Can any one help me, i have just purchased a 3004 alko stabiliser as new condition
The problem is i do not no where to get a HEX KEY to fit on the high tensile bolts, i have tryed various caravan shops, they say they come with the kit from new, Any one got any ideas as i can not fit it with out it.
ps: are they easy to fit or should i take it to caravan dealer. With thanks
Should be able to get the "hex key" from any half tidy tool supplier. I've fitted teh AKS1300 and they are easy enough, just take care not to allow the damper to drop back stopping you from getting the bolts in. The instructions say to push the bolts out with the pin provided then the pin stops the damper from moving back. UNfortunately in my case it also stopped the old hitch coming off. I pushed the bolts out then quickly pushed the pins in after removing the hitch.
Posted by Message posted by LegsDownKettleOn on 24/1/2010 at 3:24pm Should be able to get the "hex key" from any half tidy tool supplier. I've fitted teh AKS1300 and they are easy enough, just take care not to allow the damper to drop back stopping you from getting the bolts in. The instructions say to push the bolts out with the pin provided then the pin stops the damper from moving back. UNfortunately in my case it also stopped the old hitch coming off. I pushed the bolts out then quickly pushed the pins in after removing the hitch.
...I am trying to fit an Alko 3004 Stabiliser to my 1994 Avondale and it has taken most of the time this afternoon to get the old hitch off due to the rear bolt (of the pair) having to be grinded off it was so tight after years of use. In removing this bolt I allowed to happen exactly as LegsDownKettleOn warns about and let the damper drop back and now I can't get the new rear bolt through. My question is how can I move the damper back? Is it just with brute force or is there a way to do this if I remove the A-frame cover?
Any help would be much appreciated as I'm due to take the van out this weekend and my other half won't be best pleased as currently there is no hitch attached!
I had the same problem on my last 'van when I changed my standard Alko hitch to the Winterhoff stabiliser. Ended up with me ramming the damper back into the hitch with the handle of a hammer and someone else putting the pin through to hold it in place. Even then it only took about 50 mins and a lot of swearing about the pin to do the job.
So it looks like you'll have to push the tube back and find the end of the damper .
Thanks for this Wizard, it answers the question about being able to push the damper back. I've located the end of the damper, so will get onto this tomorrow with an able assistant on pin duty....can't wait!
The bolt furthest away from the hitch holds the draw bar in place so if you just take the bolts out then expect some serious problems as you can't prize the spring back and then becomes a professional job and of course you won't be able to tow it so you will have a call out charge as well. The kit comes with a dowel which is used to replace the bolt so you have to drive the dowel through bushing the bolt out. The dowel then remains in place whilst you take out the remaining bolt. When the old hitch is removed you then place your new Alko hitch in place putting the bolts back in order of removal so it's the one nearest the hitch first then you have to drive the bolt through pushing out the dowel. Screw on the nuts and tighten to the specific torque. I have done this job myself on an Alko 1300 stabiliser but the operation is exactly the same disregards what hitch you are fitting.
If you use a cross head screw driver a bit smaller than the bolt hole you should be able to ( putting it in on a angle to the hole ) get hold of the damper end and lever it forward . If you don't have a dowel i would make one from a old bolt first .
What you need is a ' Torx ' key to remove the bolts first but the question is what size? The best thing to do is locate a company first that deals with industrial tools and when you have found one, take out the bolt nearest to the towball hitch (DON'T remove the one furthest away from the coupling as this is supporting the damper spring) and take it to the tool shop and ask them for a Torx key to fit the bolt. They usually fit on the end of a ratchet very similar to how a socket fits so once you have one you can keep it just in case you ever need it again in the future.