• Fatigue or cracking of welds, which
must be repaired according to the
manufacturer’s specifications.
WARNING
Keep the fifth wheel plate lubricated to prevent
binding between the tractor and trailer. A binding
fifth wheel could cause erratic steering and loss of
vehicle control, possibly resulting in serious per-
sonal injury or death.
20.4 Lubricate the fifth wheel top plate and other
grease points at least once a week and
more often in severe service.
Before connecting the fifth wheel to the
trailer kingpin, always be sure that the fifth
wheel plate is completely lubricated with
chassis grease.
20.5 Clean all foreign material from the fifth wheel
top plate. Lubricate the top plate surface,
pickup ramps, and mounting bracket pivot
pins using a waterproof or multipurpose
chassis lubricant. Lubricate the jam mecha-
nism on all units except the Fontaine
®
5000
series fifth wheel. (Fontaine recommends
that jaws and wedges remain dry to avoid
accumulation of abrasive matter.)
21. If so equipped, inspect the 7-way trailer cable re-
ceptacle(s) for good connections.
Clean and grease the 7-way socket and plug regu-
larly, especially in regions where magnesium chlo-
ride or calcium chloride are used as road de-icers.
These chemicals are highly corrosive to brass and
copper, the base materials for the contact pins used
in the 7-way receptacles. Clean the socket and plug
with a plug brush and apply a moderate amount of
dielectric grease to both the socket and plug pins.
See Group 54 of the
Cargo Maintenance Manual
for an approved dielectric grease.
22.
Inspect the front and rear suspension components,
including the springs, shocks, and suspension
brackets.
Check for broken spring leaves, loose U-bolts,
cracks in the suspension brackets, and loose fas-
teners in the spring hangers and shackles. Inspect
the shock absorbers for loose fasteners and leaks.
Tighten all loose fasteners and replace any compo-
nent that is worn, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
WARNING
Do not replace individual leaves of a damaged front
or rear suspension leaf spring assembly; replace
the complete spring assembly. Visible damage,
Pretrip Inspection and Daily Maintenance
9.12
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