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rugermark2's avatar
rugermark2
Explorer
Jul 17, 2014

My stupid Question of the day

I just bought a new 5th wheel and I was reading through my owners manual, and it said that my trailer either has the Dexter Ez lube axles or the AL-KO Axis Safe-T-Lube axles. How do I tell which one I have? The materials I got from the dealer doesn't have any information about what's actually on my trailer. The maintenance is different between the 2 axles from what I read on line. The Ez lube you inspect and repack every 12 months or 12,000 miles, AL-KO you inspect every 6 months or 6,000 miles. Any help would be appreciated.

21 Replies

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  • RJsfishin's avatar
    RJsfishin
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2014
    Why would these hubs require maintenance any oftener than a car or truck w/ tapered roller bearings ?
    It is those lacking experience that should not be grabbing a grease gun just because they see a grease zerk. And once you do get the proper experience, you would never have anything else.
    Disassembling and repacking bearings even once a year, shows ignorance, or to put it nicer, lack of experience.
  • rugermark2's avatar
    rugermark2
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2014
    I have the AL-KO. Thanks for the help locating it. It does seem excessive inspecting and repacking every 6 months. It definitely seems like cya.
  • bpounds's avatar
    bpounds
    Nomad
    Jul 17, 2014
    darsben wrote:
    What is the problem inspecting every six months is good practie and works for either brand.


    Actually even 12 months is far too often. I can see the 12k miles frequency. But every year is just plain dumb and is an obvious CYA thing from the manufacturers.

    Are you really going to pull the seals every 6 months to inspect the bearings? What if you didn't actually go anywhere? Still going to do it? Silly stuff really.
  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    Jul 17, 2014
    What is the problem inspecting every six months is good practie and works for either brand.
  • Dog_Folks's avatar
    Dog_Folks
    Explorer II
    Jul 17, 2014
    ScottG wrote:
    Lynnmor wrote:
    It doesn't matter about the brand. They both are just grease fittings. Do whatever you are comfortable with. Personally I don't use the stupid things.


    Most people with enough experience with them don't.


    Sorry, have to disagree with the word "most."

    Some, certainly.

    Some of us have had some good luck with EZ Lube.
  • rugermark2's avatar
    rugermark2
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2014
    ScottG wrote:
    FWIW, I think the 6 month thing on the Alko is a misprint. The Alko manual suggests yearly.


    Note: Even with the Safe-T-Lube Feature, periodic inspection and repacking must be done every 6 months or 6,000 miles. Do
    not pack hub full of grease. Excessive grease may leak into brake drums causing brake failures.

    This note is out of the owners manual. Maybe I am looking at the wrong one?
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jul 17, 2014
    Lynnmor wrote:
    It doesn't matter about the brand. They both are just grease fittings. Do whatever you are comfortable with. Personally I don't use the stupid things.


    Most people with enough experience with them don't.


    FWIW, I think the 6 month thing on the Alko is a misprint. The Alko manual suggests yearly.
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer II
    Jul 17, 2014
    It doesn't matter about the brand. They both are just grease fittings. Do whatever you are comfortable with. Personally I don't use the stupid things.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2014
    There should be a label or stamp on the axle tube. It is usually located toward the center of the axle.

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