theOrca

Shackle holes on the Alcan shackles measure .589" to .590". Dexter shackle holes measure .569" to .570". Both Dexter bolts and Alcan bolts spin freely in the Alcan shackles.

Additional observations. A common thread after installation of the Alcan springs and spring shackles, (with the Alcan non shoulder bolts), is a really rough ride for the first few hundred miles. If you really think about that, it can easily be due to the pinching of the spring ends to the shackles and the shackles to the easy flex arms. Those items MUST break free before the ez flex can do it's job. Those first few bumps must be epic in their effect on the items in the trailer! No matter how well greased those bolts and bushings are, the pinch on the axle ends and ez flex arms has to be overcome before the suspension can even begin do it's job. I do not even want to think about the long term wear effect.

After I posted the above i went out and dug our the Dexter parts and the Alcan parts. (My axles are not in yet, so I have all parts waiting on Dexter.) I continue to be a believer in the Alcan springs, but now have my doubts about their shackles and shackle bolts. The Dexter bolts are designed to be torqued to their shoulder. That will allow full rotation and flex of the EZ Flex and Spring ends which go to the Shackle. The Alcan bolts put full clamping force on the EZ Flex and the spring end of the shackles. I cannot see how that is a good idea. It resists rotation and flex... Comments please...

I noticed that the splines on the Alcan bolts do NOT engage the holes of the slightly longer shackles they provide. I asked Alcan about it and they do NOT want the shackles locked to one end of the bolts. The way they accomplish this is to drill the holes in their shackles slightly larger than the holes in the Dexter Shackles. I am still not sure I want to use the Alcan shackles and bolts. In any case do not mix and match Alcan and Dexter shackles and bolts.They are engineered differently and not designed to mix.

I chose the "peel and stick "Reflextic." There is as much as six layers of it under the driver side bunk and under the bathroom sink. If there was room for a 4" x 4" piece, a chunk went there.

Oh Lord but I love this group. On the way to have my new suspension fitted, I will have my newly programmed iPhone taped to the floor on the way to and from. Will post the data after. (Probably 4 weeks out...)

I think I will still wait until the solid state Lithium systems become commonly available. Those look seriously capable.

Sweet! I see a new mattress in "theOrca's" future.

I just bought four new Concorde AGM's last summer. Hopefully by the time they age-out (unless I age-our first) the new "solid state Lithium" batteries will be readily available. From the available literature, three times the power storage for one half the weight and volume is what to expect. Also, pretty much near zero chance of fire. We live is an amazing time...

Yikes! They just quoted me a thousand dollars ODT for that same mattress. ( For one.) The Queen size Brooklyn Bedding mattress in my house cost under $1,300...

When I read that, I immediately had the visual image of the bad guy of "The Fifth Element" movie stomping down his space ship stairs muttering: "I you want something..." Gary Oldman was perfect for that role.

That was my first thought, and a much simpler solution than changing the ducting. The only downside I could see is that it requires 24/7 shore power.

I must be missing something on the 4 vs 5 spring decision. My physics-fu tells me that the spring return rate is set by the longest one or two springs. You chose the spring length, material and temper to set that rate. You then add more (and shorter) springs to take up more load (if needed) for the same rebound rates. What is gained by taking away the shortest spring???

I did. It should be findable as I posted pictures and instructions. Essentially I opened the third port on the Dometic heater and hard ducted it directly across the rear of the trailer. Turned 90 degrees forward and installed a flow adjuster right after it reentered the underbed area. I placed a diverter at that point, and sent part of the warm air directly down under the drivers side bunk. I also installed a 3" flex line running forward all the way to the forward dinette seat. I have been in minus 18 degree F temps in Republic, and the minimum temp under either bunk was 38 degrees. My friends trailer water froze every night by 9 pm. It is tight, but doable! The electric option just would not work for me as I use my Olly as an Elk Camp Cabin. I wanted an extra propane heat load, not an extra electric load.

This is my post last on this subject. It seems unreasonable to believe that the name and location an auto parts store on a medium sized island in Puget Sound is going to be helpful to anyone else this list. It does seem reasonable to believe that you are demanding "show me." I decline.

jd, I do not mind strongly held opinions most of us have some. I do somewhat object to passive aggressive behavior towards those who differ with YOUR opinions.

NOT special order. I just walked in bought a Set 49 and walked out. The package passed the "fake" check...

That also lets you actually use the last 7 gallons of fresh water...

For the Neverlube - one axle end equals one bearing... See the Timken info above.

For those who have never used "Grok," I have provided a sample below. The thing I find so wonderful about Grok is the ability to ask a common language question about a hard to understand subject and get an answer you can use. If something confuses you, you simply type a followup on the same form saying something like: "Please explain XYZ more, I am not getting it. Grok then continues. The below screen shot is what Grok gave me when I asked it to give me the exact match of Timken bearing to the Dexter Neverlube bearing (serial number from my D52 build sheet. Have fun.

Nevermind. I found the answer about two pages before this one:

Can someone explain to me (with pictures and drawings if needed) how the Neverlube bearing system works. Being more of a tekkie and less of a motorhead, I have understood that axle bearings are - 1 an Inner race, and 2, an outer race on a common shaft. with shoulder bracing against inner movement of the inner race, and a nut preventing outer movement of the outer race. Someone recently posted on this forum that the Timken Set 49 was a direct replacement for the Neverlube. Price difference being "¼ of" with Timken being the cheapest for once. I have looked at the Timken Set 49, and it is ONE outer bearing sleeve with two inner races. Maybe 2" long. I cannot begin to guess how that works. Please help the mentally challanged.

$3,239, Ouch ! Getting the Alcan stuff on order was easy. Not so much the D52 axles. Lew won't drop ship axles anymore since FedEx damaged that one set. I do not blame him at all, I would not either. Problem was that Washington State does NOT have a Dexter Branch, only Dexter distributors who seem to want to order the axles themselves rather than be shipping forwarders. Got back to Lew. He is going to have Dexter ship the axles to the Wilsonville, Oregon Dexter branch and I am going to have Oak Harbor Freight lines pick them up and deliver them to my installer in Mount Vernon, WA. About $375... Heck I would pay $300 just to not have to drive through Seattle traffic (twice). Now we wait for Dexter.

The idea was great, but the implementation by the suits of Howenwald leaves a lot to be desired. I had work done at the Salem, Oregon "Oliver Dealer." they eventually did a good job, but I did have to do TWO round trips between Salem and Whidbey Island, Washington to get it done right. They stood behind their work, and all ended well (But TWO trips through Seattle traffic!) Turns out that NO ONE from their service department had been to Howenwald for training, nor had anyone from Howenwald been to Salem. Qualified for Oliver service? I think not.

I have tried to run through all xxx-hundred posts on this subject at least twice. I still cannot find reference to the actual Dexter part number of the correct D52 axle for my E2. My Olly (615) unfortunately has the old 3500 axles and cheap CCP springs. I intend to have the work done locally. I have ordered the correct ez-flex and shoulder bolts from e-trailer, will order the 5 leaf springs and U-bolts from Alcan. I want to have the local shop order the correct complete axle assemblies directly from Dexter. Would someone please chime-in with the correct part number for the Dexter Axle? Pretty please with a shot of single malt... Bill