O.k. I looked and I can't find any advise on this one. I am getting ready for a trip to LOTO from Chicago and I am trying to adjust my brakes b/4 the trip. I haven't used my tailer but once all year, I have lift now. I asked around and got advise on how to adjust the brakes on my trailer, I thought I would do it for the trip and the boat is off the trailer! I found the star wheel adjuster but I can only get it to go in one direction??? The guy who redid my brakes a couple of years ago put arrows to show what direction to turn the stars to tighten the brakes but I can't get them to go in that direction?? I was told that all I needed was a flat blade screw driver, but on the Myco the axle bends in a "S" shape and covers most of the slot the star is in??? Suggestions is a there a special tool that will help, anybody had this problem b/4???

Star wheel should only turn in the direction to tighten up the brakes; if you go too far, you'll have to slip a thin screwdriver in next to your adjusting tool to push the adjuster arm off of the star-wheel.

Yes, special tools are made for this exercise. You might find them at a decent auto parts store. Or take a junk screwdriver and bend it to reach the Star wheel.

I'm not familiar with Myco but those adjusters usually only turn freely one way (tighter). There is usually an internal retainer that keeps the adjustment wheel from easily backing loose (which would loosen your brakes. If you need to loosen the adjuster you typically have to pull the retainer back a bit while adjusting.

Yes, they do make a brake adjustment tool with various angles for doing this job. In a pinch you might try bending a flat screw driver to get the right angle.

I'm not an expert. I'm sure someone here knows better than me but this is how I do the job. Jack the wheel up off the ground so it can spin freely. Tighten the adjuster as you are spinning the wheel. When the wheel stops turning back off the adjuster until it spins about a half revolution and stops.

Also, be careful not to over tighten your brakes. At the very least you will get bad gas mileage. If adjusted too tight your tires will start locking up. Worst case, they could catch your brakes on fire.

Good Luck!

You beat me to it. Slow typer!

Great minds think alike.

Thanx guys did some on line stuff and found that snap-on makes a tool. I will check the auto stores in the am. I am still confused if my guy put the arrows on one direction, how do you tighten it down and then back it off, if it only turns one way???

On my drums I turn the adjusters down towards the ground to tighten the drums, I can back them up if I overtighten. Steve

As Waybomb said you can use a small screw driver to push the lever back. On some set ups you can go the other way, it just takes a little jiggling to dislodge the locking lever (but don't force it).

Most auto parts stores will have the tool. You may need to try a few differnt ones to get the right angle. Shouldn't be much differnce (other than the crome finish) between Snap-on and the Pep Boys Special tool.

And, don't get confused about the direction you turn it. It may be up on one side and down on the other. But it should turn easy one way (tightening) and hang up a bit (or completely) the other (loosening). Either way, you'll know for sure when the wheel stops turning that you tightened the brakes.

any way you can screw up that little clip that keeps it from moving I was trying for a while but they would not move. The only direction they would go is away from the ground and the arrow point towars the ground. Any chance I broke them???

No, you did not break them. A spring holds them in place and may take a little effort to push the arm off the wheel; it will spring back.

An alternative method to tightening until the wheel stops spinning is to tighten until you feel the brakes contacting the drum, then actuate the brakes (this centers the shoes in the drum), and go again.

The actuating arm that automatically actuates the starwheel moves in a vertical path, and is positioned against the starwheel with a spring that more-or-less acts in a horizontal path. To disengage it, just push it away from the starwheel with a small screwdriver.

The actuator automatically adjusts the brakes only when going backwards and hitting the brakes; which you normally don't do with a boat, eh?

Not sure how to post the pictures but I thing you should have a link.

The colored photo shows the adjuster that needs to be pushed off the star wheel.

I hope this helps!