Adjusting surge brake master cylinder

[KRB64]

I replaced the master cylinder on the 31 yo trailer with new unit. They matched up perfectly.

BUT, I want to be sure that all is working as it should be. I've bled and bled and bled and it still takes two strokes to get good brakes. I'm wondering if the rod should be adjusted a bit? Anybody have a good website on how to properly adjust a surge brake master cylinder? Or could it be the shoes need adjusting? Not gone there yet.

Thanks,

 

[cmount1]

Assuming you have bled all of the air out of the line then the adjustment is done at the brake shoes, there ‘is a specific clearance that needs to be obtained between the face of the shoe and the face of the drum. If there's too much it will take multiple pumps of the master cylinder to take up the excessive clearance.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Agree with the above. If you're positive you've bled it properly, then adjust the shoes. Tighten them until you can spin the wheel by hand, then back off the star adjuster until you can spin the wheel freely, but JUST barely can still hear the brake shoes SLIGHTLY dragging against the drum. If you haven't physically looked at your shoes/wheel cylinders/bearings/seals lately, you need to do that, too.

 

[KRB64]

Looking a the backing plate I don't see any access or viewports like on a vehicle. This is my first surge brake trailer, how else would you get to the star wheel?

 

[cmount1]

There may be an access on the face of the drum, it may need to be knocked out, if not you'll have to pull the drum.