Help, my red alko handle pops up.
Didn't quite know where to put this but we've had a 3 day jolly to reach Lake Como and 3 times near the end of our trip down when stopping for a break I noticed the red handled alko lever had popped up from it's down position anybody got any ideas what might
cause this, it was definitely down as far as possible before hand by the way. Thanks in advance .
Comments
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Yes definitely couldn't get it down any further unless I jumped on it !! But on the last leg of our journey which was small bumpy roads it stayed down which was strange, it's just a bit disconcerting that's all I suppose I'll have to keep my eye on it
or cable tie it down . The pads are new but we travelled about 600 miles before this trouble free.0 -
When I replaced the friction pads, it did feel like I needed to stand on the lever to get it right own.......it really is that hard.
The lever needs to be touching the rest of the stabiliser i.e. as far as it can physically go.
You really shouldn't be needing to be cable tying it down.....that cannot be right.
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We have (or had!) the same problem. My OH couldn't understand it as each time it happened he was more thorough about pushing it right down. He eventually discovered (after braking hard just after setting off and the hitchlock handle popping up) that the handbrake is in line with the hitchlock handle. When braking the caravan slows but moves forward relative to the car, and the handbrake hits the hitchlock handle and pushes it up! He remedies this each time, with a 3 cm half circle of that high density swimming noodle pushed down at the side of the handbrake, which pushes it outwards by about a quarter of an inch and stops it hitting the hitchlock!
We now keep a large selection of cut pieces of foam swimming noodle as occasionally a piece will shake loose and drop off particularly if they've been well used and the foam has compressed a little! So if you see any odd bits of bright green cut up swimming noodle you'll know we've passed that way!
I don't know if your caravan might have a similar configuation of handbrake/hitchlock, but it's worth looking at, and if my explanation of how to remedy it doesn't make sense, email me on valdaathome@gmail.com and he can probably explain exactly what he does!
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Sorry that should have said 'remedies this each trip' - it no longer pops up as it used to do, after braking. Perhaps you could test your hitchlock next time you're hitched up - make sure it's down properly, brake hard shortly after setting off, and see if it's popped up.
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Thanks all for your help, Val no handbrake is already set to one side so that's not it but will just have to keep on eye on it really but I will be more forceful when pushing it down from now on thanks.
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Just try it Steve, ours looks as if it won't foul the hitchlock when you glance down at it, but it actually does when the caravan comes forward when the rubber bush is compressed. Try a quick brake when leaving the site and see what happens.
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Just try it Steve, ours looks as if it won't foul the hitchlock when you glance down at it, but it actually does when the caravan comes forward when the rubber bush is compressed. Try a quick brake when leaving the site and see what happens.
Write your comments here...No its a long way over Val but I know what you mean as our old van had the brake that used to hit the alko lever when stopping abruptly.
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Just an update for those that that took part in this thread, travelled the 830 odd miles back without a problem but i was more manly in pushing the handle down this time so it seems that could have been the problem.
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I had exactly the same problem. The dealer fit tow bar had a standard bolt on ball and not the Alko ball where the ball is 10mm higher than the standard ball. When cornering, if car and caravan are not on the same plane, then the hitch catches on the ball
mounting flange and forces the arm up in a right hand turn. You can check if this is the cause as 'flats'will be worn on the hitch side discs.0
