Alko Torsion Bar expert needed

coolasluck said:
What a bummer Barry,but you cant put a price on the memories you will and have made in your van and if you are like us you will probably have saved a fortune on hit or miss package holidays.Chin up mate it will be worth it in the long run.
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Your dead right you know. We used to always like quite lavish hols and in October we spent 2 weeks in a fantastic Villa on the North East coast of Corfu. Private pool the works. We did enjoy it but after 3 months touring Europe in the van anything else is a poor second now. If I won millions on the lottery this would simply fund a full timing MH Lifestyle. I know now what I want to do with my life!
 
Just a though Barry but you might find its worthwhile phoning or internetting some breakers, these vans must end up in breakers sometimes and a secondhand axle might be a lot cheaper. They only seem to do a few axle sizes so they will be on various vehicles
 
biggirafe said:
Just a though Barry but you might find its worthwhile phoning or internetting some breakers, these vans must end up in breakers sometimes and a secondhand axle might be a lot cheaper. They only seem to do a few axle sizes so they will be on various vehicles
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Thanks Mark

I thought about that but at the end of the day its probably going to mean a lot of effort (l live in the middle of nowhere remember), plus me raking around and somehow getting the thing to the garage and a new one will (apparently) give us a huge payload increase plus a warranty. I would entertain it if was going to cost say £500 but I suspect it will work out more. After 3 stellas its not hurting as much. By the time ive had a box full I wont care.
 
Ahem you 2 b`s,

If there are any thanks due for this sudden rush to buy a grease gun and get to work, then the credit should go to the right place.

Modesty prevents me from saying who told you to get greasing. :rolleyes:
 
maingate said:
Ahem you 2 b`s,

If there are any thanks due for this sudden rush to buy a grease gun and get to work, then the credit should go to the right place.

Modesty prevents me from saying who told you to get greasing. :rolleyes:
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Well F... Me! Your right Mr Maingate. Post #3. Too late for me but Mr Giraffe owes you some beers!

See! All these boring moaners telling us we cant be serious and help each other and there is the wildman of the forum telling us some serious and helpful facts that have probably saved Marks van right at the beginning of the post.

Not one bit of slagging. yet.... Even Coola was nice to me.

Cheers
BD
 
barryd said:
Well F... Me! Your right Mr Maingate. Post #3. Too late for me but Mr Giraffe owes you some beers!

See! All these boring moaners telling us we cant be serious and help each other and there is the wildman of the forum telling us some serious and helpful facts that have probably saved Marks van right at the beginning of the post.

Not one bit of slagging. yet.... Even Coola was nice to me.

Cheers
BD
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Indeed I do, I'm sure we will meet at somepoint during the year and maingate you will be most welcome to join me for a dram or 2, we intend to make it north of Manchester at some point before Europe later in the year :D

Your right Barry, a lot of the banter is just that, we all know when something is serious and could mean a 'friend' being off of the road.
 
Cheers but Im going to let my trusty garage have a go. Cheshires too far really.

Will let you know how we get on.
 
Axle Update

Hi All

The new Axle has arrived and the vans booked in for next Wednesday. I mentioned that it needs to be properly greased and they are going to fill it full of grease before fitting it. I questioned this as I told them about it needing to be lifted clear of the ground before greasing. I am assuming however that filling it before fitting is the same thing as the idea is to take the pressure off. What do you reckon?
 
hi Barryd
I bought a neu A class LMC with one of the first Alko rear axles about 14 years ago in Germany. 2 years later after ca. 60000 Kms one side was 15 cms lower. I drove to Alko in Bavaria. After weighing the van, which was just under the max. weight, they fitted a new axle free of charge. After the exchange the van was still not level, so they told me either to have the water tank and spare wheel moved to the higher side or sell the van. I bought a new American RV. The new axles are better nowadays, but heavy back loads aren't good for them
John
 
Hi

Yes this is a worry as we were right on the limit with the old axle. However the new one does add extra payload. Another 400KG. Well it does if you apply to have the plates changed. Im not going to bother but wheather I do or dont the new axle should take more weight and as we were right on the limit with the old type axle we should have in theory if not "officially" a lot more to play with even with the scooter on the back.

When I think back. A. The old axle was never greased that I know about (vans 14 years old) we have done 13000 miles including several trips to Arran (worst roads in the UK) and all over Europe over all sorts of terrain so with the van on the limit and a motorbike acting like a big leaver its not suprising really it failed. With the new one hopefully if its treated every year and we are careful Im hoping we will be ok. Will probably upgrade the van in a couple of years or so anyway.

Cheers
Barry
 
I don't think I would fill it full of grease mate, as far as I'm aware your only supposed to put a few pumps in each side around 6 pumps I think and the vehicle has to be jacked up on both sides with the suspension at its maximum travel, any more than that you risk pushing the seal on the inside of bar into the tube, don't take my word for it though check alko site for the maintenance method.
 
Jimhunterj4 said:
I don't think I would fill it full of grease mate, as far as I'm aware your only supposed to put a few pumps in each side around 6 pumps I think and the vehicle has to be jacked up on both sides with the suspension at its maximum travel, any more than that you risk pushing the seal on the inside of bar into the tube, don't take my word for it though check alko site for the maintenance method.
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Thanks. You do realise this thread is now over seven years old though. :D I still have the van and its greased exactly as you describe every year and we have done a further 50000 miles since this thread was posted over the Alps and Pyrenees countless times. So far so good although the van is a bit of a classic now. :D
 
Lol maybe I should have paid more attention ha ha good you've still got the van and enjoying it, I'm off for the weekend I need a break away from work woes.
 
Jimhunterj4 said:
Lol maybe I should have paid more attention ha ha good you've still got the van and enjoying it, I'm off for the weekend I need a break away from work woes.
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Good your getting a break mate,hope you and Angela enjoy.( Rutland meeting is on)?
 
barryd said:
Thanks guys. ITs defo an Alko Chassis. So it looks like a new axle I reckon. If im keeping the van I would like to make it bullet proof. I suspect its probably never been greased. With the bike on the back we are right on the limit and the amount of miles we do coupled with the age of the van then its not completely supprising that somethings on the way out. I love our local garage and they service our cars really well but Im not sure if this is for them or not. One things for sure they would be cheaper than a MH dealer but perhaps I need an expert in Alko.

My thoughts were to put in a new axle and re-enforce it with some extra springs or Air ride suspension thingy which I have seen on tinternet.

Will call them in the morning.
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Hold on!!! 3 torsion bars in each side I sorted mine out, I will find a link to my thread. no need for new axle.:scared:
 
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