Technical Bulletin

Timpte, Inc
1827 Industrial Drive
David City, NE 68632
(402) 367-3056
Fax: (402) 367-4340

To: Timpte Branch Parts and Service Personnel, Timpte Sales Team, Timpte Dealer
Personnel
From: Product Engineering
Date: April 3, 2018
Technical Bulletin #: 3
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Subject:
Solid Lube Plate Care and Maintenance
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Description:
Review of care and maintenance requirements for Solid Lube Plates used with
aluminum and steel upper couplers as wear surfaces to extend the life of the coupler
___________________________________________________________________
Process Review:
Solid Lube (Final Lube) “Care and Maintenance” Instructions
 Always be sure 5th wheels are deburred before pinning up (connecting
tractor to) trailer equipped with Solid Lube Plate
 Apply lubricant during every regular PM or a minimum of every two
months
o Two choices for lubricant
i. Dry Graphite
 Apply to the 5th wheel plate and the poly plate
ii. 85/140W Gear Lube or Motor Oil
 Apply only to the 5th Wheel Plate. This step is only
recommended to protect from corrosion.
o This will not affect the self-lubricating properties of Solid Lube Plate
 5th Wheel Jaws will require regular maintenance (grease). This action can
be performed while trailer is pinned (connected) to tractor
 If Driver has a sense of “running dry” it is probably due to a completely dry
5th Wheel. Lubricate per above (instructions)
 Operating with a greased 5th Wheel will not affect Solid Lube Plate
operation but adding grease will cause more dirt and grime to collect from
the road which will require more frequent cleaning and may accelerate the
wear of lube plate due to contaminants trapped in the grease.
IMPORTANT: Solid Lube Plates cannot be used with tractor 5th wheel plates
equipped with poly wear pads. Two poly plates in this orientation will weld together,
causing failure of the Solid Lube Plate. This failure is non-warrantable.
Installation Instructions – Solid Lube Plate (Final Lube)

Technical Bulletin

Timpte, Inc
1827 Industrial Drive
David City, NE 68632
(402) 367-3056
Fax: (402) 367-4340

1. Degrease both 5th wheel and Upper Coupler Plate with solvent or steamclean to remove all grease;
a. Important: Avoid water behind Bottom Plate when steam cleaning, dry
surfaces completely prior to next step
2. Apply a glaze of rust inhibitor to Coupler Bottom Plate to prevent corrosion or
decay
3. Place Solid Lube Plate on Upper Coupler as shown below

a. NOTE: beveled edge to front of trailer ensuring Solid Lube Plate is flat
during installation
4. Mark and install two (2) fasteners at a time, always working from holes
closest to king pin outward
5. Use Loctite to secure fasteners, one drop for each fastener at thread interface
to secure fasteners.
 NOTE: Fastener heads (Flathead) should be installed 1/8” below Solid
Lube Plate surface to ensure clearance between 5th wheel and
fastener head face.
 Use only Timpte specified fasteners to insure proper chamfer, fit and
head height.
 Replace fasteners in existing holes if possible when replacing Solid
Lube Plate. Otherwise, locate and drill new holes
i. 0.344” ID for alum bottom plate (11/32 drill max.)
ii. 0.354” for steel bottom plate (9mm drill or English equivalent
max.)

Technical Bulletin

Timpte, Inc
1827 Industrial Drive
David City, NE 68632
(402) 367-3056
Fax: (402) 367-4340

Wear Area for Solid Lube Plate
Please find below in the figure, the defined wear area for Solid Lube Plate
inspection. The allowable wear depth is no more than .100”. Once the Lube
Plate wears 3/32nds of an inch, it must be replaced. If you see that the heads of the
screws are starting to wear or rub on the 5th wheel plate, you have waited too long
and you must replace the wear plate immediately.
The poly lube plate is a wearable item and its replacement is not warrantable if it is
replaced due to wear.

Technical Bulletin

Timpte, Inc
1827 Industrial Drive
David City, NE 68632
(402) 367-3056
Fax: (402) 367-4340

Use a King Pin length gauge to inspect for proper King Pin to Tractor 5th wheel plate
interface
 Refer to SAE Standard #J2228 for gauge and measuring detail
 Also covered in Timpte Hopper Owner’s Manual, page 11

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King Pin Gauge (pictured above) is used to confirm distance between 2.762”
and 1.308” dimension for KP to tractor 5th wheel plate interface (effective
range allowed 0.090”-0.100”)
Gauge also confirms the King Pin effective diameter (2.000” dia.) for proper
tractor to trailer coupling
Failure to check this regularly and maintain proper kingpin length and
diameter could result in incomplete coupling between the tractor and trailer
which could result in accelerated component wear and even possibly
detachment of the trailer from the tractor.

Check the Poly Wear Plate for wear at a minimum of every two months.
o Replace immediately if worn (allow 3/32 ” wear)
o Check/Replace immediately if retainer flat head bolt face damaged
or worn)
Check kingpin length and diameter for wear at the same time.