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FWTD-50-T (17.5)
Maintenance
2.4
Running Gear
Suspension
The suspension on your trailer is a heavy duty, leaf spring, underslung type. The
leaf springs are not directly attached to the trailer, but are free to float against the wear
pads of the hangers and rockers. Adjustable radius rods are employed to keep the
axles in alignment.
The first maintenance check should be performed after an initial break-in period of
about 1,000 miles. A visual inspection of all suspension components and attachment
welds should be performed to reveal any obvious problems, such as cracks or unex-
pected wear.
During this ‘walk-around’, it is essential to also check the torque on all suspension
fasteners. In the course of the initial ‘shake down’ period in which the components of
the suspension system ‘seat in’, as much as 25% of the original clamp load on the
bolted joints can be lost. After the parts of the suspension have worked together for a
very short period of time, re-torquing the bolts is necessary to insure that undue move-
ment, which results in excessive suspension wear, does not occur.
During the first maintenance check, the trailers axle alignment should be examined
and adjusted. Alignment should also be checked following any maintenance or repair
procedure performed on the suspension.
Visually inspect the suspension system every three months or 25,000 miles for
signs of excess wear, elongation of bolt holes, and loosening of fasteners. Whenever
loose or replaced the fasteners in your suspension system should be torqued as de-
tailed below. The oiled torque values in the first column are for new fasteners with
lubricated threads. For maintenance check on fasteners that have been in service use
the higher torque values in the dry thread column. It is important that you check all bolts
and nuts to insure that the recommended torque values are being maintained.
You cannot ascertain these torques values visually or by ‘feel’. USE A TORQUE
WRENCH!
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Summary of Contents for FWTD-50-T
Page 16: ... page 16 FWTD 50 T 17 5 Operation THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY ...
Page 39: ... page 39 FWTD 50 T 17 5 Parts P A R T S THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY ...
Page 45: ... page 45 FWTD 50 T 17 5 Parts P A R T S 2 4 6 5 7 3 9 1 16 12 11 10 8 15 13 14 ...
Page 47: ... page 47 FWTD 50 T 17 5 THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY Parts P A R T S ...
Page 49: ... page 49 FWTD 50 T 17 5 P A R T S Parts 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 12 11 4 3 1 2 ...
Page 51: ... page 51 FWTD 50 T 17 5 Parts P A R T S THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY ...
Page 53: ... page 53 FWTD 50 T 17 5 Junction Box shown for reference only 5 4 1 3 2 6 Parts ...
Page 55: ... page 55 FWTD 50 T 17 5 Parts Detail shown on follow ing pages P A R T S 4 7 5 6 2 1 3 3 ...
