Draw bar bushes

[Sproket]

On my van over winter I intend to change the draw bar bushes, when I grease them at the moment it takes up all of the play, but by the time we have been towing for a few hours I can feel the play again it's now exceeding the amount of movement specified by Alko. .( only when all of the grease has gone )

How are they fitted into the housing ?

Are they a press fitt ? As in tight fit ?

Do they require reaming to size before fitting or after?

Is there a minimum wear size for the draw bar ?

Thanks.

 

[Dustydog]

http://www.seered.co.uk/alko_towhitch.ht
sir Sproket

is this any help?

 

[Sproket]

DD your link doesn't work ...

 

[Dustydog]

http://www.seered.co.uk/alko_towhitch.htm

 

[Sproket]

Thanks, read all of that before I posted the question ....

Just don't like how he describes his reaming process. ..

 

[Dustydog]

In 40 years I must admit I've never heard of this type of wear .How common is it?
A couple of years ago the " dealer of the year" would have helped here.

 

[Sproket]

I suppose some of it depends on how old the van is and how often the draw bar has been greased over the years. Try to lift yours up and down right at the very end it will have a small amount of play.

In reality its only a length of polished tube that slides backwards and forwards in two plastic bushes but with a downward force being applied.

 

[Damian]

The bushes are reamed after fitting, but it is not a DIY job.
Al-Ko do not recommend trying it yourself either.
You would be best advised to send the complete unit to Al-Ko for refurbishment.

 

[Sproket]

Damian.
Thanks for that I will contact Al-Ko for a quote.

 

[JohnMW]

Buy a new AlKO Hitch - much safer.

 

[limecc]

I've just changed the bushes on a renovation project so decided to post and help others in the same predicament. Even if the caravan is worth it, no Alko service centre will help you as nobody has the reamers or know-how anymore. They just change the whole assemby at high cost, all for the want of two plastic bushes costing £16 for the pair.
It cost me an additional £20 for a flexible drill extension (so you can reach the rear bush) and £5 for a 50mm flap wheel. The material removal was slow, had to keep the speed down to prevent heat build-up and the nylon melting. Would have been best to have got a second flap wheel I think. The end result worked out perfectly. Any capable diy'er can give this a go. Don't try using a file or huge rasp like the guy found in the link posted earlier lol.