Breakaway problem

MVA · 06-24-2021, 08:48 PM

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

HABBERDABBER · 06-24-2021, 08:58 PM

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.

MVA · 06-24-2021, 09:09 PM

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.

h2owmn · 06-24-2021, 11:02 PM

Would it be possible to put a sturdier loop?

flynfrfun · 06-24-2021, 11:07 PM

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.

TTMartin · 06-25-2021, 08:39 AM

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

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".

**Donna D.** · 06-25-2021, 08:43 AM

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".

I agree, it needs to be hard to pull out. That's the trailer's job, not your arms and hands.

TTMartin · 06-25-2021, 08:43 AM

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.

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.

kavm · 06-25-2021, 09:14 AM

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...

TTMartin · 06-25-2021, 09:34 AM

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.

flynfrfun · 06-25-2021, 09:49 AM

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.

MVA · 06-25-2021, 10:04 AM

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.

Thanks for the tip. I will try it.

flynfrfun · 06-25-2021, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MVA

Thanks for the tip. I will try it.

Your welcome!

flynfrfun · 06-25-2021, 10:37 AM

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.

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.

TTMartin · 06-25-2021, 10:47 AM

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".

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.

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.

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.

**Donna D.** · 06-25-2021, 10:49 AM

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.

HarleyD · 06-25-2021, 01:47 PM

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

sunrisetrucker · 06-25-2021, 02:05 PM

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

I find that having some slack in the line and then a quick hard pull works best.

flynfrfun · 06-25-2021, 11:32 PM

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.

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).

escape artist · 06-26-2021, 11:43 AM

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).

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

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