I used to have a bulldog leaf spring type stabiliser and it took quite a bit of effort to lock down the lever onto the friction disc, this alko stabiliser doesent seem to take half the effort. How do you know that its gripping the towball effectivly enough ? The wear indicators are fine so how else does one tell its ok?
Alko stabillser query amount of effort to lock down ?
- Thread starter Martin_374355885
- Start date
Damian
Moderator
Martin, as long as the wear indicators are showing as OK, then that is all is needed.
With the Al-KO system it does not take a huge effort to apply the friction to the ball.
With the Al-KO system it does not take a huge effort to apply the friction to the ball.
Martin, insert a spare tow ball, or if yours is detachable, into the hitch. Without the stabaliser applied you can swivel it freely but when the it is applied you will find it difficult or impossible to swivel by hand. You can use the red tow ball device you get with security devices to demonstrate it, although being plastic and slightly smaller, you can move them with difficulty.
Ours is now very stiff again - we've just had the pads replaced - although the wear indicators showed that everything was OK. The pads, when removed, were quite worn. If yours doesn't feel to be gripping properly then it may also need replacement pads.
I think I will perhaps replace the friction pads, although they arnt cheap ! I remember reading somwhere that with the bulldog leaf type stabiliser, you could use a set of bathroom scales to check the friction disc was ok. The article said (I think) while inhitched, lock the stabiliser down and use some bathroom scales to push the stabiliser leaf to one side and read the poundage required to get it moving. Unfortunatly I cant remember the required ideal poundage figure expected to confirm everything was ok. I suppose it would be possible to somehow carry out a similar test with the Alko, but as to what reading you should be looking for I dont know.
Hi Martin,
You do not mention what model no ALKO stabiliser you have.
reason for asking I have the 1300 model having like you changed from a bulldog leaf spring type stabiliser because it came to hard for me push down the locking handle.
After several trips with the new stabileser fitted I had to visit my local dealer for a service , upon hitching up the mechanic told me that I was not locking the alko correctly, what i was doing was pushing the lever down before i had turned the locking wheel untill I felt resistance,now after turning the wheel and then pushing the locking handle down I do feel the resistance, not as much as the old leaf spring type.
What it did prove was that I had been towing the van for 6 months , one of the trips on the A66 from Scotch Corner towards the Lakes with some gusty winds, without the slightest wobble,
so without the stabiliser the van handled very well.
I do use the stabiliser for peace of mind the extra large continental lorries that wiss past me , I never feel anyside wind suction.
Royston
You do not mention what model no ALKO stabiliser you have.
reason for asking I have the 1300 model having like you changed from a bulldog leaf spring type stabiliser because it came to hard for me push down the locking handle.
After several trips with the new stabileser fitted I had to visit my local dealer for a service , upon hitching up the mechanic told me that I was not locking the alko correctly, what i was doing was pushing the lever down before i had turned the locking wheel untill I felt resistance,now after turning the wheel and then pushing the locking handle down I do feel the resistance, not as much as the old leaf spring type.
What it did prove was that I had been towing the van for 6 months , one of the trips on the A66 from Scotch Corner towards the Lakes with some gusty winds, without the slightest wobble,
so without the stabiliser the van handled very well.
I do use the stabiliser for peace of mind the extra large continental lorries that wiss past me , I never feel anyside wind suction.
Royston
Hi Martin,
I had the same 3004 fitted last year and i had the opposite problem. I found the lever very stiff to press down to lock in the friction pads; also it squeaked and groaned for the first few hundred miles.
All the replies to my post on here said it should be hard to apply and it still is to this day. My wife can't apply it properly.
It does work though, when the large vehicles pass it hardly wobbles at all now.
I had the same 3004 fitted last year and i had the opposite problem. I found the lever very stiff to press down to lock in the friction pads; also it squeaked and groaned for the first few hundred miles.
All the replies to my post on here said it should be hard to apply and it still is to this day. My wife can't apply it properly.
It does work though, when the large vehicles pass it hardly wobbles at all now.
Have to Agree the handle on our last van was heavy to lock, and the current one is also heavy to lock, also gives some creaks and grones.
Hi, it is a cold wet misty day down here in East Sussex and the mention of a locking device before pushing the lever down makes me wants to go out and see ours.I have never seen or heard of such device and we tow without problems.On second thoughts looking out the window i will wait until Monday when the sun is supposed to come out.
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