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Subject Topic: Alko sounds like nails on a blackboard Post Reply Post New Topic
Personian220476
25/4/2011 at 10:27am
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 Outfit: Bailey Bretagne View ian220476's Profile View Profile   Reply to ian220476 Reply   Quote ian220476 Quote  
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Hi,

Returned yesterday from a lovely trip down in the surrey hills.

No problems at all until we got back to our storage facility. As we obviously slowed and started manouvering around the facility, particularly in reverse, this awful screeching noise was coming from the hitch. No problems when at cruising speed but just when it was slow manourvres.

I have no idea what it is. Despite the noise the hitch was all fitted on perfectly well and was fine, it was just this noise. The one thing I did notice was that once i had reversed it into place, I normally let the car go forwards a few inches to release the tension on the alko 'spring' thingy. This seemed reluctant to extend again, although ultimately did.

Any ideas?
Thx
Ian

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If you believe in it, why not!


PersonTonyC52
25/4/2011 at 2:59pm
 Location: West Midlands
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Has the hitch head had a service and grease?, there are nipples for use with a grease gun. If noise is coming from stabiliser hitch then you can lift the arm when manourvering on pitch\storage, also if there has ben any contamination of hte pads use break cleaning fluid to remove and de-grease.

HTH



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Tony C


Personmichael
25/4/2011 at 4:30pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold View michael's Profile View Profile   Reply to michael Reply   Quote michael Quote  
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if alko stabiliser hitch head then the pads need cleaning of dust.brake cleaner is good as you can spray it inside without removal of the pads.see also

www.al-ko.co.uk



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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


Personguzgog
25/4/2011 at 7:40pm
 Location: ashfields notts
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I had the same problem but quite easy to solve, i removed both pads from the alco hitch the faces had a shiny coating on them i just removed the coating with some emery cloth also while you`ve got the pads out check to see if there worn down they may need replacing.     cheers  Stan


Personian220476
26/4/2011 at 2:12pm
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Fantastic and thank you for the feedback.

Its away in storage for the next few days but will be with it again at the weekend.  I haven't greased the areas discussed personally (only had the van a couple of months) but will do that.  I will also look to clean the pads and tow ball.  I do Mountain Bike racing and have a disc brake cleaner which I use when pads etc get contaminated to clean them up.  Would this be a suitable product to use?

Thx

Ian



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If you believe in it, why not!


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PersonAceselect
26/4/2011 at 5:35pm
 Location: Nottinghamshire
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Yes, that brake cleaner should be fine. I had the same problem recently and before setting off for my recent trip I sprayed inside the Alko hitch, let dry and then wiped out with a lint free cloth. I used a fine wet and dry sandpaper on the tow ball and then cleaned that too with brake cleaner before hitching up. Not a squeak this time, even when pitching.

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David
Chillax, you're caravaning


Personian220476
23/5/2011 at 10:49pm
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Hi,

Been a while since I responded on this. Not a good outcome though...

Hitch has been fully greased through the nipples
Tow Ball 'emeried' and cleaned with brake cleaner
Hitch pads fully replaced

Still squeaking...any last ideas before it goes to the caravan fixers???

Thx
Ian

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If you believe in it, why not!


Personmichael
23/5/2011 at 10:54pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold View michael's Profile View Profile   Reply to michael Reply   Quote michael Quote  
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you could try a new towball as the one you have may be damaged.ie not smooth or worn to 49 mm.they only cost about £5.

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.



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