Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Drum brake actuator hitch help needed
Tagged: broken drum brake actuator, drum brakes
This is my first time on the board so please excuse me if this has been covered before. I just purchased a 1999 P3 with tandem trailer and drum brakes. The brake actuator shock is locked up and neither it, nor any part of, nor the entire (Atwood) actuator hitch is available anywhere on the planet. I have been told I need to have the welds cut and a different actuator hitch welded on. However, I cannot find sure-fire replacement anywhere. I have located a couple similar ones but not sure they will work. Have any of you dealt with this and do you have any words of advice? I seem to be running out of options.
Many thanks!!
You can get actuator from basscat I called them they told me they didn’t have them anymore but I saw it listed on line so I ordered it and it came just installed it last night same as orignal
Have you called the parts department at the factory? That would be my first step, they WILL be able to get you on the right track and will do everything possible to get you rolling.
Don
Thanks guys for the feed back. There are no replacement parts available any more anywhere, period. BCB steered me to a trailer parts superstore and they have a couple that MIGHT work??? But, once I sent them a picture of how the original Atwood actuator hitch was welded directly in between the “A” of the two frame sides they said oh wait a minute, we don’t have any solutions for that – you better check with someone to see if that’s even possible. It’s sort of an unusual design indeed. Once I get something figured out with the actuator hitch I’m going to convert to disk brakes as well – that will be the easy part. I have researched and called nearly every trailer parts superstore in the country. Is there anyone else out there that has found a solution? Thanks.
You might try this place. call them to see if they possibly have parts or a actuator left.
Thanks again for the responses. I checked with Trailers Unlimited/Bend Trailers and they were super helpful and even did some checking around in the warehouse while i waited but to no avail. I was hoping some owners out there had this same issue and found another brand or some sort of workaround and maybe even someone who did a disk brake conversion in the process.
I talked to basscat they told me it was no longer available I called and talked to the trailer they told me to try got the same reply as you did I went on line at the basscat store since they showed it in the store I said what to heck had nothing loose I ordered it they sent it to me I put it on it was identical to the one I had it a 1999 basscat trailer this was in the last couple of months so give it a try
I tried that. It was shown on the parts page, I ordered it, crossed my fingers. Then, almost immediately it was pulled from the parts page and I received an email saying I would get a refund because they no longer have them. Parts dept. mentioned they thought the UFP A-60 might work. It looks to me like IF the outer housing is tall enough, similar width, and IF it is weld-able it would add probably 16 inches to the length of the tongue unless it could extend way rearward into the frame rails with just 6 inches or so protruding forward. If it can’t extend way back in the frame rails then I would need to find someone to add a section of square tubing in between the frame rails so that a swing-away coupler hinge could then be welded on otherwise it’s going to be a really long trailer for putting in a garage. In that scenario, with the long actuator plus swing-away hinge the trailer would then be almost 2 feet(?) longer when towing. What would that do to the balance of the trailer? Anything? Thanks again everyone – I really appreciate it.
You might need the dual brake model for more flow.
Does anyone know if the factory drum brakes are free-backing or not?
If I remember right my old 91 P2 had a lever to flip when backing up, to keep the brakes from applying. Have you tried any local trailer dealers to see if they know of some type of actuator and a welding shop to help you out.
They are free backing which is why the wheel cylinder (brake cylinder at drum) only has one side in use.
Try these guys.
Thanks again for responding. They do not have any either. Looks like I’ll have to get someone to cut the Atwood off and re-weld a different type. Looks like Demco DA 66B or Tital/Dico 60Z actuators (for disk brake conversion) are sort of close but either will add about 6 inches to the tongue length.
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