we have just fitted a snakemaster stabiliser bar and wanted to know when the bar is put in position should the bolt which goes through the friction pads be as tight as possible. when the bolt is really tight the bar does not move from side to side is this correct thanks very much setting of to cornwall in the early hours of the morning and just making sure everything is ok as this our first time towing the caravan thanks all
Hi, sorry I dont know myself but if your desparate for an answer and its your first tow, could you ring the shop you brought your outfit from now, for quick advice?
The nut should not be as tight as you can get it. The van would have difficulty turning if you did this. Ideally it should be tightened with a torque wrench with particular poundage. You will need to get this from the manufacturers of the stabiliser, but I think a rule of thumb is 15lbs, but don't quote me. You can do it with bathroom scales I believe by pushing with the long arm with the stub arm against the scales. You then have to push until it starts to turn (which should be at the poundage pressure I spoke about above) - there has been threads here before on that so do a search, it may help you.
If it's brand new, you will not need to touch it. The torque is set at manufacture.
I seem to recall, the tightness of the nut was not specified in the instructions, but they said to tighten it until the spring was a specified tightness. Unfortunately I cannot remember what the tightness of the spring was. Try calling towsure. I think the snakemasters are manufactured specifically for them. I'll have a look for the instructions, but I've not seen them since I fitted it so don't hold out much hope.
I see those instructions are for a Bulldog, but would expect the Snakemaster is the same. The instructions look the same as I remember the Snakemaster ones, almost as if the word Bulldog had been Tipexed out and Snakemaster printed in it's place.
Our blade type stabiliser uses a bar which fits into the top of the actuator and is rotated 90 degrees to engage the brake pads.The bar then locks so tightly that I cannot move it. When I asked members about the stiffness recently,the replies were that thisis correct...because....A van on tow exerts far greater force than muscle can.... Last time out the van towed perfectly.240miles of Welsh s bends,hills and dips.
Enjoy your first tow.Safe Journey.
According to some info I found somewhere on the internet if you use a pair of bathroom scales and push against the bar thet should show 60lbs resistance before the bar moves and yes they do creak but that shows its working
Mine is set to 27kgs (60lbs).
It does groan a bit but that, as stated before, shows that its working.
I actually spoke to a really helpful person at Bulldog who told me how to set it properly.
He said a lot of people loosen them off because of the groaning meaning that they actually have hardly any effect at all...!!!
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Topic: snakemaster stabiliser bar help
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