Fifth Wheel Adjustment

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Geoffwhite18, Apr 9, 2009.

  1. Rodeo_Joe

    Rodeo_Joe Light Load Member

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    Oct 24, 2008
    Blackstock, Ontario
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    often u can buy a new fifth wheel plate close to the cost of a rebuild kit. When I worked for a broker there wasn't enough differance to justify takin the time for rebuildin it.
    As far as king pin play...... there are whole companies out there specializin in replacing them if they dont wear out. Be careful if u start to tighten the fifth wheel cause if u switch to a trailer with a king pin thats not worn out it may not lock fully an you can lose the trailer down the road
     
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  3. barbwire625

    barbwire625 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 10, 2012
    Whitwell, TN
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    And yet no one answered his question! Depends on make of fifthwheel.
     
  4. rick3305rick

    rick3305rick Light Load Member

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    This thread was totally insane, lmao! He got one answer to his question, and as far as rebuilding a fifth wheel, dont waste your money, replace it. That is not the part to be cheap on. I worked for a company that wouldn"t let you rebuild it, most garages wont do it, dealers wont do it. I like saving a buck but not that way. It takes literally 10 minutes to change the whole thing. I know this was old but I was looking to put a crank on mine, did it to my last truck, lasted about 6 months and slack again. Thats when i changed it and found out the diifference between rebuilding and changing it, also if you find someone to rebuild it they wont guarantee it period. Good luck, and flash a fellow driver over or thank him or her with a blink.....................
     
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  5. BlueGenie8476

    BlueGenie8476 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 24, 2016
    Virginia Beach, VA
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    Can you tell me the symptoms of this part being bad?
     
  6. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

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    california norte
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    On mine I have to turn the bolt counter clock wise to shorten up the distance between the front of the 5th wheel throat and the locking bar that spans the 5th wheel jaw. I think it's time to replace the whole 5th wheel soon, 808,000 miles on it.
     
    Marius.M Thanks this.
  7. revmup

    revmup Bobtail Member

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    Mar 2, 2016
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    I have a fontaine 'noslack" 2 fifth wheel that's self adjusting. It has a spring loaded rod and nut sticking out the right side. When properly adjusted, you should be able to push the rod inward 1/2 inch and it springs back out. That assures that the auto adjustment is working properly. I was noticing slack in the jaws recently. the rod was adjusted right, so I flipped the fifth wheel over and discovered the spring that keeps the jaws adjusted was broken. Went to the hardware store, got a $2 spring, walked across the street for a $2,50 ice cream cone, went home replaced the spring, problem solved.
     
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  8. mugurpe

    mugurpe Medium Load Member

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    Arlington, MA
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    it's all about the ice-cream. examine, relax, execute.
     
  9. Boardhauler

    Boardhauler Road Train Member

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    Ballin' in it for Shakey
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    Last edited: May 28, 2016
    RET423, UnixNerd and Sinful1 Thank this.
  10. RoadRanger^^

    RoadRanger^^ Light Load Member

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    Apr 17, 2018
    Columbus, OH
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    Okay fellas drivers, i have question. I recently replaced my fifth wheel on volvo vnl 670. I had really big gap before i replaced it and the clunk was gone. Now 3 months after i start clunk again but only when i came to complete stop or drive slow i can here it squeking and it pisses me off. I know some will say grease it and i did there is a ton of grease on it. Does it need to be adjusted since it was new and now maybe settled and needs sdjustment ? Any advice will appreciate( i pay $1200 for it and i dont want any clunk or squeking noise or should i just return it.) thanks!
     
  11. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    Fairbanks Ak
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    I have drove some ragged wore out trucks that had several million miles on them, and don't think I have ever had a loose slider, plenty of fifth wheels with slack in them and plenty of wore out king pins, but most sliders on old equipment I have run across tend to be harder to slide than a newer one.

    Are you pulling the same trailer, there is a good chance the king pin is wore, if the new fifth wheel still has slack.

    If the plate itself is not wore out, I have zero problems rebuilding one. The last kit I bought was in the 250 range, the last holland fifth wheel I bought was 1200 bucks, so there is quite a bit of difference in cost.
     
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