"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

BACKGROUND:

As the frequent reader may know, we are building a new trailer for our
boat. It has dual torsion axels, disc brakes on all four wheels, and we
decided on an Atwood brand hydraulic surge-activated brake actuator.

Of course, when backing up a surge actuator will try to put on the
brakes, which is not what you really want. So the model we purchased
has a "lock out" lever. It's a thing on the side that can be pushed down
and into a lock position. It prevents the hitch (ball portion) from
pushing
back on the piston that drives the hydraulics.

PROBLEM / QUESTION:

Although the lever-thing sort of locks in place, it does not stay there.
It
does
stay to some extent. But if you stop backing up it pops out. So, say you
are
backing, then need to pull forward a little to reposition yourself - the
thing
pops out.

Not a huge problem if you have two people and the other person can kind of
watch it -- but is this normal?

I suppose in a way it's good because you can't forget and just
LEAVE it in the locked out position.

Not a big deal, just curious.




Designed that way. Think of the liability claims if a crash, because the
driver forgot to engage the brake lever. Get a backup solenoid for the
brake system. Any place that carries disk brakes will carry the solenoid.
My Dico actuator I just installed, came with the solenoid as it was disk
brake ready. There are two different types. A blocking solenoid and a
bypass unit. The first just blocks the fluid from going to the brakes, the
second, as an extra port and flows the fluid back into the master cylinder
reservoir. They are about $50 and get power from the backup lights of the
row car. Look at Champion trailers supply .com for one.
bill