Edward

Trailex open with surge brakes ...haven't replaced or bled the brake fluid in years (uh oh). All seems and works ok, but obviously I need to be on top of this. So what's the best way to do this, guys? Obviously my Motive won't work. I used to have a mityvac long ago ...time to get another one? Advice?

Edward

KaiB

I've always gravity bled my trailers here in Bugtussle. Jack the front up if that's where the m/c is. Just keep it topped off.

Wonder why the Motive wouldn't work with a rigged cap.

longhorn911

I have a Tie-Down hydraulic actuator on my trailer and it has a 1 3/16 inch diameter fill hole which Motive makes an adapter for. I just ordered it and will be trying it out later this week when it arrives. They make two adapters for trailers - you could measure yours and see if one will fit:

http://store.motiveproducts.com/clas...-1102-p26.aspx
http://store.motiveproducts.com/clas...-cap-p106.aspx

kurt M

I took a cap of a damaged powerhead and set it up as a Motive cap. Lot less hassle than fill and pump to burp out bubbles after a repair.

Edward

I don't want to futz with modding a cap for the motive. I guess I'll just use a mityvac ...they're kinda nice to have around. Thanks gents!!


Edward

Van

I put the ball hitch in the trailer's hitch, remove the cap on the reservoir, open up one bleeder, attach a rubber tube to it and put it into a cup (this way, once the cup fills up a bit with fluid, and the tube is under that level, the brake cylinder will pull fluid back in - as opposed to air.)

Now, I just use the hitch as a lever and pump - push down and it squeezes fluid out of the bleeder; pull up and the level of the reservoir goes down. I do 3 pumps, then top off the reservoir (so it doesn't go dry and pump air through).

Repeat for about 4 or 5 top-offs and you're certain to have flushed the old fluid out. Now do the same for the other side.

I bleed my trailer brakes annually.