Sidevalve:
toonsy:
Outlaw curtainsided vehicles.Job done.
Yeah. Let’s all go back to roping and sheeting. No problem.
There’s more than a rope and a sheet available these days so it would be lots easier. And if you work on the principle of securing loads correctly anyway all a curtainsider becomes is weather protection anyway.
I’ll stick to reefers I think.
toonsy:
Sidevalve:
toonsy:
Outlaw curtainsided vehicles.Job done.
Yeah. Let’s all go back to roping and sheeting. No problem.
There’s more than a rope and a sheet available these days so it would be lots easier. And if you work on the principle of securing loads correctly anyway all a curtainsider becomes is weather protection anyway.
I’ll stick to reefers I think.
I’ll use the…
US as the example again. No curtainsiders over there, most stuff is done with box trailers. Yes, they do use flats and ‘tarp’ things down with bungee cords but, the majority of cargo is in a box. The percentage of empty space being hauled on most curtainsider loads is ridiculous. Undoing and closing up curtains in the rain is nothing more than misery, let alone tucking them all in because Eddie say’s so.
Likewise, I’ll stick to reefers.
Seems to me that if a little lube is put on only the rollers, then things will move easier.
If lots of lube is slapped everywhere, then dirt will stick and make things worse.
XL rated T/Liners with full loads are much the same as boxes. Just use the back doors, and stick a cross on the back.
Franglais:
Seems to me that if a little lube is put on only the rollers, then things will move easier.
If lots of lube is slapped everywhere, then dirt will stick and make things worse.
That’s what I do. Don’t lather the thing in lube till it’s dripping (oo er missus!) but a quick squirt at strategic points.
@ white TruckMan; I read it twice, I’m still not seeing it. Yes the rollers will eventually wear, but for that to happen they have to seize and thus produce the flat spot. And to avoid that you use a little lube.
I’ve had vehicles from new and the rollers still seize after a while unless you treat them with something.
So where in your advice is your answer?
Sidevalve:
Franglais:
Seems to me that if a little lube is put on only the rollers, then things will move easier.
If lots of lube is slapped everywhere, then dirt will stick and make things worse.That’s what I do. Don’t lather the thing in lube till it’s dripping (oo er missus!) but a quick squirt at strategic points.
@ white TruckMan; I read it twice, I’m still not seeing it. Yes the rollers will eventually wear, but for that to happen they have to seize and thus produce the flat spot. And to avoid that you use a little lube.
I’ve had vehicles from new and the rollers still seize after a while unless you treat them with something.
So where in your advice is your answer?
The rollers wear on the spindle part of the roller, where the weight of the curtain rests. The metal loop (often a V shape instead of a semi circular shape) eventually wears a grove into the softer material of the roller. As it wears to fit the loop, it becomes a better ‘fit’ increasing the friction between loop and roller. Eventually the roller will wedge into the loop, jamming it with the weight of the curtain plus force of being dragged open and closed.
Back when I used to own my own trailer I used to remove the curtain about every 6 months and grease the spindles. A pain in the bum, but I only ever did it in decent weather.
If the spindles wear to the point of jamming then really they need replacing as they are too far gone.
Any lubrication needs to be applied to the spindle area, otherwise it’s worse than useless. Just squirting something up into the tracks just lubricates the track, causing the rollers to slide instead of roll. This might make the curtains easier to pull for a week or two depending on the weather, but in the long term just stuffs the curtain worse than ever.
WhiteTruckMan:
Sidevalve:
Franglais:
Seems to me that if a little lube is put on only the rollers, then things will move easier.
If lots of lube is slapped everywhere, then dirt will stick and make things worse.That’s what I do. Don’t lather the thing in lube till it’s dripping (oo er missus!) but a quick squirt at strategic points.
@ white TruckMan; I read it twice, I’m still not seeing it. Yes the rollers will eventually wear, but for that to happen they have to seize and thus produce the flat spot. And to avoid that you use a little lube.
I’ve had vehicles from new and the rollers still seize after a while unless you treat them with something.
So where in your advice is your answer?
The rollers wear on the spindle part of the roller, where the weight of the curtain rests. The metal loop (often a V shape instead of a semi circular shape) eventually wears a grove into the softer material of the roller. As it wears to fit the loop, it becomes a better ‘fit’ increasing the friction between loop and roller. Eventually the roller will wedge into the loop, jamming it with the weight of the curtain plus force of being dragged open and closed.
Back when I used to own my own trailer I used to remove the curtain about every 6 months and grease the spindles. A pain in the bum, but I only ever did it in decent weather.
If the spindles wear to the point of jamming then really they need replacing as they are too far gone.
Any lubrication needs to be applied to the spindle area, otherwise it’s worse than useless. Just squirting something up into the tracks just lubricates the track, causing the rollers to slide instead of roll. This might make the curtains easier to pull for a week or two depending on the weather, but in the long term just stuffs the curtain worse than ever.
Yep. That makes sense to me, cheers. As you say, if it’s your own trailer (or in my case, having a wagon and drag then, my regular one) then that sort of maintenance is worth the hassle. Not going to happen with 99 per cent of trailers though as drivers just leave the problem for the next sucker.
i once took down those really naff 1970s cheap plaggy curtain tracks in my home -and put them on ebay a 5er the lot.Was quite amazed they sold , a couple drove 3 hours to collect em.