|
|
09-10-2009, 09:08 AM
|
#1
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Land O Lakes
Posts: 2,751
M.O.C. #7753
|
U-bolts, TOO CLOSE for Comfort
Well folks I am going to thank whoever first posted about loose U-bolts, I think it was Richfaa. I just got under the rig to torque mine and I found the following: two nuts within three threads of falling off, and all others took three full turns or more to hit 65ft lbs of torque. Damn, was that close. We are hitting the road on Tuesday heading south eventually to the rally. This few minutes of work probably made the difference between getting there and breaking down. So from now on before we get underway that item is on the check list... ... Dave
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 09:15 AM
|
#2
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: anywhere
Posts: 912
M.O.C. #6260
|
Dave, I seem to recall they torque to 45.
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 09:44 AM
|
#3
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ardrossan
Posts: 729
M.O.C. #9261
|
The range is 45 to 60 for national fine thread 1/2 inch u-bolts, assuming they are grade five tensile strength. I like to stay at the upper end of torque specs.
If your u-bolts were that lose, you may want to check alignment and also ensure the bolts were equally torqued up to have equal amounts of threads showing above the nut. The axle may have moved around with that amount of slack at the u-bolts.
Good thing you caught it before your unit separated from the axles and what a mess that would created.
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 10:37 AM
|
#4
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,294
M.O.C. #311
|
Dave,
Glad you found it before you hit the road. MOC STRIKES with a POSITIVE STROKE AGAIN.
Well worth a $15 donation fee per year. Yes the donation is just my idea for this wealth of information.
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 11:15 AM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Land O Lakes
Posts: 2,751
M.O.C. #7753
|
Measurements between tires equal, distance between axles equal, number of threads sticking out of nuts equal... Dave
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 12:40 PM
|
#6
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: sioux falls
Posts: 1,835
M.O.C. #2121
|
I'm adding this to Bob's checklist. Thanks.
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 12:44 PM
|
#7
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
|
The guys at Burnside Rv where we had our axle slip disaster repaired said 60LBS. All of the U bolts on ALL the axles were loose. They had never been checked on the 06 3400. ThAT is a maint check that must be done. See on other forums that others have had the problem on other brands. GET UNDER THERE NOW AND CHECK THOSE U BOLTS.
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 01:26 PM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kville
Posts: 2,865
M.O.C. #7871
|
Checked mine...found a couple loose, an a number held by less than 60 lbs/torque.
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 01:39 PM
|
#9
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 5,369
M.O.C. #6333
|
Richfaa, I can't seem to find any U Bolts under my rig. Do I not get them with the IS....I really wanted to check mine.....
Phil
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 01:45 PM
|
#10
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
|
Phil,
You don't have any but if you want you can crawl around under there awhile just for the heck of it. You do have some bolts holding your IFS in place that you can check
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 02:56 PM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location:
Posts: 2,156
M.O.C. #6920
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Exnavydiver
Measurements between tires equal, distance between axles equal, number of threads sticking out of nuts equal... Dave
|
Your Safety - Priceless!
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 04:44 PM
|
#12
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
|
Phil I will no longer have U Bolts, Axles, etc after next week. That last little "problem" was the last straw.
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 05:16 PM
|
#13
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sunshine
Posts: 1,445
M.O.C. #538
|
I think with Mor Ryde you look for cracks in the rubber.gg
|
|
|
09-11-2009, 04:16 AM
|
#14
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ardrossan
Posts: 729
M.O.C. #9261
|
Hardest thing on those u-bolts and other suspension parts is hitting railway tracks that are sloped and at an angle to the highway on County/ State roads. These Monty axles are always loaded to the max so they take a beating every time they wheels hit a sharp hole or rough area. Good to check wheel bolts, shackle bolts. u-bolts and also look for any cracks in the frame, shackle hangers etc. Better to repair it ahead of time rather then on the road after serve damage is done. This is something every RV Dealer should check but evidently they don't. Ellis
|
|
|
09-11-2009, 04:49 AM
|
#15
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
|
Rich, what does that mean that you'll no longer have axles, u-bolts, etc?
After the first thread I checked ours. I guess we were fortunate. A couple of the nuts required slight tightening but only a little. The rest were fine. Nevertheless, it bought me some peace of mind and also is something that will be checked periodically in the future.
|
|
|
09-11-2009, 07:08 AM
|
#16
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
|
He's having the independent suspension installed. Technically, he'll still have axles, just not the tubes going across the trailer like we do.
|
|
|
09-11-2009, 05:31 PM
|
#17
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oak Harbor
Posts: 1,529
M.O.C. #2471
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by richfaa
The guys at Burnside Rv where we had our axle slip disaster repaired said 60LBS. All of the U bolts on ALL the axles were loose. They had never been checked on the 06 3400. ThAT is a maint check that must be done. See on other forums that others have had the problem on other brands. GET UNDER THERE NOW AND CHECK THOSE U BOLTS.
|
Rich,
Can you tell me what the indications of your "Axle Slip Disaster" was? I have a post in "Montana Technical Help and Problem Solving" regarding spacing between tires and axles. I did check the nuts on the U-Bolts and they were tight but I didn't know the torque specs. I will check again tomorrow.
Jack
__________________
Previous:2004 Mountaineer 325FKBS,2010 Montana 3455SA Now:2018 Bighorn 3575EL (SOB's ) Res. Fridge,W/D,Disc Brakes,Water Softener,Dish Tailgater PRO,LioN Batts, several mods.
2021 RAM 3500 Laramie.... "LOADED", 4x4, SB H.O. 6.7L, Aisin Trans, PullRite Super Glide Hitch, 52 Gallon Titan Fuel Tank.
|
|
|
09-12-2009, 02:53 AM
|
#18
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,369
M.O.C. #8728
|
Checked my u-bolts this morning in preparation for the trip to Goshen. I found two of them weren't tourqued to 60#. They maybe moved 1/2 a turn. This forum is invaluable!! Thanks guys.
|
|
|
09-12-2009, 05:43 AM
|
#19
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
|
jackel 1959..In our case it was a trucker who waved us over to tell was we were "dog tracking down the interstate" The U bolts had already slipped and caused the center pin of that spring to shear off and the entire assembly had slid forward. Had he not stopped us it would have been a disaster and we will have a chat with Dexter and Keystone at the fall rally. The distance between the wheels on one side was over 9 inches.
|
|
|
09-12-2009, 06:28 AM
|
#20
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lakeland
Posts: 261
M.O.C. #7916
|
It sounds to me, that a whole bunch of us should be unde our rig with a torge wrench before its too late
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|