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Subject Topic: Faulty handbrake Post Reply Post New Topic
Personems29
09/6/2008 at 9:21pm
 Location: west sussex
 Outfit: Vango Columbia View ems29's Profile View Profile   Reply to ems29 Reply   Quote ems29 Quote  
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We have a 1991 compass shadow with a faulty handbrake, It seems to pull up ok and the mechanism sounds as if its working ok but the button doesn't seem to work to lock the brake on? which means thay in effect we have no working brake on the van either when we are towing or on site! Is this easily fixed or am i looking at big bucks?  Thanks


Personmichael
09/6/2008 at 9:53pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold View michael's Profile View Profile   Reply to michael Reply   Quote michael Quote  
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are you sure the button is not in the ON position full time.it could be stuck down?

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


Personwizard9956
09/6/2008 at 10:37pm
 Location: Bristol
 Outfit: Lunar Conquest 544 a View wizard9956's Profile View Profile   Reply to wizard9956 Reply   Quote wizard9956 Quote  
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Your caravan brakes should work when towing as the button doesn't have any effect when towing . If your hand brake isn't staying on when parked , it's likely that the button rod ( long rod inside the hand brake lever , which you should be able to see when looking up under the lever ) is bent , stopping the button from coming fully out .
Probably just a case of straighting the rod .

atb

Wizard


Personems29
10/6/2008 at 7:32am
 Location: west sussex
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Thanks guys!

I'll have a proper look today I've checked that the red cable works the bake which it sems to so am i ok towing then?


Persontimtheenchanter
10/6/2008 at 12:52pm
 Location: Yeadon Leeds!
 Outfit: Swift Challenger & Defender 110SW View timtheenchanter's Profile View Profile   Reply to timtheenchanter Reply   Quote timtheenchanter Quote  
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yes, it should be fine, it is the ratchet that holds the lever not working, not the brakes themselves.

try a load of WD40 or similar round the button, leave it to soak for a while.

if you are in any doubt, get them checked by an engineer.


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PersonPapa Pip
10/6/2008 at 3:33pm
 Location: Whitburn Scotland
 Outfit: 1976 Thomson T-Line Glendale View Papa Pip's Profile View Profile   Reply to Papa Pip Reply   Quote Papa Pip Quote  
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If the handbrake does not engage properly when stationary then it will not 'lock on' if the caravan comes detached from the car when towing, if the brake works when you pull on the breakaway cable then it will slow the van down, I would certainly advise getting it looked at with some urgency, I think that as Wizard says it may be a bent rod, or faulty catch, if it is the ratchet then a replacement would be the best option.

Either way I would get a chassis service done and have them checked out properly.

Let us know how you get on.

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Still alive and kicking!


Personwizard9956
10/6/2008 at 5:09pm
 Location: Bristol
 Outfit: Lunar Conquest 544 a View wizard9956's Profile View Profile   Reply to wizard9956 Reply   Quote wizard9956 Quote  
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STOP , a over sight on my part , but as Papa Pip has realised and I didn't , you should get your caravan handbrake repaired BEFORE towing , although the brakes will work there is an important safety feature that isn't going to function correctly i.e. the brakeaway cable mechanism , should the caravan become detached whilst towing the brakeaway cable will pull on the handbrake mechanism , but because yours isn't working I'd recommend you don't tow till fixed

 .

atb

Wizard


PersonPapa Pip
10/6/2008 at 5:40pm
 Location: Whitburn Scotland
 Outfit: 1976 Thomson T-Line Glendale View Papa Pip's Profile View Profile   Reply to Papa Pip Reply   Quote Papa Pip Quote  
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Thought you was half asleep! Wiz, it actually took me a moment to realise that without the rachet stop working properly the handbrake would noyt hold therefore allowing the caravan to continue moving if the hitch became detached. Almost certainly if stopped by the Police or Dept of Transport they would insist on the van being suspended tow off the road.



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Still alive and kicking!


Personmichael
10/6/2008 at 9:57pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold View michael's Profile View Profile   Reply to michael Reply   Quote michael Quote  
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with a non operational hand brake one of my main worries is even if they get to the site without incident and the field is sloping forwards and the caravan was taken off the hitch,it would start to roll forwards with the full weight of the van because the hand brake is not engaged.they dont work backwards anyway.i have seen this happen,although i was not involved it took three guys to stop it.

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.



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