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Hello, the outher day backing my boat into the drieway I forgot to unhook the brake tension cable. I bent the hook and set the brake. My queston is what do I need to do to ge back on th road. I plan to install a drop shot on the cable where the clip was. Will this be OK, what do I nead to do. Thanks Jere
If you didn't snap the cable all you need to do is unlock the brakes.
There is a tab under the actuator that needs to be pushed to to reset. Then just change the damaged hook, replace the small "C-hook" on the cable and you should be good.
But, make sure the brakes are working properly before a trip. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif
There is also a small clip in front of the ball on the cable that needs to be replaced.
The small c clip that keeps the bead just inside the body of the actuator, is an indicator of sorts. Just behind the bead is a yellow strip to warn you that the brakes may have been applied by some means. If you see the yellow strip, be sure to push up on the brake release tab located on the bottom of the actuator, just behind the tow ball, to ensure that the brakes are released. I have seen instances where children use the loop hanging down as a step up to the tongue of the trailer, and while dad is busy readying the boat, he has no idea that the brakes have been set. That is why it is a good habit to press up on the tab and be sure it springs up and down freely before towing. Once, a man told me he watched a kid go from trailer to trailer on the boat ramp, using the cable as a step to hop over all those tongues that were just waiting for someone to jump over them, while unknowingly, all the boat owners were out on the lake. I'm sure the kid had no intentions of malice, just being a kid. You should see a red and white sticker on the left side of the actuator pointing down and directing you to always push up on tab before towing. These are given to every trailer manufacturer to install during final assembly. An unknown, pulled cable can ruin your day. Once the brakes have been reset, the actuator should function normally, even without the little clip.