down. As its a later Sankey trailer I would presume that it has disc brakes and that it needs fluid in the system to apply the brakes. So you must be able to bleed the system. The trailer socket only supplies the traditional brake lights and turn indicators and such like. The ex military Landrover association http://www.emlra.org/ has a fair bit of info on the Sankey trailer on its forum worth a look. Edited January 3, 2013 by ferrettkitt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juddy Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 ah kind of get ya, so the disk brakes dont normal work, unless there connected to something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrettkitt Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 ah kind of get ya, so the disk brakes dont normal work, unless there connected to something else? Thats the way the drum braked version works so I am presuming the same for the disc braked version in that the trailer pushes against the tow hitch during braking causing the brakes to be activated. The drum braked version uses rods to apply the brakes, but there must be some redundancy in the disc version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juddy Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 I see now, so the trailer brakes on its own when required. Do we know what the weight of the tub only would be, I am thinking of getting a new one sending over... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Juddy, as Andy has mentioned on the Drum brake version. It basically works the same. IE: When you brake the towing vehicle, the weight of the trailer moves forward & the towing lunette eye rod. Pushes BACK against a rod connected to a Brake fluid Master Cylinder. (The same as ANY hydraulic barke system on a vehicle) This then pushes the piston back inside the master cylinder to push fluid to the slave cylinders on each brake disc. Thus operation the system, EASY, you may say! HOWEVER, as your tarilers master cyl fulid reseviour appears empty. It is entriely possible that the rubber seals are shot on either the master cyinder pistion. Or in one or both slave cylinders. Stripping & replacing the seals for rebuild is a GOOD move! take your seals to a brake specialist suppliers & get equivelent spares if you cant source original parts. SOME parts ARE available on Ebay UK, you could try there, but they are not cheap! Thi is one of the reason i dont have this variant of trailer. i have the earlier version of drum brakes. NOTHING to leak or pipes to get ripped off! MUCH simpler to adjust & repair! Either variant are brilliant trailers & tow VERY well & stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 There are companies that will rebuild, reline brake cylinders if yours are leacking. As for bleeding them I'd sugest something like a Gunson pressure bleeder. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_204645_langId_-1_categoryId_255216 or similar. The air presure from a tyre is used push the fluid through the system. Very useful on other vehicles as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juddy Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 Thanks all, I fully understand the working of this now, well explained. The reason for the empty brake fluid tank, is see below I think I got the one on top.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juddy Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 Come to think of it, i think I got the bottom one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Ah, then you MIGHT just be lucky enough to have the system in working condition! Top up master cylinder with brake fluid. open bleeding nipples on slave cylinders one at a time. & pump the 'spoon' that operates the rod going to the master cyl operating rod! If seals are in good condition, your brakes SHOULD operate ok!......................Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juddy Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 the spoon????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 It is the round spoon shaped pice of metal that the end of tow hitch eye bar pushes aginst. The movement then goes to the rod that works the brake system. I too have the rod operated Snakey so am not sure exactaly what it would look like on a disc one. I may be teaching you to suck eggs, but the weight of the trailer causes an inertia, so as the tow vwhicle brakes the weight of the trailer wants to keep it moving . As it slides down the tow eye bar compressing the spring, the spoon comes into contact with the back of the eye and is pushed on activating the brakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 the spoon????? THE Pivoting bracket that is bearing against the Master cyl operating rod. & is moved by the lunette eye when it pushes rearwards to operate the whole system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_g_kearney Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I am trying to read the tac mark on your trailer's tailgate. A REME helicopter maintenance unit? 71st Company? John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juddy Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 I am trying to read the tac mark on your trailer's tailgate. A REME helicopter maintenance unit? 71st Company? John. Thanks John, I wondered where it came from who, where are 71st from? And thank you to Tony and Ferretfixer, I now understand how it works, simple when you know how....:nut: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Good job it is simple, otherwise I couldn't cope with it! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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