Blue Ox BX8881 User Manual

BRAKELOCK INSTALLATION

Congratulations! You are the owner of the latest in safety equipment available for towing vehicles "four-wheels-down".

The Brakelock may be the most valuable towing safety feature you own, that you may never use. When installed properly, the
Brakelock will apply the brakes of the towed vehicle and keep them applied, in the event that the towed and towing vehicles
become separated during towing. Automatic Equipment sincerely hopes this never happens, but the Brakelock will give you
additional peace of mind while towing.

Some states and Canada

from the towing vehicle. The Brakelock fulfills this requirement. Check your state and local laws regarding this issue.

IMPORTANT: The Brakelock DOES NOT aid in stopping the towing unit during normal day to day towing, only the towed
vehicle if it becomes disengaged. The Brakelock can be installed on a towing system that is utilizing an AutoStop. It can be
installed in conjunction with a motorhome-mounted or a ball coupler style tow bar.

Read and understand the following installation and hook
up instructions thoroughly before attempting to install the
Brakelock.

1. Hook the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle for towing.

If a self aligning tow bar is being used, be sure both

arms, or chains, are fully extended to the locked towing

position.

2. Refer to Figure 1 for part names while installing.

Check the front of the towed vehicle for a suitable

location to mount the Brakelock. The Brakelock must be

mounted securely to the towed vehicle. Keep in mind

that the brake cable and connector cable should be as

straight as possible when the installation is completed.

Usually, the Brakelock can be mounted behind the grill

to a sound structural part of the frame. (Figure 3) Two 1/

4 x 1 1/2 bolts have been included for this purpose. Two

9/32 holes will need to be drilled in the towed vehicle for

mounting the Brakelock.

REQUIRE the use of a device that applies the towed vehicles brakes in case of disengagement

3. Once the Brakelock has been mounted, the brake cable
housing can be installed. Visually select a route that will
not interfere with any moving components or possibly
contact electrical terminals and will lead the cable
housing from the Brakelock to the general area where
the steering column goes through the floor of the towed
vehicle.

4. From the drivers seat note the distance and direction
from the steering column to the brake pedal when the
brake pedal is fully depressed. This will normally be a
little below and a little inboard of the steering column.
Mark a spot on the carpet with chalk where the cable
should pass through the floor after making a loop around
the brake pedal arm. (Figure 2) Measure the distance
and direction and confirm that a drilled hole will not
interfere with anything as stated in Step 3. When
selecting the location for the hole, it should be positioned
so the cable is pulling straight away on the brake pedal
arm, not to either side and not up or down. (Figure 2)

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Figure 1

Figure 2

5. After you have confirmed that the location for the hole
will not cause any problems, pull the carpet back and
drill a 1/8 inch pilot hole. Allow the drill bit to just barely
break through the metal floor. Next, inspect where the
hole actually is from the engine compartment side to
verify that this location will not cause problems and to
see how the cable aligns with the brake arm. If the hole
needs to be relocated slightly, re-drill and seal the
previous hole with a rivet or sealant. When alignment is
correct, enlarge the pilot hole with a 1/4 inch bit.

6. Cut a slit in the carpet to correspond with the hole in the
floor. Slide the large flat washer over the cable housing
then feed the housing through the carpet and hole in the
floor following your selected route as mentioned before.
Do not make a turn tighter than a four (4) inch radius. If
you need to make a bend in the housing you will need to
anchor the housing in the middle of the bend with plastic
cable ties available at most automotive and hardware
stores. When installed properly, the flared end of the
housing and the washer should be showing on top of the
carpet. Avoid abrupt bends in the cable housing. Hold
the end of the housing up to the rear of the Brakelock to
determine the length needed and cut off excess housing
with a pair of side cutters.

BRAKELOCK INSTALLATION

7. Lubricate the brake cable with silicon spray and feed the
cable from the Brakelock back through the cable
housing. Secure the cable housing to the rear of the
Brakelock body using the #567 flag terminal #10 washer
and #10 screw provided in the parts bag.

8. Loop the end of the cable around the brake pedal arm
allowing the cable to feed directly and straight into the
cable housing. Remove all of the slack in the cable,
double the cable back on itself and secure it with the two
U-bolt style cable clamps provided in the parts bag. Cut
off the excess brake cable with a pair of side cutters.
(Figure 2) IMPORTANT: Be sure to locate the cable
clamps so that they will not come in contact with the
floor when the brake pedal is depressed.

9. Using the ring detent pin, attach the cable fork of the
connector cable to the fuse on the brake cable at the
front side of the Brakelock. Extend the connector cable
to determine the length needed for the S-hook to reach
the towing vehicle. NOTE: Most hitches have holes or
loops provided to attach safety cables while towing.
This is a good location to attach the S-hook of the
connector cable. If your hitch does not have these,
locate another suitable location in line with the Brakelock
to attach the S-hook.

10. With the S-hook attached there should be about 3-4
inches of vertical play in the connector cable. If this is
not the case, you must loosen the cable clamps and
adjust the length of the connector cable. When adjusted
properly, cut the excess cable off and discard. NOTE:
Be sure to tighten the cable clamps completely.

11. Install all other safety and towing equipment as required.
IMPORTANT: The Brakelock does not eliminate the
necessity of safety chains, towing lights, transmission
pumps or driveshaft disconnects. It is designed solely to
apply the brakes in the event the towed and towing
vehicles become separated.

Figure 3

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