9/15/2023 0 Comments Fifth wheel king pin replacement![]() ![]() Proper lubrication of your fifth wheel plate will allow for your trailer to move smoothly and freely while on the road. Keeping your fifth wheel top plate lubricated has many benefits by itself. By loosening the adjustment screw, the lock jaws will add free play between the top plate and king pin, but most manufacturers don’t recommend having less than 0.040” of free play. Although it is less common, sometimes your lock jaws can become too tight and loosening the adjustment screw is needed. ![]() By tightening your adjustment screw, the lock jaws of your fifth wheel top plate will remove any excess free play between the fifth wheel top plate and the king pin on the trailer. Most manufacturers recommend free play of 0.080” but check your manufacturer specifications before tightening or loosening the adjustment screw. To prevent your trailer from disconnecting, most importantly you need to routinely inspect the top plate locking mechanism for proper play. ![]() This happens all too often and can be easily prevented. If your lockjaws are too loose, your trailer could completely disconnect while you’re driving down the road. Over time, your lockjaws will wear down and loosen from the pulling weight and jerking motion of your trailer. The adjustment screw plays a silent but important role on your fifth wheel top plate and could mean the difference between getting to your destination with your trailer or losing it while driving down the road. Inspect All Components Top Plate Free Play That is why proper maintenance of your fifth wheel plate is essential. If the internal components are not working properly, the truck may not be able to connect or disconnect from the trailer or worse yet, the trailer could disconnect while driving down the road causing thousands of dollars in damage or even worse yet! Excessive movement between semi and trailer can affect the semi’s handling and could result in loss of control. The purpose of the fifth wheel top plate is to provide trailers and cargo a secure connection for heavy loads, if coupled correctly. They consist of many internal components, such as lockjaws, springs, bushings, and a release handle, that must all work together smoothly for operation. The fifth wheel top plate is the horseshoe shaped plate that is attached to the main frame of the vehicle. But what exactly is a fifth wheel top plate? You probably see them while you’re driving down the road, and don’t even realize it. From RVs to heavy duty class 8 tractor trailers, a towing job may not be possible without the use of a fifth wheel top plate. ![]()
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