Al-ko locks and them ceasing to work

Runhater
Runhater Forum Participant Posts: 8
edited June 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1
I'm wondering if you anyone on here could help me.

 

We're fairly new to caravanning and bought and Al-ko secure lock for our caravan seeing that the housing for it was built in.

 

It worked fine last year, but this year, having taken it off, we just can't get it to screw back in.  It goes in a little way but simply won't budge any further.

 

We've tried washing out the "hole" and using WD40, but nothing seems to work.  Is this a common problem, is there a way to fix it without having to replace the entire wheel lock?

 

One thing is that there was no cover on the van over the lock when we bought it, so I'm wondering if it could have been damaged in transit?

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #2

    There is normally a yellow"dust cover"on the back plate threaded part if this was not on then it's possible that the thread is corroded it might need a "tap"scewing in to venue thread 

  • Runhater
    Runhater Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited June 2016 #3

    Hi, thanks for the advice.

    That sounds reasonable, although, being a complete amateur I don't know what you mean by "tap" screwing in to venue thread.

    Is that something I can do, or do I need to get a specialist in ;-(

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #4

    Hi, thanks for the advice.

    That sounds reasonable, although, being a complete amateur I don't know what you mean by "tap" screwing in to venue thread.

    Is that something I can do, or do I need to get a specialist in ;-(

    Write your comments here...sorry mean renew thread,not sure of size ,  I am sure someone will be along soon with the information if not ,an e-mail to Alko should get a response 

  • iffajobsworthdoing
    iffajobsworthdoing Forum Participant Posts: 94
    edited June 2016 #5

     A mobile engineer would probably be your best bet, then a new yellow dust cap from Alko to save further expense.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #6

    Unless you have the orange 'lozenge' perfctly positionec in the centre of the gap between the wheel spokes, it will not go on.

  • Runhater
    Runhater Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited June 2016 #7

    Have emailled Al-ko, will need to find an engineer I guess. 

    Unfortunately it's not the lonzenge as the bolt won't go in even without the lozenge.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #8

    The bolt of the lock is a M20 (assume it's a standard coarse thread ... I only measured the dia, not the pitch) ie 20mm dia. Taps are not cheap to buy if you only need to use it once, but if you could borrow one ..... Or ... if you get a M20 bolt and work
    that into the reciever ie forwards & backwards, that should clean up a bit of rust in the thread. That assumes it's the female thread on the caravan chassis. The alternative is that the bolts form the lock have been damaged and it's the bolt that needs cleaning
    up.

  • Runhater
    Runhater Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited June 2016 #9

    You are all wonderful people, thanks for all the help, will be googling M20 bolts now.  Love the caravan club!

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #10

    You are all wonderful people, thanks for all the help, will be googling M20 bolts now.  Love the caravan club!

    You'll need a 24mm spanner/socket to fit it Wink

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #11

    Just thinking outloud ..... Laughing You are assembling it all correctly? I ask, because when fitting mine for the first time last week, I tried the locking bolt into the reciever without the lozenge and was surprised that it didn't go in further. When fully/properly assembled it was obvious that it screwed in far enough.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDym2mMHAOc

  • HarleyDave
    HarleyDave Forum Participant Posts: 150
    edited June 2016 #12

    I have the correct tap to do the job,where are you?Would only take few minutes to run tap down to clean thread up

  • Runhater
    Runhater Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited June 2016 #13

    Yes we're definitely doing it right. We've used it before. But defo worth checking as stranger things have hapoened to me MollysMummy.

    We're in Yorkshire HarleyDave. Have googled tapping and it does look easy. As long as you have the right size thread....

  • DORMAN12Q
    DORMAN12Q Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited June 2016 #14

    where in Yorkshire? ,I have the correct tap.

    it's a 2 minute job then clean the bolt up with a thread file.

     

  • Runhater
    Runhater Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited June 2016 #15

    Snaith, off the M62.  Al-ko have said it needs to be a an m20x2.5 degree pitch tap.

  • DORMAN12Q
    DORMAN12Q Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited June 2016 #16

    That's a shame I have just passed there this morning on the way to Hull.

    If you are in Leeds I can lend you the taps and a thread restoring file as long as I get them back.

    OR http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New-Presto-M20-X-2-5mm-Taper-Second-Plug-Tap-Set-Carbon-Steel-/161998921394?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

     

    £20 Delivered from ebay I keep a set in the caravan with me, Just used a 3/8" drive socket set with a long extension to drive it without having to take the wheel off.

    Then you will need a thread restoring file or a triangle file to clean the bolt thread up.

    I take it you haven't tapped a thread before?

    Turn the tap in a couple of turns then back it off to break the swarf and stop the tapp breaking then turn in a couple more turns and back off again, keep repeating until you get to the botton of the reciever,use a but of cutting oil , wd40 will do as you
    are cleaning the thread up it won't be that hard.

  • Runhater
    Runhater Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited June 2016 #17

    Fantastic, thank you for your help DORMAN12Q.  We think we've tracked a set down to a friend of a friend in Selby, but I think you're right, buying a set may be worthwhile anyway.

    I have already ordered the plugs to stop this happening again from Al-Ko!

    Thanks everyone for the swift responses and help, what a wonderful group of people we've joined :-)

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