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vajeep · 11-24-2006, 10:29 AM

Thanks for the bolt info... I will check them before our next trip!!

As far as grease, I spray wd 40 on the hitch side now and then, but I keep the other end dry.

As far as the paint I will have our hitch head sand blasted and repainted silver... I did call Hensley and they will send out new stickers at no cost... The only sticker that they can not replace is the red one with the serial #
They told me to remove the serial number and keep it in my owners manual...

**moosetags** · 11-24-2006, 10:29 AM

Pieman- another tip since you are ordering a new HAHA - if you keep a good coat of car wax on the orange casting, it will stay orange. Otherwise, it will quickly turn pink, and then you can paint it black, or puple, or green...

A HAHA is "supposed" to be orange. It is done that way so that passersby will ask you, "Hey, what the heck is that orange thing hooked to your trailer?"

2airishuman · 11-24-2006, 10:35 AM

hi moosetags and thanks for the report...

that is interesting info and useful 4 us all....

i visually inspect the u brackets/bolts and shear bolts often.

especially after backing into a spot with tight turns...

i've only tightened mine twice, at the install and after the recent paint job...

the ubolts do have locking washers under them and

IF the nuts are over tightened, these lock washers will expand and fail.

i experience this, when the hitch was installed and i over zealously retightened the u bracket/bolts....duh!

if tighter turns are stressing your u brackets/bolts and shear pins something seems amiss...

since the haha is supposed to allow 85 degrees 2 each side.

it is possible your struts are over tightened on both or either side....

the struts are supposed to be 'firm', a relative term...

early in set up i was 'firming' my struts 2much and 2often...

it was obvious this was wrong but i got into that trap trying to perfectly center the hitch...

after a call to haha land for support i backed the struts off, got 'close' to center and relaxed my definition of firm...

just another variable to consider...

but i fully agree watch the ubolts/nuts and shear bolts and keep them to spec.

if you haven't purchased a 'spare parts' bag, i highly recommend it...

all the nuts, washers, retention pins and even grease zerks are in the bag...

yes one could assemble the same bits at a hardware store but who has?

the shear bolts are properly spec'd too...

cheers
2air'

another thought moosetags...and you've no doubt addressed this issue...

your trailer brakes must initiate braking such that the haha doesn't 'bump' your tv...even a little.

that is one situation where the haha can behave badly.

with our big tv you may not feel the bump, but look in the rear view mirror while applying braking...

if 'lucy' is moving side2side at the front during braking, the trailer brakes need more boost...

2airishuman · 11-24-2006, 10:42 AM

hi pieman and thanks for joining us!

hope some of the info and links in this thread are useful

i've traveled across my state, named for the 'people of the southwind'...

in breezes approaching 50-60 mph...

semis and 5'ers ahead all 'dog legged' obliquely as they struggle to stay in a lane...

the tv/haha/trailer combo remains absolutely straight....it's uncanny.

only opening a door or window, will reveal just how strong the wind really is...

we look forward to your report on the haha...

and IF you really like d'orange, spray it with a coat or 2 of auto clearcoat....right out of the box

it will stay shiny without waxing...

cheers
2air'

Brow324 · 11-28-2006, 09:16 AM

Lots of good info in this thread: welcome RoadKingMoe and Pieman.
I like the Plano tool box idea...may give that a try. Right now my HAHA tools are in the tool bag with all the other road tools. I just made a 1200 mile trip,
the first trip with the new HAHA, from Texas to NC and took the torque wrench and deep socket along for the ride, checked the torque settings of the brackets at every gas stop and they didn't budge from installation to destination. The HAHA performed perfectly and made the switchback sections of I-40 from Knoxville to Ashville a breeze ( at night! ). For new installers just follow the intructions in the manual step by step and everything will install easily. I did it in just over 2 hours (pre read the manual 4 times before beginning the install). HA is a very user friendly system and the customer support from Hensley is the best in the business....in fact many companies could learn a thing or two from Hensley's customer support. I had a couple of questions about my set up adjustments and Jarrod from Hensley stayed in email contact with me throughout my trip to make sure everything was going well. I sent him some photos of the HA on my TV connected and ready to roll and he analyzed and responded very quickly to my concerns. All in all, it's a definate upgrade from my old system and I am very happy having spent the extra dollars for the HA system. The only challenge I had on installation was finding the 11/16 deep socket, which I didn't have. Sears, Auto Zone, Home Depot, Lowes, didn't carry it...I ended up getting one at
Orielly Auto Parts. If Hensley could improve on anything with their installation package & instructions it might be to include that socket with the other tools they provide in the system delivery.

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 06:34 PM

hi brow324 and other haha users...

i've had + and - experiences with customer support....

mostly + and i'll outline some of each another time...

it is an important topic for us and i encourage others to report here...

the specifics.

what was the issue and how did haha central help, or not.

details of the issue and resolution are more useful than

'they are great' or 'they are awful'

so, brow324 your report is an example for others to follow...

now tonights topic...

swapping spring bars

cheers
2air'

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 06:46 PM

for the first year of towing with the haha i used 1000 lb spring bars...

that's with a 34 limited of recent vintage
and a tongue mass of 950lb to 1100 lbs depending on loads...

i described my cat scale visit in another thread,
and most felt my final tweaking and near 50/50 tv axle loads were acceptable.
in additon my trailer and truck were pretty level.
with the truck perhaps 1/2 lower on the rear axles, relatively.

anyway after a year i decided to change from 1000lb spring bars to 1400lb bars...

i'll explain why another time.

my focus for the next few posts...
is inspecting the parts as used, comparing new/old parts
and showing some of the steps to make the change....

doing so also gave me better insight into the haha bits...

perhaps this is of value to others...

as always please post comments, insights, suggestions...

while we grow the 'ultimate haha users guide'.

cheers
2air'

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 06:55 PM

lets take a look at the 2 spring bars....

haha also now offers a 750 lb bar set for lighter trailers...sweet.

my understanding is these bars come from other vendors, like draw tite.

and vary over the years...so yours MAY be different.

1000 lb bar is black

1400lb bar is silver

the 1000lb bar is more squarish in the long shaft, while the 1400 is round.

the 1000lb bar has a little longer 'L' section and a sharper bend...

the 1400lb bar is stubbier, with less angulation...

this is easier to see in the 2nd pic, i think...

the notch is basically the same in both and that's where the grease zerk fits...

the grease zerk keeps the bar up inside the haha body...

cheers
2air'

click on either pic for a larger view...

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 07:04 PM

now lets look at the other end where the spring bars attach to the screw jacks...

the 1000lb bar is doglegged, while the 1400 lb bar is pretty straight at this end...

there is a small bracket attached to each with 2 bolts.

these brackets/bolts are attached prior to user installation....
so i've never tightened or otherwise messed with them...

notice anything different about the used bracket on the 1000 lb bar (black one)?

click on pics for larger view...

cheers
2air'

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 07:06 PM

how about a closer view...

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 07:18 PM

when properly installed the spring bars fit up inside the lower section of the haha...

the 'black section' that is also the location of the grease zerks...

note the left hand picture below....

however on closer inspection the spring bars actually fit up inside a double barrel bushing...

that is held inside the black lower haha section with one bolt...and the grease zerks...

the right hand photo shows the bushing in place and the grease zerks removed...

cheers
2air'

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 07:35 PM

after removing the spring bars,

i also removed the double barrel bushing...

haha support explained the 1400lb bars use a bushing with slightly different dimensions...

when the bushing is brand new, the bars aren't interchangeable...

after some use the 1400 lb bars will sometimes fit into the 1000 lb bushing...

but i opted, however to change this bit too....

after cleaning the bushing up....

here is a shot of the new bushing next to the used bushing...

used is on the left...again click photo for larger view.

notice anything in this comparison?

the 2nd photo is the used bushing...

notice the upper inside surfaces...

cheers
2air'

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 07:48 PM

so clearly this bushing has 'ovalized'...

i've got other photos is anyone doubts this...

from the forces applied by the spring bars under tension...

the previously round bushing is oval on the inside surface...

no doubt this is a combination of wear, compression, metal 'moving' and so on...

haha support makes an issue of 'greasing' often...can't grease too much.

well grease would no doubt provide a thin film here...and i'm a complusive greaser!

the bushing also has equal wear/deformity at the other end, in an opposite position, which makes sense...we will see it later.

one more view of the bushing...

see how the inner surface is pushed UP?

more evidence of the deformity that has occured...

if the orientation is confusing, i've included a pic with the bushing and zerks...

over the springbars as normally positioned...

it's obvious pulling UP on the spring bars creates these contact areas and the changes noted...

questions?

cheers
2air'

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 07:55 PM

going back now to the haha lower section where the bushing belongs...

it doesn't look like any significant changes have occured here...

paint is worn and removed from the contact surface, but no deformity that i could see...

i did not measure the holes for roundness with a micrometer...

i'll post the rest of the spring bar swap later...

cheers
2air'

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 09:48 PM

as i prepared the new bars for installation...

here they are along side the 1000 lb bars

bushings included...

it's obvious the 1400 lb bars are shorter and less angulated...

cheers
2air'

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 09:53 PM

the bushing is greased lightly before return to the haha lower section...

then the nut/bolt are tightened...

at this point the bars are inserted up into the bushing and the grease zerks screwed in,
to a depth that will retain the bars...

yet still allow for rotation....

then the bars are re pinned to the screw jacks.....

don't forget to add grease via the zerks at the point....lots;

until it oooozes out...

cheers
2air'

2airishuman · 11-28-2006, 09:58 PM

and here is a shot upon completion...

naturally i rechecked the bushing, bolts, bars and regreased many times on the tow home...

i'll report about the outcome of another trip to the cat scales soon...

of course this was all done before that fine new paint job!

cheers

2air'

Brow324 · 11-29-2006, 10:31 AM

2AIR;

How do you imbed photos in the thread? I'd like to post a photo of my spring bars at full tension for your technical consideration.

2airishuman · 11-29-2006, 10:45 AM

hi brow324

we'd ALL like a chance to look at your set up...

there is forum user guide for photos but i'll take a stab, basically....

1. type your message
2. scroll down past the message box to 'additional options'
3. click 'manage attachments' and follow the steps, which are....
4. click 'choose photo' or 'browse'
5. locate photo source on your computer (desktop or a folder)
6. click on the photo file and 'open' or 'choose' it, then click 'upload'
7. wait while it uploads...
8. then go back and click the 'submit reply' button as usual when a message is ready to post....

the photos need to be less than 1000x1000 bits and under 300kb file size. IF too large the upload process will abort.

hope this helps...

2air'

TinShack · 11-29-2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

i've had + and - experiences with customer support....

mostly + and i'll outline some of each another time...

it is an important topic for us and i encourage others to report here...

the specifics.

what was the issue and how did haha central help, or not.

details of the issue and resolution are more useful than

'they are great' or 'they are awful'
2air'

I bent a strut on my Hensley last weekend while making too tight a turn while backing up. I didn't think this was possible. It didn't seem to affect the towing that I could tell, although I did have to tight the strut on the opposite side compenste for the bent strut.

First thing Monday morning I emailed Hensley to tell them I bent a strut (not how) and needed a replacement. Within two hours, I had a return email with directions on how to proceed. They said that it is not uncommon to bend a strut, and it usually occurs from them being loose or from too tight a turn.

They are replacing the strut on warranty. Here is the deal... They charge my credit card $85+shipping for the part. They ship the part to me and provide me with packaging for the damaged part. I package the damaged part and ship it back to them, and they credit me back the $85. I pay shipping both ways. Sounds fair to me as I was expecting to have to pay for the part.

The strut has been shipped and will be at my door by the end of this week, in time for me to install it over the weekend. I'm happy