Kevin,
Are you able to do the servicing yourself? Lists are available as to what needs to be done.
I'm certain other members can lead you on the correct paths.

There are some good blokes out there (I had one before the local council closed him down for running a business on his 2 acre block) but as you found there are some crooks too!

Recommended intervals are 10,000kms - can be pushed out to 12,000 although one company in Toowoomba said the interval should be 5,000 (a year's running, he said). I said I do around 15,000 in a year - he thought that was mind boggling AND did not replace the seals!! I was told that if they are undamaged, you can reuse them (as you said BS)!

On a trip, I do a regular test - temperature of the hubs while running - using a couple of fingers in lieu of an expensive thermometer.

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:

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Kevin,
Are you able to do the servicing yourself? Lists are available as to what needs to be done.
I'm certain other members can lead you on the correct paths.

There are some good blokes out there (I had one before the local council closed him down for running a business on his 2 acre block) but as you found there are some crooks too!

Recommended intervals are 10,000kms - can be pushed out to 12,000 although one company in Toowoomba said the interval should be 5,000 (a year's running, he said). I said I do around 15,000 in a year - he thought that was mind boggling AND did not replace the seals!! I was told that if they are undamaged, you can reuse them (as you said BS)!

On a trip, I do a regular test - temperature of the hubs while running - using a couple of fingers in lieu of an expensive thermometer.

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 Warren, good point, have thought about doing it myself.

We did 25000km last year, will be much less this year.

Have found detailed instructions on the Alko website so might give it a try.

Kevin, Be aware that certain manufacturers are stating all joins in roof and walls be re-sealed every six months, due to the propensity of leaking - Do you have a service manual?

I don't think it makes much difference what the Km's traveled are, if you are just talking about wheel bearings, good quality, properly greased wheel bearings working will be in no worse condition than bearings that are stationary. With stationary bearings, over time under weight will force the grease out from between the loaded bearings and the races. This makes a metal to metal contact, a bit of electrolysis and you have a line of corrosion.

When I was working as a vehicle and plant mechanic, all plant was serviced every 6 months, regardless of the work that the plant had done. While that may seem an over kill, I usually checked the records, and decided to do either a minor or major service., Even (if the wheels haven't turned) jacking the plant up and spinning the wheels will re-apply grease around the bearing as well as give you an indication of bearing condition.

What is a service, well with regards to getting my vehicles serviced, my boss said why don't you service them your self, you can do nothing just as well as them (double meaning there?), I have asked on the forum before the question "What is a service" at its bare basic it is just the replacing of consumable items (filters) and fluid - oil, water etc., service is done. Do you need to replace the grease ?

I started in the trade at 17, and retired from it at 67, my apprenticeship was aircraft engineering, and we would not service the aircraft, but would carry out an inspection at a certain number of flying hours or 12 months which ever came first. I have concluded that the service was a small part of the inspection. We went and checked everything, including fire extinguishers, and equipment fitted the whole lot, it took a team of perhaps 5-6 guys, about 5 hours to complete, would you pay for that?


So what would you pay for? now a set of hub seals for my van will cost $56, then there is labor at what $100 per hour, so how much time, and what consumables do you want to splash out for ? minimum right, so the service guy has to tailor accordingly.

I think a service done by a service agency is just a payment for a log book entry, a piece of mind for the owner, and very little else. I will be doing my own service/inspection, and my check list has about 100 items to check, there is a lot more to having a serviceable van or tug than only adjusting wheel bearings.

I agree Ian. I also had a careless mechanic undo a nyloc nut on a return hardline for an aftermarket turbo on one tug, causng a 6 mm bolt to drop down No. 4 inlet valve when he had only retightened it to finger tight for a six year old.

Hence, I do all my own servicing wherever possible. On the occasion I refer to above, the RACQ garage in the nearest major centre wanted $8000 up front before they would lay a spanner on the motor, and they said I'd need a new long motor, for another $6000 - no exchange motor, but a complete new long motor. I got the vehicle put on a transporter back to Brisbane, and got the van back for $850. I then pulled the motor down - didn't need a long motor - got the necessary work done, including new pistons, rings, bearings, etc and the whole lot only cost me $1900.00.

I am very careful now, since I got stung a couple of times. And I try to do all my own servicing on vehicles and van. Am I a mechanic - no, but I am a fairly handy bush mechanic and have a few good contacts for parts and repair of heads, blocks, etc.