Help! The Jockey Wheel has beaten me😢

[Dustydog]

I’m ashamed to say after 45 years caravanning the humble JW has beaten me. The original was past it’s sell by date, graunchy and hard to turn. Here’s a photo of my new AlKo one. Note inside the tube is a roll pin. So I unwound and split the oem and pulled the lower half through the Inboard chassis clamp. The new one will not split😥😥. What am I doing wrong??

 

[Jcloughie]

They do differ, but in all the ones I have had you just unwind until it splits into two. Are you saying the pin is preventing separation? It looks very difficult to get to.

A call to Alko seems in order.

John

 

[Dustydog]

They do differ, but in all the ones I have had you just unwind until it splits into two. Are you saying the pin is preventing separation? It looks very difficult to get to.

A call to Alko seems in order.

John

Yes, never seen one with a roll pin.

 

[Jcloughie]

It appears that the pin is not fully accessible. Perhaps it would push out using a flat tool against the inside of the tube. Then finish off with a smaller diameter pin. But it might be easier to grind it off, then when you have split it, drill it out so a split pin can be fitted.

But first I would call Alko, there may be a simple answer.

John

 

[Mr Plodd]

It appears that the pin is not fully accessible. Perhaps it would push out using a flat tool against the inside of the tube. Then finish off with a smaller diameter pin. But it might be easier to grind it off, then when you have split it, drill it out so a split pin can be fitted.

But first I would call Alko, there may be a simple answer.

John

That pin had to be inserted at some stage, and it wouldn't have been while it's in the location in the picture!
Why not just swop the actual wheels? Simple enough job to extract the axle.

 

[Jcloughie]

That pin had to be inserted at some stage, and it wouldn't have been while it's in the location in the picture!
Why not just swop the actual wheels? Simple enough job to extract the axle.

The pin might have been inserted with a special tool. I gather from the OP that it is the winding mechanism that is the problem with the old JW assembly.

John

 

[Gafferbill]

Does this video help.....

View: https://youtu.be/wmc7JqzWHkQ

 

[Dustydog]

Does this video help.....

View: https://youtu.be/wmc7JqzWHkQ

Thanks Bill,
That’s exactly how my original came apart. For some reason the new one will not fully unscrew. I’ve never before seen a roll pin on the inside lower part of the thread. I could remove the handle roll pin, Jack the caravan right up and insert, then hammer the roll pin back , if it will go back!
I‘ll have another go today , failing that I’ll ring the guys I bought it from. They are trailer specialists and half the price of Bailey

Mr Plodd thanks for the suggestion. As John said it is the thread and bearing that’s gone , the wheel is fine.

 

[Firkle]

How does the handle attach to the centre threaded rod, is it also held by a roll pin?

If so, have they first fitted the pin you cannot get to, assembled the wheel and rod mechanism into the outer tube and then fitted the handle last?

Doing it in the reverse order would allow you to get to the pin you want to remove.

 

[Buckman]

I‘ll have another go today , failing that I’ll ring the guys I bought it from. They are trailer specialists and half the price of Bailey
is fine.

I guess now you know why they are half the price of the Bailey offering? 😆

 

[Dustydog]

I guess now you know why they are half the price of the Bailey offering? 😆

Ha ha. but it is an identical Al-ko model . My AWS told me never buy direct from Bailey, they double the price😉

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Could be wrong but is it not the one intended for use with the side clamp mounting?

 

[Paullus1959]

I know it's a long shot but, would it be possible to raise the hitch high enough by lowering the rear corner steadies and raising the front ones so that you could try to manoeuvre the winding handle up through the bottom of the JW clamp? Just a thought.

 

[Dustydog]

I know it's a long shot but, would it be possible to raise the hitch high enough by lowering the rear corner steadies and raising the front ones so that you could try to manoeuvre the winding handle up through the bottom of the JW clamp? Just a thought.

Yes . Looking at it this morning I tried it upside down and it will work. Thanks. This may be the easier option tomorrow

 

[Dustydog]

Could be wrong but is it not the one intended for use with the side clamp mounting?

No. They are all the same irrespective of where they mount. But thanks for the thought.

 

[Paullus1959]

Have you managed to fit the jockey wheel?

 

[Dustydog]

No not yet.
I‘ve spoken to the seller. Some do and some don’t have roll pins that stop them splitting. The answer is remove the handle roll pin and slip,into the chassis. I think lifting the hitch high enough with jacks and blocks I can wangle the new one in.
As it can’t be split at the moment I’m wondering how next year it can be regreased? Food for thought 🤔🤔

 

[Mickyjb]

Dustydog,
I've just done the reverse of what you're attempting with the jockey wheels. The one you're trying to install is the one I just removed. It came out in one piece - with enough elevation -

 

[ProfJohnL]

I've only ever had to change two jockey wheels. One was simple because the chassis bracket was on the outside of the A frame and opened fully, but the other was about 25 years ago and more like what you have described. I ended up bottoming the rear of the caravan on the ground using the front steadies and blocks, and fortunately with the JW clamp fully opened I was able to snake the new JW in by feeding the winding handle through the clamp first. It wasn't easy but I did eventually manage it. Whether it will work for you I don't know.

 

[Dustydog]

I've only ever had to change two jockey wheels. One was simple because the chassis bracket was on the outside of the A frame and opened fully, but the other was about 25 years ago and more like what you have described. I ended up bottoming the rear of the caravan on the ground using the front steadies and blocks, and fortunately with the JW clamp fully opened I was able to snake the new JW in by feeding the winding handle through the clamp first. It wasn't easy but I did eventually manage it. Whether it will work for you I don't know.

Thanks Prof ,
It will work. I tried from the top and yes the handle, suitably manipulated will go through. So suitably jacked up,it should work from the underside. I’ll do i next week. But I still need how to work out the annual,greasing

 

[Ferrodo]

Looking at it that roll pin isn’t very big diameter wise. I would have thought that the design would include a hole through the outer tube to allow the pin to be drifted out.