Bailey Orion, Owner'S Manual

Page: 73 / 102

4-30
4
Caravan Equipment
xi. Check the brake rod
support bracket, (fixed to
the floor) is supporting
the brake rod evenly.
The brake rod must
always run straight,
never bent or curved
under any fittings. On
tandem axles, using the
double balance bar, a
brake rod support tube
(Part No. 228827) must
always be fitted on the
end of the brake rod,
passing through the
centre aperture on the
abutment.
xii. Remove the slack in the
brake rod by adjusting
the long ball nut, rear of
the balance bar, ensuring the overrun lever makes contact with the end of the towing shaft.
Over adjustment to the long ball nut (Fig 10), could induce movement of the inner brake cable, reducing
the effective clearance of the brake shoes. If the over run lever will not make contact, it is possible the
two lock nuts, forward of the spring cylinder, are incorrectly adjusted. Loosen the nuts and adjust the
brake rod as above (Figs 8 & 10).
xiii. Adjust the two locking nuts, forward of the spring cylinder (fig. 10), (on some chassis a single Nyloc
nut is used) to give 1mm of clearance on the spring cylinder. This cylinder (the energy store for the
handbrake operation) must be able to rotate only, not slide on the brake rod.
(See Fig. 10). If the overrun assembly is fitted with a gas strut handbrake then no spring cylinder is
fitted - therefore ignore this paragraph).
xiv. Correct adjustment of the linkage is checked by operating the handbrake lever so that when the
second or third tooth is engaged, a slight braking force is felt on the road wheels.
xv. Over adjustment of either the wheel brakes or linkage, will result in difficult reversing causing the
wheels to ‘lock-up’.
xvi. When parking, the handbrake lever must always be engaged into the fully upright position (90
°
).
This is to compress the spring within the spring cylinder and thereby create an energy store, which will
automatically engage the brakes further should the caravan move.
If difficulty is experienced in this operation, try easing the caravan backwards with one hand while
engaging the handbrake fully with the other. This manoeuvre should not be attempted on a rearwards
facing slope. In this case wheel chocks should be used combined with the handbrake.
xvii. Finally, if alloy road wheels have been removed, re-tighten using a calibrated Torque Wrench to
160 Nm (118 lb-ft), for steel wheels the wheel bolts should be tightened to 120Nm (88 lb-ft) - on all M12
wheel bolts - in sequence, i.e. North, South, East, West not clock or anticlockwise. Remember to
overtighten is just as dangerous as to under-tighten, as this can distort the wheel rims. Avoid the use of
power wrenches.
▲
The torque settings should be rechecked after 50km / 30 miles. Wheel bolts should
never be lubricated.
Fig. 10