U-Bolts again! - Montana Owners Club

jjackflash · 10-14-2009, 01:48 PM

I know the answer is somewhere on the forum but I can't find it.
On a 08'3400 what is the size of the nuts on the axle U-Bolts?
Thanks, Jack

Tom S. · 10-14-2009, 01:58 PM

If you search U-bolts, you find this thread: http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...hTerms=U-bolts

BTW: If I remember right, I think they are 3/4 inch.

jjackflash · 10-14-2009, 03:25 PM

Thanks Tom,I just came in from checking my U-Bolts and of course all were loose.
It's scary to have to turn that wrench so many times and listening to the axles creaking.
Thanks again! Jack

8e3k0 · 10-14-2009, 05:15 PM

U-bolts are 1/2 inch fine thread and take a 3/4 inch socket or wrench. Actually not that bad to get at, just watch your head, a lot of sharp objects under there!!

SlickWillie · 10-15-2009, 02:10 AM

I guess I'm gonna have to crawl under there and check those things. We don't move much, but may make a few hundred miles around Thanksgiving. Sure would hate for one of those axles to go catty whompus on me.

blarkman · 10-15-2009, 04:19 AM

It would be nice if we listed the model and buit date of unit on these posts, ie "loose ubolts", maybe there was a pattern.
If they all occoured in the same time peroid it be easier to track.
bob

1Happycamper · 10-15-2009, 08:58 AM

2008-329RLT Mountaineer, build date June 1-07. 2 nuts torqued at 40 lbs, the other 14 around 20 lbs.

Bill

SlickWillie · 10-15-2009, 11:53 AM

Mine were pretty good. Less then one turn to tighten to 65foot lbs. I wonder if they're tightening those at the factory with an air ratchet? Undoubtedly they haven't been torqued, as we see too much variation.

richfaa · 10-15-2009, 12:48 PM

Wonder if it has anything to do with running overweight...Found that we were 1300lbs overweight..Ya Think??????

deadeye · 10-16-2009, 02:14 AM

I crawled under my rig and checked all of mine the other day. I went to the local Farm Fleet store and bought some 1/2 inch fine thread self locking nuts. I hope that is the last time I have to check those burggers. Double nuts would do the same thing, but locking nuts should be better..... JB

IAMontana · 10-16-2009, 02:46 AM

It wont be the last time you have to tighten the nuts as you run your rig up and down the road turning corners it stretches the u bolts ever so slightly and as this happens there is not as much pressure on the nuts.

8e3k0 · 10-16-2009, 03:46 AM

Deadeye, I would check and verify that those locking nuts you installed are of a grade 5 or 8 quality. The majority of the nyloc nuts or nuts with the little side dent that are sold at farm stores are of grade 3 quality or less and will not take the torque applications needed for these u-bolts. They eventually strip out at high torgue levels. Majority of automotive u-bolt nuts are extra long and are of grade 8 quality, heat treated with a high tensile strength. If you have enough thread above the original nuts and add the extra nut as a locking device that will work to prevent movement.
Hope all works out well for the Monty's u-bolts.

deadeye · 10-16-2009, 05:04 AM

I guess they could be of Grade 3. They really don't need to be a Grade 5 or Grade 8. All they are doing is locking the original nut in place. There shouldn't be any stress on them, only what you put on the wrench that was used to put them on.... JB

Fire5er · 10-16-2009, 05:05 AM

richfaa,
I don't think it has anything to do with being overweight because we are only weekenders and have never been overweight, but all of our "U"-Bolts were loose when I checked them.

richfaa · 10-16-2009, 01:46 PM

In any case since we had our entire OEM suspension system cut off and The Mor Ryde IS system installed we will no longer worry about U bolts.

Desert RVer · 10-30-2009, 08:31 PM

richfaa,

By the time you finish making all the changes/corrections you will have to install a new identification sticker and model #.

richfaa · 10-31-2009, 03:15 AM

apparently there is no way to "re-certify" a RV, When the service center weighed my 3400 with the new suspension it made no difference... My VIN says we have 6K axles and my weight ticket says we are 1340 lbs overweight. My guess is that if I should have a frame problem Keystone pulls that weight ticket..and that will be the end of the conversation. Now the Mor Ryde IS system is built to the weight of the Rv so we know we have a 7K per unit rating .Mor Ryde knows that..We know that..but my VIN and Keystone will say different.. Add on's change nothing...

**Rondo** · 10-31-2009, 02:57 PM

Rich-- I told you not to go and get in the Monte when they were weighing it!

Tom S. · 11-01-2009, 12:00 AM

OUCH!!!

richfaa · 11-01-2009, 02:48 AM

It was the bird...It was the bird...

We weighed in at 15,840 lbs when weighed at Mor Ryde and the rally..that would be 1865lbs over. By the time we were weighed at Keystone we were down to 1340lbs over...for 6k axles. When our u bolts failed were were on the 6K axles and at least 1865lbs over weight and had no doubt been over for a very long time. That would be no problem tho???

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