Community Forums

TDM En Route · 01-06-2016, 12:39 PM

Does anyone know what the black powdery substance on the inside of the rear wheel is? 2015 Anthem.

BHutting · 01-06-2016, 12:42 PM

Black powdery substance.... First thought is brake dust. Is it on the Tag?

brobox · 01-06-2016, 01:14 PM

If it is on the tag axle, it is a wheel seal. It looks like a powder, but it is 90 weight oil with dirt stuck on the outside making it look like powder. Put some on you finger and see if it is oily. There have been a number of them that have had to be replaced, both of mine included. Call Spartan, they are very aware of the issue.

Does it look like this? http://www.irv2.com/forums/f278/do-i...ed-232449.html

TDM En Route · 01-06-2016, 01:14 PM

Yes. On inside rim. Just started. Also, today when retracting jacks, very noisy. Not sure if that's related. Have you heard of a vent plug leak?

brobox · 01-06-2016, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDM En Route

Yes. On inside rim. Just started. Also, today when retracting jacks, very noisy. Not sure if that's related. Have you heard of a vent plug leak?

The jack noise is not related. That is another problem. Equalizer will have you drain a quart of fluid and add a quart of marvel mystery oil. There is also a bleed procedure done with an allen wrench, but none of it worked on mine and the jacks had to be replaced. Equalizer can walk you through the process. Also raising the jacks all the way then retracting them can also get the air out. Do not do it to many time in a row or it will burn the motor out. Equalizer did that on my MH

Yes, I have heard of vent plugs leaking, both of mine were broken as was the hub seals on both sides. There has also be reports of overfill from the factory. Take the special wrench that was in your box of books, it's black and remove the center hub cab. Wipe everything down and see if the oil is above the fill mark...if it is, it is over full, drain the excess off. Also gently snug the bolts down and the allen head screws, it might stop your leak. Do not over tighten, just snug.

Here is a video that Glenn did on his wheel seal replacements.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPxf4sbh58k

Mwoodofd · 01-06-2016, 01:44 PM

Make sure your tires on the duel axle are the same size tire. I had black powder last summer and ended up with mismatched tires, causing the smaller tire on each outer dual to be slowly "sanded" down by the pavement. Had the coach 8 months before the damaged showed up on a long trip. (naturally in the middle of nowhere). Previous owner rotated the tires not realizing the tires on the front were larger. (tire shop missed it to)

Gary.Jones · 01-06-2016, 05:00 PM

Mark

Always wondered what "The Rest of the Story" was with your mismatched tire problem.... Sounds like the problem was the owner and the dealer just never looked? Interesting. Hard to believe the previous owner would have been unaware of the tire size difference, but that is something new to me on my coach different from my Dynasty, but certainly, something I would have read up on. Thanks for finishing your story.

Gary

voltdoc · 01-07-2016, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDM En Route

Yes. On inside rim. Just started. Have you heard of a vent plug leak?

Yes, for the tags. I had the hub recall/repair done at Spartan June 2014. Hubs still leaked, one enough that I could see the oil level drop slightly after a few thousand miles. On 10/2015 Spartan replaced the caps. The new caps have two O-rings, the old only one. So far so good, no excessive leaking.

brobox · 01-07-2016, 07:15 AM

Rob, brought up a good point. In 2014 there was a recall on the wheel seals. orange to blue I think. I had the new wheel seals on mine from the factory and both of those failed. It was one of those, "it's the first time we have seen the new seals fail" I believe there is another new seal after that. I'll have to pull a cover off of mine and see what color the new seals are.

johnnyreno · 01-07-2016, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDM En Route

Yes. On inside rim. Just started. Also, today when retracting jacks, very noisy. Not sure if that's related. Have you heard of a vent plug leak?

That's what I was told the vents have a campaign to replace them from red to a new blue vent. spin the center cover off with that big oil filter looking wrench and make sure theres oil in them. if so you are ok til you see a Spartan dealer pull in, they can bang them out and in in no time.

johnnyreno · 01-07-2016, 09:47 PM

what chuck said.

jestal · 01-07-2016, 09:53 PM

Anyone that has a leak from the outer seal ane/or has had them replaced with updated parts should remove the Spartan emblem/retainer and check the length of the bolt in the center on the back side that secures it to the hub. I understand that some of the retrofit or replacement seals stood a little more proud of the surface of the hub and the Sparten emblem retainer bolt screwed into the vent hole of the seal and caused an additional leak. When my seals were replaced at Spartan they caught this after the job was finished and removed the retainer and sure enough it had screwed it's way into the new seal damaging it. Ended up cutting about 1/2 off the threads of the retainer to provide clearance. I have no idea of what combination of parts causes this but it is easy enough to check that there is clearance once the emblem is screwed into place.

Chuck I wouldn't be surprised if this sort of thing is what happened to you. Spartan supposedly issued a bulletin about the retainer bolt impacting the new seal causing it to leak.

dave&ginny · 01-08-2016, 01:09 AM

Thanks for sharing the video...it was well done

johnnyreno · 01-09-2016, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jestal

Anyone that has a leak from the outer seal ane/or has had them replaced with updated parts should remove the Spartan emblem/retainer and check the length of the bolt in the center on the back side that secures it to the hub. I understand that some of the retrofit or replacement seals stood a little more proud of the surface of the hub and the Sparten emblem retainer bolt screwed into the vent hole of the seal and caused an additional leak. When my seals were replaced at Spartan they caught this after the job was finished and removed the retainer and sure enough it had screwed it's way into the new seal damaging it. Ended up cutting about 1/2 off the threads of the retainer to provide clearance. I have no idea of what combination of parts causes this but it is easy enough to check that there is clearance once the emblem is screwed into place.

Chuck I wouldn't be surprised if this sort of thing is what happened to you. Spartan supposedly issued a bulletin about the retainer bolt impacting the new seal causing it to leak.

NICE tip...