Alko Chassis greasing

MichaelT

MichaelT

LIFE MEMBER
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
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Location
Colchester
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40,159
MH
Carthago I 143 LE
Exp
Since 2016
I am looking to grease the chassis and need to order a jack & axle stands, does anyone know what height we need on a Dethleffs Esprit A Class van (thinking all Alko chassis are same height) and also where to jack it up from?

Looking at the following jack and stands any views if they are suitable.

Amazon product ASIN B07XXWWQXF
 
What ever you do make sure you do not jack it up or support it on the axle tube. There should be jacking points on the chassis near the rear wheels.
 
A 2 ton jack won't do it you need a 5 ton, the 2 ton ones although cable of supporting the weight it's almost impossible to lift the van with one. I know I've tried gave up and borrowed a 5 ton from a neighbor.
 
Lenny HB said:
A 2 ton jack won't do it you need a 5 ton, the 2 ton ones although cable of supporting the weight it's almost impossible to lift the van with one. I know I've tried gave up and borrowed a 5 ton from a neighbor.
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Thanks Lenny the price of 5t trolley jacks seem to jump so would a 6t bottle jack do, I only need it for this job so not looking to spend too much for an annual job.

Amazon product ASIN B0015NULPU
 
I use a 3ton sgs trolley jack, about £80 a few years back. Checked their website and currently out of stock. But too heavy to take away in van.

Just to the rear of the bottom of the back shock absorber there is a lift point. It has a downward pointing tube ish 25mm diameter to locate the fiat jack.

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If you are on a level surface you could use the Fiat jack and axle stand. I've use the Fiat jack for changing wheels without a problem.
Also I've used our local independent to grease the axle charged me £20, also last time I got my dealer to do it when they did the damp check, they didn't charge but they are in Belgium.
 
Lenny HB said:
If you are on a level surface you could use the Fiat jack and axle stand. I've use the Fiat jack for changing wheels without a problem.
Also I've used our local independent to grease the axle charged me £20, also last time I got my dealer to do it when they did the damp check, they didn't charge but they are in Belgium.
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Not sure I have a jack as the van came with the gunge kit only.
 
Hate to say it but with cheap jacks you get what you pay for, I made the mistake of buying a 2.5 tonne , won’t even lift a corner of my CRV. THE Iveco Daily bottle jack is good but it’s £65.00 (5years ago)
Clarke’s Machinery will have something
 
You could always hire one

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Do you know any AA/RAC patrolmen who may *help* or have you priced up an air jack and an axle stand?
 
Wagoneer said:
I have the gunk kit but it includes the Fiat jack under the passenger seat of a LHD vehicle.
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We have the hab batteries under the drivers seat and EBL under passenger seat, will check what I have in the garage when i go to the storage yard.
 
AC/DC said:
Do you know any AA/RAC patrolmen who may *help* or have you priced up an air jack and an axle stand?
Click to expand...
A bottle jack and axle stands are about £45 for cheapies but as i said for a once a year event its probably OK.
 
MichaelT said:
Thanks Lenny the price of 5t trolley jacks seem to jump so would a 6t bottle jack do, I only need it for this job so not looking to spend too much for an annual job.
Click to expand...
Trouble with cheap ones is they say 5 ton, they may be able to support 5 ton but lifting 5 ton is entirely different.
Also you would need to make up an adaptor I wouldn't feel happy supporting a motor home on the tiny head of that one.
martin2603 said:
Hate to say it but with cheap jacks you get what you pay for, I made the mistake of buying a 2.5 tonne , won’t even lift a corner of my CRV. THE Iveco Daily bottle jack is good but it’s £65.00 (5years ago)
Clarke’s Machinery will have something
Click to expand...
Agree the cheap one the ratings are not to be believed.
I've got a cheap 2 ton trolly jack fine for changing the wheel on the car but won't even lift the Motorhome 1 mm.
 
Lenny HB said:
Trouble with cheap ones is they say 5 ton, they may be able to support 5 ton but lifting 5 ton is entirely different.
Also you would need to make up an adaptor I wouldn't feel happy supporting a motor home on the tiny head of that one.

Agree the cheap one the ratings are not to be believed.
I've got a cheap 2 ton trolly jack fine for changing the wheel on the car but won't even lift the Motorhome 1 mm.
Click to expand...
But the jack is not lifting the whole MH only a quarter of it say? If the rear axle is say 2t laden lifting one wheel would be about 1t wouldn't it?

I just had a thought, I think there may be one in the cleaning shed at the storage yard, will pop up tomorrow and have a look to see and if so just use that if its big enough.

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My independent service garage do it for an extra £10 if they are doing another job.
 
Just a thought but is it essential to jack the van up to grease the torque tube, there looks to be enough room to wriggle underneath? Just thinking out loud.
 
Do all Alko chassis need to be lubricated annually? we have a Bailey Advance - 2015, whcih we bought last year
 
dunnah01 said:
Just a thought but is it essential to jack the van up to grease the torque tube, there looks to be enough room to wriggle underneath? Just thinking out loud.
Click to expand...
It has to be jacked up with wheels off the ground so the torsion bars are not under load, otherwise the grease can’t get to where it needs to be.
Different to the comment above I have used axle stands on the tube to support the vehicle without problem on a couple of occasions. They just need to be the right u shape to fit the profile and wide to spread the load.

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MisterB said:
Do all Alko chassis need to be lubricated annually? we have a Bailey Advance - 2015, whcih we bought last year
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Yes, can get very expensive if you don't replacement axle is £2.5k although you can get then rebuilt for about £1400.
 
MichaelT said:
But the jack is not lifting the whole MH only a quarter of it say? If the rear axle is say 2t laden lifting one wheel would be about 1t wouldn't it?
Click to expand...
I speaking from experience a £30 2 ton one won't lift it, a £100 2 ton one probably will.
Hettie's Crew said:
It has to be jacked up with wheels off the ground so the torsion bars are not under load, otherwise the grease can’t get to where it needs to be.
Different to the comment above I have used axle stands on the tube to support the vehicle without problem on a couple of occasions. They just need to be the right u shape to fit the profile and wide to spread the load.
Click to expand...
You can do one side at a time although in the Al-Ko book it says lift both wheels off the ground if you speak to Al-Ko they say it's fine doing one side at a time.
 
Lenny HB said:
I speaking from experience a £30 2 ton one won't lift it, a £100 2 ton one probably will.

You can do one side at a time although in the Al-Ko book it says lift both wheels off the ground if you speak to Al-Ko they say it's fine doing one side at a time.
Click to expand...
It’s fine to do one side at a time because there’s no join/connection with the torsion bars in the tube, so long as it’s completely hanging.
 
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As said above SGS 3 tonne trolley jack is perfect, you need the wheels of the ground one side at a time is ok. I use Shell Gadus S3 grease its a multipurpose extreme pressure lithium grease looks like universal joint propshaft grease its red in colour, half a dozen pumps each side do mine twice a year. Bill

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Lenny HB said:
If you are on a level surface you could use the Fiat jack and axle stand. I've use the Fiat jack for changing wheels without a problem.
Also I've used our local independent to grease the axle charged me £20, also last time I got my dealer to do it when they did the damp check, they didn't charge but they are in Belgium.
Click to expand...
Lenny HB...£20 seems a bargain....or is that just for you ? I have my MH booked in to that place you gave me...Lancing to do the Handbrake but they can’t do it until 22nd July !...bit of an issue as I was hoping to get away much sooner...does the local garage you mention do Al-Ko Handbrake adjustment as well or just al-ko chassis greasing.
 
denisejoe said:
the garage I use does it when I have it annual service and mot
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Well this is the first time I’ve had an al-Ko chassis so I’ll remember that for the future...in the meantime I’m trying to do things that might need doing. I have no idea if the chassis was greased before I bought it.
 
I also adjust the handbrake cable when i grease the axle its an easy job if you can do a bit of DIY. Bill

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