Consumers must use only DOT 3—pre-
ferred—or DOT 4 brake fluid. DO NOT USE
DOT 5 BRAKE FLUID. DOT 5 FLUID WILL
DAMAGE THE SEALS IN THE ACTUATOR
AND CALIPERS, CAUSING FAILURE OF
BRAKES THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR
DEATH. Any other type may not provide suf-
ficient chemistry to protect against over-
heating. Brake fluid should be completely
replaced during annual (at least once very
12 months or more ofen if the system has
shown evidence of brake fluid loss) main-
tenance. Brake fluid types should never be
mixed. Failure to provide required mainte-
nance can cause brake failure, leading to
incidents that result in serious injury or
even death.
DOT 5 brake uid is a silicone-based
uid and requires specic materials for the
boots, seals and wipers in the actuator mas-
ter cylinder and caliper. Those materials
are NOT used in MasterCraft trailers. Re-
gardless of marketing claims made regard-
ing a supposed superiority of DOT 5 brake
uid, the fact is that it will cause signicant
failure in our product becauseitisnotde-
signedtouseDOT5brakeuid.
“Unexplained” brake failures are often
traced to dragging brakes caused by the E-
stop cable being tripped or the use of DOT
5 brake uid. The underlying cause most
often is because the brakes got over-heated
and caused the uid to boil. This can occur
when the uid level is appropriate, the lin-
ings are within specications, and the hy-
draulics appear to work properly.
DO NOT USE DOT 5 brake fluid in any com-
ponent of MasterCraf trailers. The silicone
causes seals to swell and can bind up cali-
per pistons. Do not use this in individual ac-
tuators, disc brakes or solenoids.
The silicone in DOT 5 brake uid also
causes foaming bubbles when forced
through small orices under high pres-
sure, such as the solenoid valves in a disc
brake system. Bubbles in brake uid result
in spongy brakes. Silicone also tends to
become slightly compressible at tempera-
tures near its boiling point, which makes it
generally inappropriate for trailers used in
mountain conditions.
Brake Lockout Bracket
When backing up, the coupler will move
back and apply the trailer brakes. The
brakes will apply at different levels de-
pending on how fast you back up, the type
of brakes, the road or surface, and the an-
gle the trailer is at. Some trailers with disc
brakes need an electrical solenoid control
to allow the trailer to back up. This control
is wired to the back-up lights on the tow
vehicle, and when the tow vehicle is put
into reverse, this control does not allow the
trailer brakes to apply.
Manual Brake Lockout Bracket for UFP
Actuators:
A simple lockout has been included with
this Owner’s Manual (it is not installed
on the trailer because it is used only when
needed and should otherwise not be left on
the trailer). When inserted, this bracket will
keep the coupler from moving back and ap-
plying the brakes. It should be used when
Page 7-22 2014 MasterCraft Owners Manual • MasterCraft Trailers
M A S T E R C R A F T T R A I L E R S
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