Break away tongue...

[eliteangler]

Question... I have noticed that my boat trailer moves around more these days than it did before. So I went back to the tongue of the trailer and pushed sideways on the bow of the boat. There is some play in the area where the break-away pin is (the hinge per-say). Is it normal to have to replace all of those parts or am I just being paranoid? Thanks for any advice.

[wmitch2]

Is the play in the "hinge" or in the "pin". I would guess the Pin. If so, it's either the pin or the hole. Try another pin. If that doesn't help then it's the hole. I doubt you will find a pin thats just a few thousands over what you have, so you would have to one made at a machine shop. Still, much cheaper than replacing the whole hitch.

[eliteangler]

It's in the hinge.

[wmitch2]

It's in the hinge.

Can you seperate the hinge ?

[eliteangler]

I'll post a pic tomorrow.

[eliteangler]

The spot just to the right of my thumb. It has play in all directions.

[Islands]

Trying to figure out how it works. What happens when you pull the pin? Pull straight forward? Can you post a pic? MFI trailer?

[eliteangler]

Where I am pointing has the most play. Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions.

[wmitch2]

Looks like that "play" is what activates the surge brake. There should be some play there. There's a lot of rust there that needs to be cleaned and lite coat of white grease. Check your surge brake master cylinder and make sure it's full. I'm guessing you may need to also check your brake shoes/pads and the surge brake "shock absorber". Now might be a good time to do a full service on your brake system including a fluid flush and refill.

[eliteangler]

The surge brakes are fine. The play is in the parts that make up the hinge.

[CastingCall]

The holes must be wallowed out slightly (hard to tell in the pics). Have you tried a brand new hinge pin? Perhaps the pin may have worn down a bit - it would be first, easiest, cheapest thing to try.

You could weld additional steel plates or "washers" with the proper sized holes for the hinge pin, on the outsides (top & bottom) of the trailer portion of the tongue (right side of your pic) - and if there is room, similar washer to the insides of the plates on the folding portion of the tongue.

Mine is a much different configuration than yours, but I had similar plates with tighter fitting holes welded to both portions of mine, and (along with new, longer hinge pins) eliminated all play.

[CastingCall]

Found a pic of my trailer, showing the plates that were welded on. Not pretty, but it works.
http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread.php?t=661859

[eliteangler]

Honestly, I would rather keep the tongue as a break-away. I don't use that feature, but if I sell the boat, the future owner may want it.

[DABS]

That is simply an old swing tongue assembly. They took shims to keep them tight. Cut it off and replace with a new swing tongue.

[Lodge06]

I have the same trailer swing configuration. 2004 triton tr21X. Mine had play side to side and up and down. To much for me to be comfortable with while towing. Replaced the pins with grade 8 bolts. Made I better but still some slop. I then had a welder weld the joint to the right of your thumb. I lost the ability to swing the tongue but I didn't use it anyway. I once saw some pictures of a guys trailer break at that joint. If you look at your safety cables they attach to the swing part. I didn't want a run away boat on the h-way!

[eliteangler]

I might end up welding it... but... I really would like to keep it as an option for any future owner... although I did just re-power instead of getting a different boat, so I might own this one for a long time. I have the boat set up the way I want it. Don't want to go through all of that again. Kinda like being used to a girl... and then trying to get used to a new one... I'm not to big on that.... LOL!!

[Nova Kaw 650]

It likely has a small amount of wear everywhere.
Weld it together if the movement bothers you.

[jacob461]

Weld washers will fix the sloppy pin hole. I linked two different kinds.

https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com...iABEgIKzfD_BwE

https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com...SABEgJ7PvD_BwE

[rocket man]

Them lil buggers are pricey.