Truck Parts and Service | Heavy Duty Trucking, Aftermarket, Service Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/307185
25 Service Bay W hile it's true some heavy-duty components require more at- tention than others, it's doubt- ful any component has more responsibil- ity while receiving less attention than the fi fth wheel. As the main coupling device between a tractor and trailer, the fi fth wheel is one of the most important operational and safety features on a truck. But due to its simple use and low fail- ure rate, it's often taken for granted. It's the type of part a customer might not give much thought to until it breaks down. And if that happens, it's probably too late. "It doesn't take a lot to maintain [a fi fth wheel] but it can be really bad if you don't," says Aaron Puckett, director of fl eet sales at Fontaine Fifth Wheel. By adding fi fth wheel service to a preventive maintenance offering, service providers can give customers peace of mind knowing that when they couple their tractors to a new load, they have nothing to fear. "If a fi fth wheel is properly main- tained, it will last," Puckett says. "You can get a million miles or more out of them." Puckett says Fontaine Fifth Wheel advises customers to check their fi fth wheel for cracks, dents and other system malfunctions during every trailer con- nection. A cracked or disfi gured fi fth wheel can impact the component's abil- ity to hold a kingpin in place, as can any problem with the fi fth wheel's locking mechanism, he says. Today's fi fth wheel products are built to last, but even the best engineering will sometimes be foiled by an accident or coupling collision. When those types of problems are found, a fi fth wheel should immediately be replaced, says Rob Nissen, national service manager at SAF-Holland. "If any of those things are evident, the wheel should be rebuilt," he says. "Then the wheel should be properly lubricated and adjusted to factory recommenda- tions." "If something is bent and not hooking up properly you shouldn't keep using that fi fth wheel," adds Robert Marsh, national sales manager at JOST Interna- tional. "It could be at risk for a failure." When providing basic maintenance on a fi fth wheel, Puckett says grease is the word. Fifth wheels require lubrication to operate at peak levels, he says. A fi fth wheel has a dirty job. During service maintenance checks — Puckett recommends fi fth wheels be serviced every 30,000 miles or 90 days — or cou- pling into a new trailer, it is important to make sure the component isn't covered in dirt, grease and grime. The fi fth wheel works best when it's been lightly lubricated. "A fi fth wheel is a mechanical device. It takes grease to make it work, but too much grease — when it's also covered with salt and sand — will almost make it so it's like clay on top of the fi fth wheel. In those situations it's not going to close as well," Puckett says. This is especially true in the winter, adds Marsh. "The more grease you have the more likely it will gum up and that can cause the fi fth wheel to not work properly," he says. Each OEM says its fi fth wheel prod- ucts are designed with grooves in the face of the fi fth wheel where lubrica- tion is best applied. Marsh recommends cleaning those areas of dirt and debris before adding grease to ensure proper lubrication. "You don't want an excess [of grease]," he says. "You don't want it falling off the sides." This creates an optimal surface for the trailer's landing gear, Puckett says. "It allows you to alleviate chatter," he says, and describes chatter as vibrations created by a poor fi fth wheel connection that can spread throughout the rig. Lubrication also improves the func- tionality of the locking mechanism, adds Nissen. "Lubrication is critical to not only the surface or face of the wheel, but also in the locking mechanism on the bottom side of the wheel," he says. The lock's moving parts also should be kept clean and lightly lubricated because they have W W W . T R U C K P A R T S A N D S E R V I C E . C O M M a y 2 0 1 4 | T R U C K P A R T S & S E R V I C E Lubrication is the most important aspect of fi fth wheel maintenance. The system's components must be properly cleaned and lubricated to ensure maximum performance.