holland fifth wheel

When they develop slack, adjustment will not remove it. To tighten it back up requires either a rebuild kit or a new top plate assembly. The cost is similar for one vs the other, just more labor time and mess to rebuild your existing top plate.

 

I'm not familiar with how your particular 5th wheel adjusts, but I DO know they can be adjusted. Is there a threaded rod with a nut sticking out of the front of your top plate?

 

Just did some digging...this page will have all the service literature you will need: http://ww1.safholland.us/sites/usa/.../fifthwheels/fw8series/Pages/HOLLAND FW8.aspx

 

You can adjust them, but the adjustment is for the release mechanism. The locking mechanism is self adjusting every time it locks to a pin. When there is excessive wear in the jaws or at the front of the top plate, it can no longer self compensate and requires a rebuild kit or replacement.

 

I just had my Holland rebuilt because they could not adjust the slack out of it. It was $400 for the parts and $400 for labor. If I had known it would be that much I would have just bought a new Jost 5th wheel for around the same money. They make a model that will sit on your same saddles.

 

I use to rebuild a lot of them, but it's no longer cost effective and extremely messy.
Parts and labor are just to high to compete with replacement costs.
Best to just buy a new top plate and pivot bushings and have a new one.