Brake grounding connections

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Tom in NM
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Last seen: 2 weeks 6 days ago
Joined: 06/07/2020 - 18:17
Brake grounding connections

I wanted to highlight an issue I've encountered. I ordered my 2021 13' with brakes (built in the second half of 2020) and I've been pleased with them. 

Two years ago while doing some other maintenance, I noticed a dangling wire with a connector by the drivers side wheel. It turned out to be the grounding wire for the brakes. I thought it was a fluke, drove a self-tapping screw into the frame and secured the wire. I don't know how long it was disconnected but the brakes on that side would have been inoperative during that period. 

Today I was repacking the wheel bearings and noticed the grounding wire on the passenger side was loose. Investigating I discovered the connector was not screwed to the frame but rather riveted. And when I was examining it, the rivet disintegrated and the connector and wire fell off. Again, I've now secured it with a proper bolt. I can't imagine why an important electrical connection would be secured with a pop rivet.   

For those with brakes, I'd suggest you check this. I think all the Scamps now come with brakes so perhaps the wiring now is done differently. Hope so. 

Edit: I was told the brakes on my trailer were self-adjusting so I didn't focus on that as a maintenance task. Turns out mine are not. I'm betting all the newer ones are. Just an FYI. 

Sunfish
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Last seen: 2 weeks 6 days ago
Joined: 08/14/2020 - 21:47
broken ground wires, too

We have a used 2012 16-ft Scamp.  I also noticed the ground wires hanging down.   On our trailer, the ground wires go into tiny metal blocks.  The blocks were heavily corroded and the wires just corroded off.  I made new ground connections with screws and washers.  But, I still didn't have brakes.  I bought new brake assemblies and new bearings so I could be confident in their condition.  The brake pads were still good but the magnet was broken on one.  I bought ground blocks from Scamp and installed one.  I will check the ground wires regularly from now on.

ddshields
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Joined: 11/07/2014 - 17:10
Same thing happened to us on

Same thing happened to us on our 2012 16 Deluxe, 6-7 years ago... that is, the grounding wires breaking off on both sides.

D Shields