Axle Maintenance

Safety Precautions

• No welding is permitted on AL-KO axles.
• It is most important that the wheel and hub/brake drum are dimensionally compatible. This means that the P.C.D., wheel bolts and inset must all be compatible with both the hub/brake drum and the wheel rim. Particular attention must be paid to the recommended torque figures for the wheel bolts.
• The axle type details shown on axle type shield must not be obscured or made illegible by the application of any additional surface finish

Operating Instructions

Service Brake

When the towing vehicle is braking or travelling down hill the overrun device shaft is pushed in (dependent on the magnitude of the thrust on the shaft) and presses on the overrun lever. This acts on the bowden cables and expander mechanism which in turn expands the brake shoes applying the wheel brakes.

Reversing

When the towing vehicle is reversing, the overrun device shaft is pushed in, applying the brakes via the overrun lever, brake rod system, bowden cables and the expander mechanism. The backwards rotation of the brake drum causes the secondary brake shoe to collapse cancelling out the braking effect allowing the trailer to move backwards. At the same time the transmission lever swings back and compensates for the entire travel.

Parking Brake

With the gas strut version pull the hand-brake lever over top dead centre. With the spring cylinder version pull the hand-brake lever right up to the last tooth. The trailer is then braked. Important Note: Please note that with the handbrake fully applied the trailer is able to move backwards by 25cms until the spring cylinder/gas spring takes effect.

Maintenance and Cleaning

The AL-KO Euro-Plus / Euro-Compact and the Euro-Delta semi-training arm axles come fitted with maintenance free wheel bearings (greased and sealed for life) and no adjustment is necessary. N.B. The hub bearing is not protected against water ingress.

Check wheel brake linings for wear every 10,000 kilometres or every 12 months via the inspection hole. Adjust if necessary. Where continuous travel in hilly regions or high mileage is experienced, earlier inspection and adjustment may be necessary.

Note that travel of more than 60% of total overrun device shaft movement is indicative that brake adjustment is required.

N.B. All necessary service work should only be carried out by trained personnel in specialist workshops.

"standard axle" maintenance - taper roller bearing

After 1500 km or 6 months:

• Have the axial play of the hub bearing checked and adjusted, if necessary.

After 10,000km or 12 months:

• Check quantity or quality of grease, renew if necessary
• With boat trailers which are driven into water or sea water the hub bearing should be regreased shortly after contact with the water (with the exception of waterproof hubs).
• Check the wear of the wheel brake linings every 10,000 kilometres or every 12 months through inspection hole and have adjusted, if necessary. Where continuous travel in hilly regions or high mileage is experienced earlier inspection and adjustment may be necessary.

Note that travel of more than 60% of total overrun device shaft movement is indicative that brake adjustment is required.

Steel spring axle maintenance - taper roller bearing

• Grease the 4 lubrication nipples of the steel spring axle every 5,000km.
• Otherwise maintenance is as for standard axle.

"Running or dead axle" maintenance

• Have the axial play of the hub bearing checked and adjusted, if necessary.
• With boat trailers which are driven into water or sea water the hub bearing should be re-greased shortly after contact with the water (with the exception of waterproof hubs).

Maintenance and care of galvanised vehicle parts

The formation of white rust is only a blemish and can never be excluded completely. The following measures are necessary to minimise this as far as possible:

• Ensure an adequate air circulation during storage.
• Clean the galvanised surfaces with clean water (e.g. steam clean) after journeys in water.
• Re-grease and/or oil joints and bearing points.

Spare Parts

Replacement parts are safety critical parts. Should parts other than original AL-KO spare parts can be used then warranty and product liability becomes void, i.e. we as manufacturers will not be liable for any faults that may occur following fitment of non AL-KO spares. In road traffic consequential damages including personal injuries are not to be underestimated. Please take this into account with spare parts! If repair work or servicing is required AL-KO have a large network of AL-KO service stations throughout Europe. A list of service centres can be requested direct if required. Please bear in mind that repairs should only be carried out by trainer and qualified workshops/personnel. To establish the correct spare parts required for your axle you should always quote the axle type (axle identification plate) and spare part identification number (ETI No.). This is imprinted on the wheel brake or on the identification plate. Please establish both these details before contacting AL-KO or its agents.