Salt Water Maintenance

1. DO NOT immerse the hubs/brakes when hot, i.e. after a long journey, but allow the assembly to cool down.
2. Keep immersion times to the absolute minimum and do not leave trailer standing in the water.
3. After immersion, the hub assembly and indeed the trailer in general should be thoroughly hosed down with fresh water.
4. DO NOT park the trailer for prolonged periods with the handbrake fully on, particularly when the hub is wet. If necessary chock the wheels using Alko wheel chocks.
5. It is recommended that normal service intervals are at least halved i.e. every 250 miles/2 months, 720 miles/3 months, 1500 miles/6 months and 300 miles/annually. Additionally the brake mechanism should be stripped and thoroughly cleaned/lubricated at the 1500 miles/6 months service.
6. Comments in the service schedule relating to bearing lubrication and adjustment apply to hubs with taper roller bearings and NOT TO EURO-AXLE BEARINGS, which cannot be lubricated independently. Whilst these bearings are NOT WATERPROOF, they will afford greater protection against the ingress of water then taper roller bearings, particularly if allowed to cool before immersion.
7. Bowden cables are not provided with a lubrication medium i.e. a grease nipple, as the introduction of grease will inhibit the movement of the inner cables within the specially designed outer casing. There is also a very real danger of grease contaminating the brake linings thus rendering them ineffective. Practical experience shows that a periodic soaking in thin oil (WD40 or equivalent), particularly over the winter months goes a long way in avoiding seizure problems.
8. Whenever the road wheels are removed and re-fitted, the wheel bolts should be re-tightened gradually in sequence. With the suitable socket and calibrated torque wrench, the wheel bolts should be torqued as appropriate (40 lbs/ft M10 bolts, 65 lbs/ft M12 bolts, 108 lbs/ft M14 bolts) – in sequence North, South, East, West. It is important to re-check the bolt torques after the first 50km.
9. If at any time the brake drum is removed on the EURO-AXLE, a new "ONE-SHOT" nut must be used – DO NOT re-use the old nut but replace it with a new one.

Text is from AL-KO's maintenance instructions for their axle.