Technical Advice "Well Done"

gatewaya89
gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
100 Comments
edited June 2017 in Club Membership #1

Hi All

Ansley & Jane here just thought it may be nice as totally newcomers to caravanning to give a big thank you to the CMC Technical bod's! Especially Eileen who I seem to always be chatting to for advice! Let me give you an in site to our last telephone conversation, When we first took our van out to the White Beach site all was well until we left the site and had traveled some 5 miles when out of nowhere came the sounds of squalling and squeaking! we stopped and tried to figure out what the hell was making the noises? anyway managed to get back to our secure site and unhitched the van and went on home. Next day first thing I was on the telephone to the technical bod's yet again! and Yes Eileen had the privilege once again of talking to her favorite caravan problem caller (..lol) Anyway once again she listened to the problem and straight away asked the question "Have you removed the paint from your ball" "No I said its brand new" why would I do that? She then goes on to tell me that the paint can rub of the ball while traveling and get stuck up between the friction pads which then causes the loud sounds we heard on the way back!And not only that but then she tells me what parts to buy and how to fix the problem myself! What a women hey!.lol Anyway brought parts carried out instructions given by Eileen and low and behold hitched up yet again took van out for trial run and not a squeak or sound was to be heard! We often forget that the club has all these staff working in the back ground and as we only get to see just the wardens on site,Jane & Ansley would like to say a really big thank you to Eileen, Kelly and all the staff that man the technical help line as the help and advice they give on a daily basis is priceless to someone like us who are newbie's and just starting out on our caravanning experiences. Saying "Thank you" to all for such a great service doesn't somehow express what a great service you are delivering on behalf of the club! "Well Done Guy's"

Comments

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
    500 Comments
    edited June 2017 #2

    Great to hear that you got helpful advice and are again enjoying your caravanning. laughing

    I've been there too. In my case I cleaned the offending parts with Halford's brake cleaner to get rid of the racket. I now wipe both the ball and the inside of the hitch with a clean rag spayed with aforesaid cleaner before each tow.

    You may already do so but if not it's worth keeping a ball-cover on the tow-bar when it's not in use.

  • N1805
    N1805 Forum Participant Posts: 1,092
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2017 #3

    Good to see appreciation of our club resources.   There is a lot on offer via the club not just campsites.  Enjoy your next trip away.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2017 #4

    removing paint from a tow ball is well documented here ...... wink

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #5

    Not a tow-er but curious. Keep reading here on CT that you should remove paint from towball, I believe it causes squeaking. My question is if this is needed why paint it on the first place? One puzzled person. Ps I can understand cleaning get the towball to ensure nothing on it.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2017 #6

    Not all are. When I bought my Lunar it came with a set of friction pads for the stabiliser and an unpainted tow ball. The ones that come painted are painted to prevent them rusting in storage. Not seen this done until fairly recently. As you gather the paint wears off and clogs the friction material in the hitch head

  • RowenaBCAMC
    RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #7

    Great to know you received good advice from the Club's technical team Ansley & Jane. Kelly also posts on Club Together, offering Club help and advice to members in the technical sections. 

    I will forward your feedback to the team. smile 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #8

    Ansley & Jane don't forget you more than welcome to also ask your questions here on this forum if you have access to the internet. 

    David

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2017 #9

    Just out of interest, what 'parts' were you advised to buy?

    Because frankly, if it was more than a sheet of emory paper, I'd be very surprised.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2017 #10

    Replacement friction pads perhaps

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2017 #11

    The same sheet of empry paper would have sorted them too.

    You certainly don't need new pads after getting a bit of contamination on a new set.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2017 #12

    'Appen so, dunno never tried to clean any.

  • KellyHenderson
    KellyHenderson Forum Participant Posts: 76
    edited June 2017 #13

    Thank you so much for your kind comments. We (Eileen, Dave, myself and Nigel) really enjoy talking to members.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2017 #14

    Kelly - what did you suggest then?

    (for tbe benefit of the rest of us).

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
    100 Comments
    edited June 2017 #15

    Hi All

    Update since posting to tech dept! Advice spot on! removed old "Friction Pads" to find very well worn and covered in black paint from the new tow bar, Purchased new set of pads fitted in under a minute inside of tow bar now clean as a whistle, went out to Sandringham for a test run and what a difference! Not a sound or a squeak to be heard. Threw old set away as very well worn and to be honest at the price of new one's its just easier to fit them and know job done for a good few years again!As newbies can't thank you guys enough for all advice given as usual spot on!If only tow bar fitters would tell you about cleaning tow ball before use! hey ho! can't have everything..lol

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #16

    Good to hear you made good use of the Technical advice line,  Gatewaya89.  It's a useful reminder to us all that they are there, ready and waiting to receive our calls.

    David 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #17

    yes, agree. Some things like that are often taken as known by those more experienced and forget we all had to learn even the simple stuff sometime. As the saying goes, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. You pay for the advice line so use it

  • gatewaya89
    gatewaya89 Forum Participant Posts: 157
    100 Comments
    edited June 2017 #18

    As we said! praise where praise is due! these guys field god knows how many calls a day and on so many subjects and yet every time I have rang in with a query your met with a great smile on the telephone and a reassurance that they can either give you the right answer or at least point you in the right direction.And Corner steady is right when he points out not all of us have been caravanning for years and therefore we have to ask the most basic questions. I can't remember how many times i rang in to sort out "Nose Weights" on the van but Eileen & Kelly were very patient and explained it in such a way that with me the penny finally dropped! again to the experienced person not a problem but to a newbie all I can really say is thank god these guy's are there to help!Well done Girls & Boys and keep up the good work!