Cobra surge brake again

[db_sonic]

Does anybody know the tolerance or how to properly set the left and
right Cobra surge brake cabling(where the surge brake rod running from
front to axle meets the coupling for the left and right cable for each
of the brakes).

What I found, like most, is that the surge brake can make the wheels
freakin' hot on 6% grade AND in my case, is actually responsible for
the dangerous trailer sway we see over 60mph(particularly downhill).
On a recent trip I just disabled it entirely and it eliminated the
sway and the hot hubs altogether...it was like towing my old Komet
again. So am contemplating keeping it that way unless I can figure
out how to prevent the surge brake cabling from creating this
oscillating condition. When disabling the surge I also loose the
parking brake, so would like to have that back.

TIA,
Darren

[chipsoars]

On Jul 16, 3:37*pm, db_sonic > wrote:
> Does anybody know the tolerance or how to properly set the left and
> right Cobra surge brake cabling(where the surge brake rod running from
> front to axle meets the coupling for the left and right cable for each
> of the brakes).
>
> What I found, like most, is that the surge brake can make the wheels
> freakin' hot on 6% grade AND in my case, is actually responsible for
> the dangerous trailer sway we see over 60mph(particularly downhill).
> On a recent trip I just disabled it entirely and it eliminated the
> sway and the hot hubs altogether...it was like towing my old Komet
> again. *So am contemplating keeping it that way unless I can figure
> out how to prevent the surge brake cabling from creating this
> oscillating condition. *When disabling the surge I also loose the
> parking brake, so would like to have that back.
>
> TIA,
> Darren

http://www.cobratrailer.com/Bremseinstellung_mit_Bildern_englisch_1.pdf

From the cobra website

Chip F.

[db_sonic]

On Jul 16, 12:56*pm, chipsoars > wrote:
> On Jul 16, 3:37*pm, db_sonic > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Does anybody know the tolerance or how to properly set the left and
> > right Cobra surge brake cabling(where the surge brake rod running from
> > front to axle meets the coupling for the left and right cable for each
> > of the brakes).
>
> > What I found, like most, is that the surge brake can make the wheels
> > freakin' hot on 6% grade AND in my case, is actually responsible for
> > the dangerous trailer sway we see over 60mph(particularly downhill).
> > On a recent trip I just disabled it entirely and it eliminated the
> > sway and the hot hubs altogether...it was like towing my old Komet
> > again. *So am contemplating keeping it that way unless I can figure
> > out how to prevent the surge brake cabling from creating this
> > oscillating condition. *When disabling the surge I also loose the
> > parking brake, so would like to have that back.
>
> > TIA,
> > Darren
>
> http://www.cobratrailer.com/Bremseinstellung_mit_Bildern_englisch_1.pdf
>
> From the cobra website
>
> Chip F.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks, I will try this adjustment to see if I can equalize the surge
brake. If not I'll get out the old angle grinder or go electric.

[Robert Gaines[_2_]]

At 19:37 16 July 2009, db_sonic wrote:

How is the "Oleo" at the tongue? It should have plenty of resistance.

Bob


>Does anybody know the tolerance or how to properly set the left and
>right Cobra surge brake cabling(where the surge brake rod running from
>front to axle meets the coupling for the left and right cable for each
>of the brakes).
>
>What I found, like most, is that the surge brake can make the wheels
>freakin' hot on 6% grade AND in my case, is actually responsible for
>the dangerous trailer sway we see over 60mph(particularly downhill).
>On a recent trip I just disabled it entirely and it eliminated the
>sway and the hot hubs altogether...it was like towing my old Komet
>again. So am contemplating keeping it that way unless I can figure
>out how to prevent the surge brake cabling from creating this
>oscillating condition. When disabling the surge I also loose the
>parking brake, so would like to have that back.
>
>TIA,
>Darren
>

[Tim Taylor]

On Jul 16, 2:40*pm, db_sonic > wrote:
> On Jul 16, 12:56*pm, chipsoars > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 16, 3:37*pm, db_sonic > wrote:
>
> > > Does anybody know the tolerance or how to properly set the left and
> > > right Cobra surge brake cabling(where the surge brake rod running from
> > > front to axle meets the coupling for the left and right cable for each
> > > of the brakes).
>
> > > What I found, like most, is that the surge brake can make the wheels
> > > freakin' hot on 6% grade AND in my case, is actually responsible for
> > > the dangerous trailer sway we see over 60mph(particularly downhill).
> > > On a recent trip I just disabled it entirely and it eliminated the
> > > sway and the hot hubs altogether...it was like towing my old Komet
> > > again. *So am contemplating keeping it that way unless I can figure
> > > out how to prevent the surge brake cabling from creating this
> > > oscillating condition. *When disabling the surge I also loose the
> > > parking brake, so would like to have that back.
>
> > > TIA,
> > > Darren
>
> >http://www.cobratrailer.com/Bremseinstellung_mit_Bildern_englisch_1.pdf
>
> > From the cobra website
>
> > Chip F.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Thanks, I will try this adjustment to see if I can equalize the surge
> brake. *If not I'll get out the old angle grinder or go electric.

You don't have to give up your parking brake to get rid of the surge
brake. Just build a solid clamp that fills the surge gap and that way
it will not work, but you can still use the manual lever for the
parking brake and use the safety cable as well if you like.

[db_sonic]

On Jul 16, 2:15*pm, Robert Gaines >
wrote:
> At 19:37 16 July 2009, db_sonic wrote:
>
> *How is the "Oleo" at the tongue? *It should have plenty of resistance.
>
> Bob
It's been well greased through the zerk fittings and with some effort/
put some weight into it - can be made to move by hand. So you can see
it push on a bellcrank that in turn pulls this surge brake rod to
enable the brakes like it's meant to. I think in my case it is just
the left and right brakes are not equalized.

[[email protected]]

On Jul 16, 3:37*pm, db_sonic > wrote:
> Does anybody know the tolerance or how to properly set the left and
> right Cobra surge brake cabling(where the surge brake rod running from
> front to axle meets the coupling for the left and right cable for each
> of the brakes).
>
> What I found, like most, is that the surge brake can make the wheels
> freakin' hot on 6% grade AND in my case, is actually responsible for
> the dangerous trailer sway we see over 60mph(particularly downhill).
> On a recent trip I just disabled it entirely and it eliminated the
> sway and the hot hubs altogether...it was like towing my old Komet
> again. *So am contemplating keeping it that way unless I can figure
> out how to prevent the surge brake cabling from creating this
> oscillating condition. *When disabling the surge I also loose the
> parking brake, so would like to have that back.
>
> TIA,
> Darren

Check the condition of the gas strut in the tongue. If it is pooped,
the trailer easily over runs and then adds brake.
I had this condition and cured it by replacing the strut. this strut
helps modulate the way the brakes come on.
Strut should positively push the tongue back out.
Good luck
Uh