When a lane stops
A brake tester fault usually arrives at the worst moment, with vehicles booked in. The fastest route back to testing is accurate diagnosis: knowing which part has failed before the engineer sets off means the right parts are on the van and the repair is done in one trip where possible.
Help us diagnose before we arrive
When you contact us, the following makes a real difference:
- Serial number – starts SR0, on the machine label and on every calibration certificate.
- What happened – sudden failure, gradual change, or after an event such as a power cut, flood or impact.
- What you see – error codes or messages on the console, exactly as displayed. A photo is ideal.
- What you hear – grinding, knocking or whining from one side often points straight at a bearing, chain or gearbox.
- What still works – does one side run, does the display power up, do the rollers start and then stop?
Common fault areas
Without inventing statistics, these are the areas that typically need attention on any roller brake tester:
- motors and motor starters, including contactors and overloads
- gearboxes, chains, couplings and bearings
- load cells and force sensors, plus their cabling, which can be damaged by water or movement
- vehicle-presence and slip (third roller) sensors
- control electronics, displays and remotes
- communication between the tester and any connected test system
How a repair visit runs
- Triage on the phone. We go through the symptoms and, where possible, narrow the cause.
- Visit arranged. Standard breakdown response is within 24 hours. A faster priority option is available, depending on the customer's SLA.
- Diagnosis on site. The engineer confirms the fault and explains it before carrying out work.
- Repair with genuine parts. Where the part is on the van, the repair is done there and then. If not, we order genuine BM parts and return to fit them.
- Check and record. The machine is function-tested and the work recorded.
Calibration after repair
Any repair that touches the measuring chain, such as a replaced load cell, sensor or measuring board, or a disturbed mounting, means the machine should be checked or recalibrated before it is used for testing again. The engineer will tell you if this applies. See calibration.
Prevent the next one
Many breakdowns trace back to wear that was visible earlier. Regular servicing is how you avoid most of them. A faster priority repair option is available, depending on the customer's SLA.
Safety first
If the machine behaves unpredictably, for example rollers starting unexpectedly or failing to stop, isolate it and keep people and vehicles off it until an engineer has checked it.