Community Forums

Anthem46 · 01-14-2017, 08:01 PM

Thanks to NIRVC my drive axles are fixed. Spartan techs @ Middlebury even had a shot at fixing it. But none of them knew that 18 foot pounds was not enough. Stephen and Justin at NIRVC would not accept that Spartan's 18 foot pounds was right for a drive axle. They made them send a copy of the specs and it said 180 + - 10 foot pounds. The front axle and tag axle are the ones that are 18 foot pounds. Not the drive axles!!!!! After a full day's drive, my beautiful shiny wheels are still shiny with no oil. A big thanks to Frank for getting it fixed for me.

05kstar · 01-14-2017, 08:36 PM

Please elaborate on what this torque value is for on the drive axle

C310 · 01-14-2017, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthem46

Thanks to NIRVC my drive axles are fixed. Spartan techs @ Middlebury even had a shot at fixing it. But none of them knew that 18 foot pounds was not enough. Stephen and Justin at NIRVC would not accept that Spartan's 18 foot pounds was right for a drive axle. They made them send a copy of the specs and it said 180 + - 10 foot pounds. The front axle and tag axle are the ones that are 18 foot pounds. Not the drive axles!!!!! After a full day's drive, my beautiful shiny wheels are still shiny with no oil. A big thanks to Frank for getting it fixed for me.

Unbelievable Tommy! Thankfully NIRV techs know basic mechanics and torques. See you next week with shiny wheels👍👍

Steve

Anthem46 · 01-14-2017, 08:50 PM

It was not a valve it was the drive axle bolts,, 5/8s bolts with 15/16 nuts

Anthem46 · 01-14-2017, 08:51 PM

Thanks Steve will see you and Linda at Tampa Show you'll have a good safe trip. We are just south of Perry Georgia for the night should get into Tampa around 10 o'clock

Misty123 · 01-15-2017, 05:56 AM

Yeah unbelievable, quite a difference between 18 and 180 ft. lbs.

brobox · 01-15-2017, 06:26 AM

It's also sad to say that Spartan does not know how to evenly torque 18 ft lbs on the tag axles. Three Spartan mechanics, (four if you want to count the first install) three tag axle seals leaked within a 100 mile. That is sad excuse for Spartan mechanics. It's pretty bad when the owner has to fix it himself to get it fixed right.

If they can't do 18 ft lbs right, I could see where they wouldn't have a clue what to do with 180. Nice the hear that NIRVC center knows how to properly torque wheel bolts.

hobart22 · 01-15-2017, 09:21 AM

had same problem, not overly impressed with Spartian shop but very impressed with there first rate customer service on the road, will miss Charlie.

brobox · 01-15-2017, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobart22

had same problem, not overly impressed with Spartian shop but very impressed with there first rate customer service on the road, will miss Charlie.

Mine were not just Spartan shops, but Spartan Factory Trained "Techs" One at LD and two at Entegra during our PDI. Hard to believe that 3 different "techs" all slept through the same class.

Torquing a round pattern was taught in mechanics 101 in high school.

Yes, Charlie will definitely be missed.

hogdriver · 01-15-2017, 10:50 AM

Okay, let me get this straight....

"18ft/lbs on the front drive axles": Are we talking about torquing the seals for the wheel bearing oil caps? You can't be talking about torquing the wheel lug nuts.

Then the 180ft/lbs on the back axles. That applies to what bolt/cover/cap/nut?

brobox · 01-15-2017, 11:02 AM

Dave,
The tag and front axle oil bath seals take 18 ft pound of torque.

The drive axle seals take 180 foot pounds of torque.

There are two non drive axles and one drive axle....seems some of the Spartan "techs" and not sure which is what. The one with large bolts is a drive axle.

The drive axle has 2 wheels attached to it, the others only have one wheel attached. I think Tommy is referring to the drive axle seal that was covering his wheel with oil that needs to be torqued to 180 ft pounds.

Gasman 2 · 01-15-2017, 11:12 AM

I don't think Spartan would have been the one who torqued these bolts. They would have been torqued by Spartan's axle vendor. Meritor for the MM / K2 chassis and Dana / Spicer for the K3.
These cap screws (bolts) transfer the power from the axle shaft to the axle hub. If you were to remove one of the nuts you would find a cylindrical tapered cone inside the axle flange when torqued by the nut makes for a press fit.
Remember all of the power is transferred to the ground via the these eight bolts.
If these bolts are not torqued property they will became loose and continuity to loosen as the power is transferred through them and begins to leak at the gasket.
I checked all of mine after I got home from the delivery by the dealer.

I'm not defending Spartan's part in this, just telling it like it is. As far as I have found Spartan does not lube any part of chassis, they just assemble the components received from their vendors. So you need to check these things.
I was at NIRV's grand opening in December and one of their service writers say they are now greasing chassis as part of the pre delivery process.
Richard

Gasman 2 · 01-15-2017, 11:44 AM

These axle flange bolts are not weight bearing. They transfer the power from the differential via the axle shaft to axle hub.
If you remove these bolts you can remove the axle shaft from the axle housing that is spine into the side gear in the differential. The vehicle is still supported by the hub and axle bearings.