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06-24-2021, 08:48 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: New Mexico, New Mexico
Trailer: 2017 E19
Posts: 615
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Breakaway problem
Forum,
My breakaway switch is very "sticky". The force needed to pull the pin is very high. Do I replace the switch or do you recomend lubricating it, and if so, with what?
Thanks
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06-24-2021, 08:58 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Madison area, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2016 Escape 19 Chevy 2012 Express 3500 Van
Posts: 1,767
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By design
I believe they are made that way, to insure an inadvertent actuation does not occur. They are needed when a catastrophic event occurs, and not made or intended to be "hair trigger" sensitive.
Replace if you want, but don't lubricate.
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06-24-2021, 09:09 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: New Mexico, New Mexico
Trailer: 2017 E19
Posts: 615
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I appreciate that, but the force needed to pull the pin is high enough that the loop on the pin could break. The force is much higher than a new switch. Probably will replace it for $10.
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06-24-2021, 11:02 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Placerville, California
Trailer: 2018 Escape 17A double dinette
Posts: 1,521
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Would it be possible to put a sturdier loop?
__________________
--Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced older woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force. --Dorothy Sayers
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06-24-2021, 11:07 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Bonney Lake, Washington
Trailer: 2010 Escape 17B
Posts: 188
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Mine was the same. I lubed and cleaned it with DeoxIT electrical contact cleaner to get it back to normal. I also spray a little on the 7 pin connector prior to a trip.
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06-25-2021, 08:39 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Venice, Florida
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,306
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MVA
Forum,
My breakaway switch is very "sticky". The force needed to pull the pin is very high. Do I replace the switch or do you recomend lubricating it, and if so, with what?
Thanks
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The breakaway switch will have the entire weight of the trailer pulling on it if it needs to be automatically activated. Unless you are the Incredible Hulk, if you can pull it out by hand, it is not too "sticky".
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06-25-2021, 08:43 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,064
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TTMartin
The breakaway switch will have the entire weight of the trailer pulling on it if it needs to be automatically activated. Unless you are the Incredible Hulk, if you can pull it out by hand, it is not too "sticky".
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I agree, it needs to be hard to pull out. That's the trailer's job, not your arms and hands.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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06-25-2021, 08:43 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Venice, Florida
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,306
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MVA
I appreciate that, but the force needed to pull the pin is high enough that the loop on the pin could break. The force is much higher than a new switch. Probably will replace it for $10.
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The loop is supposed to pull out before the pin is pulled from the switch. The loop is there to prevent accidental activation of the breakaway switch.
The switch is activated if the trailer becomes disconnected from the tow vehicle to keep it from rolling down the highway without you.
As I said above if the breakaway switch is needed it will have the entire weight of the trailer pulling on it.
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06-25-2021, 09:14 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Trailer: 2021 Escape E5.0; 2021 F150 PowerBoost
Posts: 1,193
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The only possible weak link in the chain is the the wire that connects it to the truck. I would assume it has been designed/spec'd with sufficient safety factor in mind...
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06-25-2021, 09:34 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Venice, Florida
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,306
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One more comment for those who think it should be easy to pull out.
The last thing you want is the breakaway switch accidentally activating.
You don't want it so easy to pull out if the cable snags on something like could happen when going around a curve that it pulls out and locks up the brakes at highway speeds.
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06-25-2021, 09:49 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Bonney Lake, Washington
Trailer: 2010 Escape 17B
Posts: 188
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The pin should be hard to pull, I use a sharp and forceful tug to get it to pop free. But it should not be so hard to pull that the wire or ring might break. I clean and lube mine with DeoxIT electrical contact cleaner.
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06-25-2021, 10:04 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: New Mexico, New Mexico
Trailer: 2017 E19
Posts: 615
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flynfrfun
Mine was the same. I lubed and cleaned it with DeoxIT electrical contact cleaner to get it back to normal. I also spray a little on the 7 pin connector prior to a trip.
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Thanks for the tip. I will try it.
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06-25-2021, 10:11 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Bonney Lake, Washington
Trailer: 2010 Escape 17B
Posts: 188
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MVA
Thanks for the tip. I will try it.
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Your welcome!
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06-25-2021, 10:37 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Bonney Lake, Washington
Trailer: 2010 Escape 17B
Posts: 188
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
I agree, it needs to be hard to pull out. That's the trailer's job, not your arms and hands.
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Hi Donna...I respectfully disagree with the part about it's the trailers job to pull the pin. It is good practice to pull out the breakaway pin to test that the switch activates the brakes prior to a trip. I think this is an often overlooked item. I'm guilty too as I never tested the breakaway when I first started towing my trailer . But I have added this to my checklist and test it now. It's good to know that the switch works properly in the event of an emergency where your trailer departs the tow vehicle...yikes. The test only takes about a minute or less to do.
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06-25-2021, 10:47 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Venice, Florida
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,306
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TTMartin
The breakaway switch will have the entire weight of the trailer pulling on it if it needs to be automatically activated. Unless you are the Incredible Hulk, if you can pull it out by hand, it is not too "sticky".
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
I agree, it needs to be hard to pull out. That's the trailer's job, not your arms and hands.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flynfrfun
Hi Donna...I respectfully disagree with the part about it's the trailers job to pull the pin. It is good practice to pull out the breakaway pin to test that the switch activates the brakes prior to a trip. I think this is an often overlooked item. I'm guilty too as I never tested the breakaway when I first started towing my trailer . But I have added this to my checklist and test it now. It's good to know that the switch works properly in the event of an emergency where your trailer departs the tow vehicle...yikes. The test only takes about a minute or less to do.
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She was agreeing with my statement that if you are able to physically pull it out by hand, it isn't too 'sticky' and that it is the trailer that will pull it out if needed. I didn't take her statement as meaning you shouldn't be able to pull it out by hand.
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06-25-2021, 10:49 AM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,064
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I didn't say anything about not testing. Everyone has different capabilities. Some can bench press hundreds of pounds, others have a hard time lifting 25lbs of bagged potatoes. It's important that any newbies reading this thread understand it should be difficult rather than easy to pull the pin.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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06-25-2021, 01:47 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Lakewood, Colorado
Trailer: 2018 5.0TA 'Liberty'
Posts: 254
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A reminder here, be sure to attach the breakaway wire to the tow vehicle to withstand the effort to pull the pin. Cheap key ring carabiners will not do. I found some 1200Kg carabiners that I now use.
https://www.amazon.com/GEEZO-Aluminu.../dp/B08JJDV7M8
__________________
HarleyD
2018 5.0TA--2016 F150 3.5EB 4X4
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." -- Jimmy Hendrix
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06-25-2021, 02:05 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Nanaimo Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Trailer: 2015 17b "Shelly"
Posts: 461
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MVA
Forum,
My breakaway switch is very "sticky". The force needed to pull the pin is very high. Do I replace the switch or do you recomend lubricating it, and if so, with what?
Thanks
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I find that having some slack in the line and then a quick hard pull works best.
__________________
Like a lot of fellows, I have a furniture problem. My chest has fallen into my drawers
"Billy Casper"
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06-25-2021, 11:32 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Bonney Lake, Washington
Trailer: 2010 Escape 17B
Posts: 188
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
I didn't say anything about not testing. Everyone has different capabilities. Some can bench press hundreds of pounds, others have a hard time lifting 25lbs of bagged potatoes. It's important that any newbies reading this thread understand it should be difficult rather than easy to pull the pin.
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Oops! Sorry about that. I thought you were saying that the trailer would be the only thing to ever pull the pin (in the event of the trailer coming off the ball).
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06-26-2021, 11:43 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Up against the wall!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by flynfrfun
Oops! Sorry about that. I thought you were saying that the trailer would be the only thing to ever pull the pin (in the event of the trailer coming off the ball).
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Hi: flynfrfun... Once I pinched the brake away wire in the rollers of our 5th. wh. slider hitch. Took a while and some serious revving to realize the rig wouldn't budge. What's that pin doing in the box of the truck? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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