brake info please

[KEVINABR]

Hi all i have a few questions about what type of brakes i can run ????
I have a chevy tractor with standard hydraulic brakes with a series 2 Bendix hydrovac and a stake side trailer model 516 made by The trailer Co of America.
The brakes on the semi trailer has bendix- westinghouse air brakes.
Here we go
1. Can i run a line from the hydrovac and to operate the trailer ??
2. I know if this system is used the brake chambers take longer to release as it would not be using air pressure.
3. If i adapted the trailer drum backing plates to cckw type, could i run a hydraulic line to it and is there any couplings that would not let air into the system ???
any advice gladly recieved
Many thanks
Kevin

[dr deuce]

You can make the brakes a "slave" to that of the CCKW. The Studebakers had such a system:

Tap the CONTROL VAC line on the hydrovac and run that to the trailer (INPUT LINE).

Install a check valve between it and vac input side to a hydrovac.

"T" the INPUT LINE before the check valve and run it to the CONTROL VAC side of the trailer hydrovac. Make sure you disconnect and plug the line from the control valve on the trailer hydrovac to the CONTROL VAC side of the hydrovac.

Any hydrovac works because you equal vac on both sides of the vac piston or diaphram. A spring inside makes it want to be in the released state all vac being equal. When you apply the brakes, the CONTROL VAC side is disconnected from the engine vac and allowed to get fresh air of varing amounts. By connecting the two CONTROL VAC sides of both hydrovacs together, they will follow each other.

The one thing you might want to do is to use a slightly smaller hydrovac on the trailer so it creates drag, not potential lockup if the trailer is light.

Hope this helps