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08-14-2021, 11:42 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Oakland
Posts: 31
M.O.C. #26900
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Greasing wet bolts
I greased the suspension on my 2021 model 3120 for the first time . Several of the zerk fittings would not except grease. Some one suggest I take the zerk fittings off and pull the hardened grease out with a wire . Any other ideas?
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08-14-2021, 12:37 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,737
M.O.C. #12947
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Don’t think the rig being that new would have grease hardened up yet. What may help would be using the leveling system to take some weight off the suspension. Years ago I tossed the one handed grease gun for a full size lever type so I could get the maximum pressure to the zerks. Several months ago, I did have to remove a couple wet bolts to clean out the grease and also reposition them so the grease port was at the 9:00 or 3:00 o’clock position so they could be greased without picking the rig up.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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08-14-2021, 02:15 PM
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#3
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Oakland
Posts: 31
M.O.C. #26900
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rohrmann
Don’t think the rig being that new would have grease hardened up yet. What may help would be using the leveling system to take some weight off the suspension. Years ago I tossed the one handed grease gun for a full size lever type so I could get the maximum pressure to the zerks. Several months ago, I did have to remove a couple wet bolts to clean out the grease and also reposition them so the grease port was at the 9:00 or 3:00 o’clock position so they could be greased without picking the rig up.
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Interesting . Thanks. How do you keep the leaf spring in place when you remove the wet bolts?
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08-14-2021, 02:17 PM
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#4
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Oakland
Posts: 31
M.O.C. #26900
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Hi again .Still figuring out this blog system. Thanks for the info. How do you keep the spring in place when you remove the wet bolts?
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08-15-2021, 08:12 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SWFL
Posts: 964
M.O.C. #17801
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dgeisser
Interesting . Thanks. How do you keep the leaf spring in place when you remove the wet bolts?
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Sometimes you have to manhandle them in place with a prybar and/or bottle jack.
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08-15-2021, 10:00 AM
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#6
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Established Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Jackson
Posts: 45
M.O.C. #28798
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My experience with wet bolts is to have the load of the trailer off of the springs. Not so much that the tires are off the ground but close. Most wet bolts are installed with openings in a 3 or 9 o'clock position. If you get one that don't take grease then adjust load on springs slightly and try again.
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2021 Montana 3781RL
2017 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax, SRW, Crew, Long Box
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08-15-2021, 03:02 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,737
M.O.C. #12947
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dgeisser
Hi again .Still figuring out this blog system. Thanks for the info. How do you keep the spring in place when you remove the wet bolts?
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The number of times I've had to remove wet bolts, either to replace a spring or the wet bolts, I've lifted the rig with the hydraulics and then used a small bottle jack under the spring at the axle. It is easier with the wheel removed. When I have removed/replaced a wet bolt, I normally remove one at a time and put it back in before going to another. Spring replacement is about the same except you are removing the spring pack from the axle, so the U-bolts must be removed also, and still using a bottle jack under the axle.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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08-15-2021, 04:31 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: POINTBLANK
Posts: 1,895
M.O.C. #19944
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THE ORIGINAL GREASE BUSTER® - CLEAR OUT CLOGGED GREASE FITTINGS. This is on the "lock-n-Lube" website. Put oil in the tool, line it up on the zerk and smack it with a hammer
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RAM 22' DRW 3500 Crew LB 40 gal reserve tank / RETRAX Bed Cover / 2020 373RD HC / IS / MOPEKA Tank Monitor / Furrion Side&Rear Cameras
Slide Toppers / EMS-HW50C / Sailun 85's
3rd AC / Dometic 320
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08-15-2021, 05:18 PM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Frostbite Falls
Posts: 438
M.O.C. #26015
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Sometimes give them a good wack with a hammer will let them take grease.
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08-15-2021, 05:21 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Carson City
Posts: 2,017
M.O.C. #21963
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Be aware that just because a fitting takes grease doesn't mean grease is flowing everywhere it is needed.
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2016 3160, Legacy, Sailuns, Splendide 2100 xc vented, 1 1/2" axle lift blocks, disk brakes. 2014 Ram 3500 SRW SWB 4X4 6.7 Aisin Mega Cab, EBC slotted disks and brakes, Titan fuel tank.
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08-15-2021, 05:33 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 616
M.O.C. #25842
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Most of them on our 2020 wouldn't take grease either. Discovered quite by accident the trick of taking the load off with the jacks. That's how I do it all the time now.
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08-18-2021, 03:21 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Heber City
Posts: 118
M.O.C. #23676
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Same here. My 2017 had two that wouldn't take grease. I had to take the load off, back off the nut, rotate the bolt, and then it would take grease.
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Craig and Mary
2017 Montana 3820FK
2020 GMC 3500HD
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08-18-2021, 03:39 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Keller
Posts: 505
M.O.C. #26851
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As some have stated, your bolt grease holes need to be at the 9 and 3 o'clock position. Check your bolts are installed correctly, as many are not, and will cause this problem. If installed correctly, greasing your bolts should not be a problem, especially if you do it on a regular basis. Not to say this hard grease will never be an issue, but its usually caused by old grease. Like others have said taking some weight off also helps, especially if the bolts are not positioned correctly.
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08-18-2021, 06:41 PM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Olmsted Falls
Posts: 225
M.O.C. #20364
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Could anyone supply a couple of photo's of these, please?
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Rick & Joyce Jones
RMC(SW) USN Ret.; AT&T Ret.
2024 3231CK, IS, 400W Solar, Slide covers, Predator Gen,, 2016 Chevy High Country 3500 Diesel Dually
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08-19-2021, 07:19 AM
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#15
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: El Cajon
Posts: 87
M.O.C. #23160
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I have a 2019 3120 and I had the same issue. Taking pressure off the bolts allowed me to get grease in some but not all. I finally drove out the bolts one at a time to align the grease outlet at 9:00. While doing this I found the issue is grit from wear on the leaf spring mounting bushing was packed into the grease outlet hole. The grease holes were facing up closer to 12:00. I was able to clean out the grease port. I reinstalled at 9:00. I can now inject grease into all of the wet bolts. I recommend a 90 degree elbow at the zirc attachment. I found the bushings in very poor condition and replaced several.
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2019 3120RL
Chevy 2500HD Crew Diesel
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08-19-2021, 09:43 AM
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#16
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Winter Haven
Posts: 76
M.O.C. #23309
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I had to remove several wet bolts. some were packed with a hard material which i had to pry out with a pick, others were not in the 9:00 - 3:00 position. When I re-installed I placed a small pry bar between spring and mount to maintain a small amount of clearance while tightening the wet bolts. They take grease well now.
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2019 3121RL
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08-20-2021, 10:07 PM
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#17
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Thousand Oaks
Posts: 64
M.O.C. #10001
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Grease wet bolts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dgeisser
I greased the suspension on my 2021 model 3120 for the first time . Several of the zerk fittings would not except grease. Some one suggest I take the zerk fittings off and pull the hardened grease out with a wire . Any other ideas?
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Take a 12 inch creset wrench and turn a half turn. It works every time for me.
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08-20-2021, 10:25 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,768
M.O.C. #7560
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Wet Bolts
Just a CAUTION note! The torque for a wet bolt nut is not to be over 50#. If you torque them any tighter than this you take the chance of stripping the bolt and/or nut.
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08-21-2021, 12:03 AM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,469
M.O.C. #4831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Brown
Take a 12 inch creset wrench and turn a half turn. It works every time for me.
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Do not do this. The wet bolts have a serrated edge that keeps the bolt for rotating. Using a large wrench to turn the bolts in place destroys the serrations. Now the bolt is free to rotate as the suspension moves resulting the holes not being in the 3 and 9 o'clock position.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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