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Old 05-24-2005, 10:45 AM   #41
fulltimedreamer
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Gonfishin,
I'm going to go with SteveR on this one. I have to believe the factory has some sort of "jig" they put these things in before welding the hangers. Anyway, I think these coaches would need to be pulled in a straight line on a hard, even surface before we could get accurate measurements.
 
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Old 05-24-2005, 02:06 PM   #42
sreigle
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I wish I'd thought to ask about this during our Montana factory tour today. We're hoping to do the Cambridge tour on Thursday. We were told the current Cambridge guy doing the tour is a former Montana guy so I'll try to remember to ask him about it. Or I'll ask the service center people. I just hope I remember to ask.
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Old 05-31-2005, 09:16 AM   #43
Montana_738
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Hello all,

I have a question, I purchased the Dexter Shackle Kit # K71-359-00 and the The Equalizer measures about 7" the Equalizer I have measures about 9", so I had to return them they were to small. There is a 25% restocking fee. Dexter can't seem to give me much help and I don't want to order the other set to find it is also too small. I don't want to pay another restocking fee.
When I talked to Dexter on the phone they were not sure if the other kit would work (K71-449, they only have two kits.
My rig is a 2001--2955 Montana. Has any out there with a rig the same size as mine and the same year installed the dexter shackles and would it be Kit # K71-449?

Thanks,

Bill
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Old 05-31-2005, 10:32 AM   #44
awaywego
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Acccuprep,
I have a 2001 3280 RL and replaced my shackles with Dexter K71-449-00.
These are for the 35" center to center axles.
Dexter said to measure the equalizer and the two end holes should be 7 3/4 inches center to center
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Old 05-31-2005, 01:15 PM   #45
Montana_738
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awaywego,

I did this, I measured from the center of the outside hub (greese fitting) to the center of the other hub. I measured 35 5/8 can this be right?
I appreciate your help. I think this is why Dexter is not able to help when I told her my measurements. I'm not sure what is going on.

Bill
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Old 05-31-2005, 01:57 PM   #46
awaywego
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What is the measurement from the bolt hole to the bolt hole on the equalizer? If it is 7 3/4 inches then you need the same as mine.
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Old 05-31-2005, 02:56 PM   #47
azstar
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Hi Guys,

35" = K71-449-00, Which I believe have 16" Wheels.

33" = K71-359-00, Which I believe have 15" Wheels.

I have also discovered today, that you can replace the AL-KO stock bushings with the Dexter Bushings. So what can be done here is, If like me you find you have short spring hangers, you can simply use your old equilizers. Order the Dexter Kit and order six extra bushings. Replace the bushings in your stock equilizer with the new ones, drill and tap at the top for a Zerk fitting in the same manner as is the Dexter equilizer. Then use all the rest of the Dexter hardware and use your old (now rebuilt) equilizer.

Bill,

This is something you may want to consider. Just drive the bushings out of the Dexter equilizer you recieved and put them in your stock one. Then drill for the grease (Zerk) fitting. If you can't for some reason knock out the new Equilizer bushings you could order six news ones.

Do not use a lubricating bolt on the equilizers top hole. This bolt needs to be a solid bolt.
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Old 05-31-2005, 03:06 PM   #48
Montana_738
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awaywego,
I crawled underneath and measured the back side of the equalizer, from the center of the bolt to the center of the other bolt, it's 7 3/4 inches. How do I lose that 1/2" so I can use the Dexter shackle. Leave it to me I always wind up with some misfit equipment. I guess I will have to email Keystone to see if they can steer me in the right direction. Someone must make a shackle for my rig.
I really appreciate you help.

Thanks,

Bill
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Old 05-31-2005, 03:15 PM   #49
harleyrider
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Awaywego

I have the same model and year as you do.As of now I have NO visible wear at all on the shackles.Probably because I have very few miles piled up.But I am going to order the dexter and have it handy If and when I notice some wear.It sure sounds like at some time I will need this up-grade.I belive the price is $119 bucks and some change.Money well spent I`am sure.
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Old 05-31-2005, 03:37 PM   #50
azstar
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awaywego Wayne,

I've been trying to get this measurement on the 449-00 Kit. Can you verify the 7 1/4" and also give me the vertical height from the center line of the bottom two holes to the top hole center?

Can you also check the same measurements on your old equilizer?

With this info I think we'll have all the info. we need to help our Members know exactly what their go forwad plan should be.

Thanks
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Old 05-31-2005, 03:45 PM   #51
Montana_738
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Thanks azstar,

I wish I new this a couple hours ago, I just sent back the K71-359-oo Kit. I have to pay a 25% restocking fee. I don't mind this if I get what I need.

Thanks again everyone,

Bill
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Old 05-31-2005, 03:51 PM   #52
HamRad
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Hi Steve,
The measurements for a Mountaineer may be different than on the Montana so be careful when comparing. We had taken our old stuff off before we got the replacements. We then took the old parts to the trailer supply and were able to make a direct comparison.... so it was pretty easy for us. Good luck.

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Old 05-31-2005, 03:58 PM   #53
awaywego
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OPPS guys I just went out and measured the equalizers and it is 7 3/4.
Sorry for the messup. I guess time is catching up with me.
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Old 05-31-2005, 04:09 PM   #54
awaywego
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Azstar,
The measurement for the end to end holes is 7 3/4 inches and top hole to bottom holes is 2 7/8 inches
this is the 449 set

Hope this helps
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Old 05-31-2005, 06:05 PM   #55
azstar
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OK,

Here's what we have learned. There are two up-grade Kits available from Dexter.

Your Axle spacing my not be exactly 33" or 35". They could be off by 3/8" or so, but it's still a 33" or 35" Kit.

35" Axle spacing gets the K71-449-00. It's measurements are bottom holes 7 3/4". Vertical height to top hole is 2 7/8". This should be for Rigs with 16" Tires.

33" Axle spacing gets the K71-359-00. It's measurements are bottom holes 5 3/4". Vertical
height to top hole is 2". This should be for Rigs with 15" Tires.

If you measure your stock equilizers and the numbers are within a 1/4" of these your good to go, provided you have measured the gap between the coach frame and the top of the spring eye at the equilizer connection. When measuring the coach should be level. This Gap needs to be Min. 1 3/4".

If your stock measurements are greater than 1/4" off from the Dexter measurements, more thought needs to go into your decision. I changed from a 6 1/8" x 2 1/2" to a 5 3/4" x 2". To accomplish this I had to weld a spacer in between the center hanger. In this case I would NOT recommend anyone repeating what I did. Instead use your stock eq., re-bush it and add the zerk fitting. Then buy the cheaper Kit (because everything else is the same) and use all the other Dexter parts.

When all is said and done, you need a min. of 1 1/2" of spacing between the frame and the top of the spring eyes.

Now that I have a stock set that I don't need I would like to start a rotation for those folks that have a stock 6" 1/8 x 2 1/2" and want to do this up-grade. You would have to re-bush them and add zerk. I could do this before I ship them for the folks who can't do this type of work. When you get yours done you would send your old set to the next guy, and so on.

I had my Axles aligned today by a suspension specialty house, and they have put hundreds of these Kits in all sorts of Rigs. So were not the only ones needing this up-grade.

Hope this helps.

If anyone out there has more info please pass it along.
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Old 06-01-2005, 01:24 AM   #56
Montana_738
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awaywego,

Thanks, for the remeasure, I thought I had some weird equalizers, this makes sense. You originally said 7 1/4. I couldn't figure out why mine was 1/2" longer. The rapid breathing & heart beat finally slowed down. Now I know exactly what kit I need.
You would think as much as we had discussed this I would have gotten it right the first time.

Thanks again everyone,

Bill
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