PowerLine Trailers™ Resource Center

Wheel Torque Requirements

Wheel Size	Torque Sequence
Wheel Size	1st Stage	2nd Stage	3rd Stage
12"	20-25	35-40	50-75
13"	20-25	35-40	50-75
14"	20-25	50-60	90-120
15"	20-25	50-60	90-120
16"	20-25	50-60	90-120
16.5" x 6.75"	20-25	50-60	90-120
16.5" x 9.75"	55-60	120-125	175-225
14.5" Demount.	Tighten sequentially to 85-95
17.5" Hub Pilot Clamp Ring & Cone Nuts	50-60	100-120	190-210
17.5" Hub Pilot ⅝" Flange Nuts	50-60	90-200	275-325

Trailer Maintenance Schedule

Item	Function Required	Weekly	3 Months or 3,000 Miles	6 Months or 6,000 Miles	12 Months or 12,000 Miles
Brakes	Test that they are operational.	At Every Use
Breakaway System	Check battery charge and switch operation.	At Every Use
Tire Inflation Pressure	Inflate tires to mfg's. specifications.	X
Brake Adjustment	Adjust to proper operating clearance.		X
Wheel Nuts and Bolts	Tighten to specified torque values.		X
Tire Condition	Inspect for cuts, wear, bulging, etc.		X
Brake Magnets	Inspect for wear and current draw.			X
Brake Controller	Check for correct amperage & modulation.			X
Suspension Parts	Inspect for bending, loose fasteners, wear.			X
Wheels	Inspect for cracks, dents or distortion.			X
Brake Linings	Inspect for wear or contamination.				X
Trailer Brake Wiring	Inspect wiring for bare spots, fray, etc.				X
Hub/Drum	Inspect for abnormal wear or scoring.				X
Wheel Bearings & Cups	Inspect for corrosion or wear. Clean & repack.				X
Seals	Inspect for leakage. Replace if removed.				X
Springs	Inspect for wear, loss of arch.				X
Hangers	Inspect welds.				X

Brake Troubleshooting

Symptoms

No Brakes

Causes	Remedies
Open Circuits	Find & Correct
Severe Underadjustment	Adjust Brakes
Faulty Controller	Test & Correct
Short Circuits	Find & Correct

Weak Brakes

Causes	Remedies
Grease or Oil on Magnets or Linings	Clean or Replace
Corroded Connections	Clean & Correct Cause of Corrosion
Worn Linings or Magnets	Replace
Scored or Grooved Brake Drums	Machine or Replace
Improper Synchronization	Correct
Underadjustment	Adjust Brakes
Glazed Linings	Reburnish or Replace
Overloaded Trailer	Correct

Locking Brakes

Causes	Remedies
Underadjustment	Adjust
Improper Synchronization	Correct
Faulty Controller	Test & Correct
Loose, Bent or Broken Brake Components	Replace Components
Out-of-Round Brake Drums	Machine or Replace
Insufficient Wheel Load	Adjust System Resistor and Synchronize

Intermittent Brakes

Causes	Remedies
Faulty Controller	Test & Correct
Broken Wires	Repair or Replace
Loose Connections	Find & Repair
Faulty Ground	Find & Repair

Brakes Pull to One Side

Causes	Remedies
Wrong Magnet Lead Wire Color	Correct
Incorrect Adjustment	Adjust
Grease or Oil on Linings or Magnets	Clean or Replace
Broken Wires	Find & Repair
Bad Connections	Find & Repair

Harsh Brakes

Causes	Remedies
Underadjustment	Adjust
Improper Syncronization	Correct
Improper Controller	Change
Faulty Controller	Test & Correct

Noisy Brake

Causes	Remedies
Underadjustment	Adjust
Lack of Lubrication	Lubricate
Broken Brake Components	Replace Component
Incorrect Brake Components	Correct

Surging Brakes

Causes	Remedies
Grease or Oil on Linings or Magnet	Clean or Replace
Out-of-Round or Cracked Brake Drums	Machine or Replace
Faulty Controller	Test & Correct

Dragging Brakes

Causes	Remedies
Overadjustment	Readjust
Out-of-Round or Cracked Brake Drums	Machine or Replace
Incorrect Brake Components	Replace
Loose, Bent or Broken Brake Components	Replace
Faulty Breakaway Switch	Repair or Replace
Loose Wheel Bearing Adjustment	Adjust
Bent Spindle	Replace Axle

How To rewire a Trailer Plug

Our trailers are wired using the most common color coding for the trailer industry. The chart below gives the trailer wire color, its electrical function and where to connect on the proper plug or connector. Before starting, verify all wiring with a test light.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The engraved lettering on the 7-Pole RV Connector are for wiring RVs NOT trailers. YOU MUST GO BY ELECTRICAL FUNCTION.

Trailer Wire Color	Electrical Function	Flat 4-Way Plug	6-Way Plug	7-Pole RV Connector
White Wire	Trailer Ground	White Wire	GD	1 White
Brown Wire	Tail & Marker Lights	Brown Wire	TM	3 Green
Yellow Wire	Left Turn	Yellow Wire	LT	5 Red
Green Wire	Right turn	Green Wire	Rt	6 Brown
Blue Wire	Electric Brakes		S*	2 Blue
Black Wire	Accessory / Battery	W	A*	4 Black
Red Wire	Auxiliary			7 Yellow
* Some manufactures use A for brakes and S for Accessory/Battery.

Tire Wear Diagnostic Chart

	Cause	Action
Center Wear	Over Inflation	Adjust pressure to particular load per tire catalog
Edge Wear	Under Inflation	Adjust pressure to particular load per tire catalog
Side Wear	Loss of camber or overloading	Make sure load doesn't exceed axle rating. Align at alignment shop.
Toe Wear	Incorrect toe-in	Align at alignment shop.
Cupping	Out-of-balance	Check bearing adjustment and balance tires.
Flat Spots	Wheel lockup & tire skidding	Avoid sudden stops when possible and adjust brakes.

How To Determine Trailer Bolt Patterns

Trailer bolt patterns are called out by two numbers. An example would be 6 on 5-1/2. The first number represences the number of holes on the wheel or studs on the hub / drum. In this case 6 holes or studs. The second number represences the centerline circle the holes or the studs are on. In this case 5-1/2 inch diameter circle.

Wheels with an even number of holes, measure center-to-center on the holes or studs directly across each other. We have made wheels with an odd number of holes easy to determine. Simply measure center-to-center on the holes or studs, skipping one between the measurements. See the diagrams below.

8 on 6-1/2

6 on 5-1/2

5 on 5

5 on 4-1/2

4 on 4

PowerLube Axle™

The PowerLube Axle™ is a hole drilled through the center of the axle that meets a cross drilled hole located between the rear bearing and the back seal. The end of the hole is then threaded for a grease zerk. This allows for a fast and easy wheel bearing grease repack. Below are instructions and a diagram.

First, romove the rubber plug. Second, fully insert a standard grease gun onto the grease fitting. Third, pump grease into fitting while rotating the hub or drum. The old grease will begin to flow back out of the cap around the grease gun nozzle. Finally, when new clean grease appears, remove the gun, wipe off all old and excess grease and replace the rubber plug.