Shackle Links - (with pix) - Montana Owners Club

patodonn · 01-30-2005, 02:13 PM

Full description is in the previous topic, but here are more details and a couple of requested pictures.

The Al-Ko Owner's Manual, Page 30, has a good diagram of these bits and pieces. The shackle is called a "shackle link" in that diagram. It is a smallish steel bar, about 5-6 inches long, ~1/4 inch thick and ~7/8 wide.

Both pix were taken from underneath the rig, driver's side, looking outward from between the tires. Two arrows point to the two inboard shakles on that side. There are a total of 8 shackles on the rig.

[img]http//tinypic.com/1hz0hh[/img]

The second picture is a closeup ot the bolt hole elongation on that link. You can see the original bolt head "imprint" and can see the slippage upwards as the hole elongated. Due to the elongation, the edge of the bolt hole is now visible at the bottom of the bolt head.
[img]http//tinypic.com/1hz0cy[/img]

Hope that helps in checking out your rig before the travel season gets underway.

patodonn · 01-30-2005, 02:17 PM

Sorry...picture failure..I'll try again in a few min after consulting with a moderator.....

PJ

patodonn · 01-30-2005, 02:36 PM

worked in the "Test" mode..lets try again

Overview picture:

Closeup:

HamRad · 01-30-2005, 03:01 PM

patodonn,
Good pics. Thanks for posting. Your pictures really show what to look for when checking the shackles. If anyone is interested I've posted some pics of the damaged shackles in my PictureTrail link. Just click on that link and choose the album on shackles.

HamRad

Montana_283 · 01-31-2005, 12:38 PM

Thanks for the info. I had the same problem on mine, It was fixed on the road, but will check mine again. I would never have found myh shackle hanging down, except I had to replace the galley drain handle connection under the 5er.

Chester · 01-31-2005, 12:45 PM

Great pictures and information. Thanks very much for this. I'll certainly keep an eye on my new Monty when it comes in.

palebluedot · 01-31-2005, 01:41 PM

Is this the correct HD kit to upgrade the Al-Ko shackle assembly on our Montanas??

http://www.dexteraxle.com/inc/pdetail?v=1&pid=1047

stiles watson · 01-31-2005, 01:44 PM

You dudes have me spooked about the shackles. I may just go ahead and upgrade to dexter shackles with brass bushings and lubricatable bolts. Has anyone done this? I don't mean have it done, I mean done it yourself? If so, give me a difficulty scale from 1 to 10 and approximate cost. Thanks a heap..

HamRad · 01-31-2005, 09:19 PM

Stiles Watson, and Palebluedot
If your current shackles have any wear on them then go ahead and replace. And yes.... palebluedot those are the HD replacement parts. I do not remember for sure if they were Dexter but sure look the same. We paid about $140 or so for our kit.

Go to my PictureTrail link and open the album on Shackles and you'll see a small series of the shackle replacement process. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd rate it about a 3 to 5. It is not so hard to do just a bit physical. Take a look at pics to get a better idea.

HamRad

Montana_2785 · 02-01-2005, 01:35 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by stiles watson

You dudes have me spooked about the shackles. I may just go ahead and upgrade to dexter shackles with brass bushings and lubricatable bolts. Has anyone done this? I don't mean have it done, I mean done it yourself? If so, give me a difficulty scale from 1 to 10 and approximate cost. Thanks a heap..

I did it myself on my old TT.

The only difficult part is getting the second bolt back into a spring. Getting things to line up to get a bolt through can take a bit of fiddling. Make sure you have lots of blocks & jacks that you can wedge into odd places to press, pull & pry the spring into the proper position. An extra pair of hands might also be good. One to push/pull/pry and the other to handle the bolt. This is especially true when you are connecting up the second spring on a side. You may need to have a jack under (or over!) the other axle to allow you to rotate the equalizer a bit. You might also be able to make use of one jack under the axle you are working with, and another jack (or block) on top of the spring closer to the bolt hole. Different combinations allow you to move the bolt hole in the spring different directions.

It isn't as difficult as it is a test of your patience.

Make sure you don't drop an axle down so low that you strip off the wires going to the brakes!!!!

Eric

Bill and Ann · 02-01-2005, 01:50 AM

Great pics and info.

Montana_31 · 02-02-2005, 12:11 AM

Patodonn,
Is there any wear on the center pivot point? If so, is there also an upgrade for that part?

patodonn · 02-03-2005, 05:42 PM

Re wear on the central pivot point, I don't think so, but that will be determined shortly. I'll post the findings and the fix on this topic thread.

Best

HamRad · 02-03-2005, 06:31 PM

Bob&Donna,
I know your question was addressed to Patodonn but when we changed out the shackles on my rig there was no wear on the center pivot point.

HamRad

Montana_2785 · 02-03-2005, 11:50 PM

If you are talking about the spring hangers (the part that is welded onto the frame) I did have damage to one of those once on my old TT. The suspension shop I went to welded some heavy washers into place to re-enforce those holes.

Eric

hodag · 02-06-2005, 03:24 AM

i just received a box of parts that i ordered from rv surplus out of ehlkart, ind. 2 spare equalizers, 14 wet bolts (greaseable),extra shackle links and new bushings. also found a place in ohio who sold me gabriel shocks for trailer. so i have all the parts and time now that i,m retired,i,d better get started. temps. not too bad here in milw., wis. today mid 40,s. want to get these items taken care of before end of month, have trip to gulf area planned then.

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