Hi. I have found recently that the tightener for the clamp has been very hard to do up. Today whilst travelling back home the jockey wheel collapsed and the wheel was on the road .I had to pull over to see what the noise was and the shaft had come down I tightened it and made it home. We moved the caravan around to the side of the house with the motor mover and then it fell onto the wheel where it now resting. Could anyone please advise me on what to do. Thanks. Alex
It sounds like clamp screw thread has been crossed. Usually its the thread on the screw that goes rather rather than the clamp so you might get away with just a new clamp screw, your local caravan shop should stock them, take the old one to ensure you get the right type.
If you do need a new clamp assembly size will be 48mm. Several different types as well. Grease the thread is a good idea.
Sometimes they get full of road gunge stuck to the grease, which stiffens the action. It pays to take them out and clean the ends from time to time. If its stiff going back in (oooerr mrs), dont force it, as it will be crossed. Take it out and try again till it screws in easily.
Very same thing happened to mine, thread seized and I thought it was clamped tight. I had to get a bar on the end to tighten it.
I was on my way to getting it serviced so it was sorted, they changed the threaded handle (tightener).
Must admit it hadn't been used for about 9 months, this was a couple of years ago.
A neighbour of mine with an Elddis had a similar problem. His van was delivered new to him early last year and be called for me when it collapsed in a heap on his drive.
He had been a motor homer and this was his first caravan.
Wonder if being Elddis was just a co-incidence.
In this case there was a spacer shim missing and the threads on the clamp nut were a problem.
the handles are too short.. combine the too short handle factor with tight threads and you have an ideal recipe for slipping.. they are also things that people take for granted until one collapses.. motor movers put extra stresses on them as well..
a mover will soon bend the average cheap jockey wheel if it digs in.. it bends the shaft and damages the clamp.. bin there done that and with a nice big fat pneumatic tyre fitted..
Is it a big job to change the jockey wheel and clamp, can someone explain whats involved, i,v been looking at the ribbed type jockey wheels on ebay, they seem a good idea.
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
my clamp is bolted on.. easy to change.. on my sons van the clamp is welded on not so easy to change..
if your clamp is bolted on its easy to change the lot.. if its welded you have problems i would cut the old welded clamp off with an angle grinder drill two holes and fit a bolt on one..
in some ways its easier to change the lot than mess about with your old one..
Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 30/9/2014
Have a look here for jockey wheel replacement.
Cant see any thing on that link that shows jockey wheel replacement on a caravan, motorized jockey wheels, push bikes, servicing bearings on them, in fact every thing but, lol.
Emmmm a jockey wheel is a jockey wheel is a jockey wheel, number eight on the link shows how to remove the wheel. It ain't rocket science, it's only a split pin that holds the thru bar in place.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 30/9/2014
Emmmm a jockey wheel is a jockey wheel is a jockey wheel, number eight on the link shows how to remove the wheel. It ain't rocket science, it's only a split pin that holds the thru bar in place.
Number 8 shows how to change a jockey wheel on a boat trailer, no plastic cover to remove or the weight of a caravan to cope with.
as jobs go changing a complete jockey wheel assembly isnt that difficult.. it would need some mechanical skills or paying someone that has them.. i could do it in about an hour and this would include grinding the welded on bracket off if there was one