Troubleshooting Poor Trailer Braking with AL-KO Electric Brake Assemblies

Question:

I have installed 2 BP01-115 magnets on Alko 10x2-1/4 brakes. The trailer brake shoes are good and adjusted, drum surfaces are okay but I have very little trailer braking. The 2 magnets are drawing 6 amps when using the manual override slide switch. Amperage also increases accordingly when I increase on the controller but still very little braking. Electrically I think everything is good. After further research I realized that the Alko brakes call for the BP01-110 magnets and the old magnets are stamped Alko and appear to be 110s. The 110 magnets are slightly thicker so I thought maybe the 115s are not making good contact to the drum?Any help you can provide is appreciated. Thanks

asked by: Jerry S

Expert Reply:

You are correct, the recommended brake magnet for AL-KO electric brake assemblies is the Trailer Brake Magnet, # BP01-110. It is about one tenth of an inch thicker than the brake magnet, # BP01-115.

The brake magnet, # BP01-115, will fit in the AL-KO brake assemblies because the mounting locations and dimensions are similar, but it was designed for Dexter 10 inch x 2-1/4 inch brake assemblies only.

This is most likely what is causing your problem since you have already tried adjusting the brakes and checked the wiring for proper signal. If the magnets cannot make sufficient contact with the drum, then you will experience a decrease in trailer braking from the correct brake magnets.

expert reply by: John H