Malibu Boats Wakesetter 20VTX 2019 Owner's Manual page 166

With regard to routine
maintenance, you need
to be aware that small
amounts of rust will build
up on the brake's rotor
surface if the trailer sits
for a fairly short period of
time, as little as a week.
The brake's pads will
eliminate the rust after
several applications of
braking, but if the trailer
has been sitting for a more
extended period of time,
and especially following
long-term storage such as over the winter off-season, the brakes may
be significantly corroded. This can also happen if the trailer has been
submerged in salt water and has not been sufficiently rinsed with
fresh water afterwards.
If there is any concern about the condition of any component of
the braking system, have an authorized Malibu trailer dealer review
and rectify the matter before towing the boat.
How to Manually Bleed the Brakes
Because of the importance of correctly performing this procedure,
Malibu Trailers strongly recommends that this be done only by
trained service technicians at your authorized Malibu-Malibu Trailer
dealer. However, recognizing that brake issues arise and may have
to be addressed in situations in which the trailer cannot be taken to
the dealer for repair, the following instructions are provided with the
understanding that they should be utilized only in emergency.
• Check that all hydraulic fittings are secure.
• Read and understand all instructions before starting.
• Two people are required for manual bleeding.
1. Remove the master cylinder reservoir plug and fill the reservoir
with brake fluid.
a. Use either DOT 3 Premium (preferred) or DOT 3
regular automotive brake fluid. Follow the instructions on
the brake fluid container.
b. Avoid shaking the brake fluid container, and pour fluid
slowly to minimize air entrapment.
c. Let the fluid in the reservoir stand until it is completely
free of air bubbles.
2. IMPORTANT: Before bleeding the brake lines, bleed the
actuator master cylinder. Insert a screwdriver through the hole
in the bottom of the inner member and use short strokes to pry
on the push rod (while holding the safety release bracket up)
2019 Malibu Boats, LLC Owner's Manual • Page 153
https://www.boat-manuals.com/
until no air bubbles are seen coming from the small orifice hole
in the bottom of the master cylinder reservoir.
3. Start the bleeding procedure on the brake farthest from the
master cylinder.
4. At the brake assembly, connect a transparent bleeder hose to
the bleed screw fitting on the wheel cylinder and submerge the
free end into a container partially filled with brake fluid. Do not
reuse this fluid.
5. The first person should stroke the push rod slowly while holding
the safety release bracket up.
6. The second person opens the bleed screw fitting.
7. He then closes the bleed screw fitting BEFORE the first person
SLOWLY releases the push rod.
8. Repeat this procedure until the fluid expelled from the bleeder
hose is free of air bubbles.
9. Remember to always tighten the bleeder screw before releasing
the push rod. During this procedure, the master cylinder
reservoir fluid level must be maintained at no less than half full.
10. Repeat Steps 4-9 for the other brake, as well as the brakes on
the front axle of tandem axles.
11. If installation is on a tandem-axle trailer, repeat the bleeding
procedure on the rear axle brakes for a second time to assure
purging of all air in the system.
12. As a final check after bleeding is completed, stroke the push rod
and check to be sure the brake system is pressurized. This is
done by attempting to rotate a tire around.
13. Push up on the safety release bracket to ensure that the push
rod is in the released position.
14. After the bleeding is completed, recheck the fluid level in the
master cylinder. Fill the master cylinder reservoir to the indicator
on the reservoir plug. Do not overfill.
Optional Electrical Brakes
As an option, Malibu offers electrical brakes. The system uses
electric power from the towing vehicle to drive the hydraulic power
source. In a breakaway situation, the electric power is supplied by a
breakaway battery connected to the towed vehicle brake actuation
system. This battery is charged by a charger built into the control
circuitry.
The actuator reacts in one of three ways: primarily, it turns on
when the brake pedal of the towing vehicle is depressed. If due to
road conditions it is desirable to apply only the towed vehicle brakes,
this is achieved by applying the manual override on the "in-cab"
brake controller. In a breakaway situation, the towed vehicle braking
system is applied by the breakaway switch, which is explained
elsewhere in this section of the Owner's Manual.
The system requires "in-cab" electric brake control not provided
as part of the system. The system will operate from most electric
brake controllers WHEN PROPERLY INSTALLED.