Service Kit for Reese Revolution

[itat]

I've been thinking about ordering Reese's Service Kit 86016 for the Reese Revolution pinbox on my 2019 Rockwood Signature 5er. Has anyone else bought and installed this kit?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlK55zu3f80

I checked US online sites (cheapest I found was CARiD) and Canadian stores and websites, and the cheapest price I've found is a Canadian online hitch dealer called Hitchweb.com where I bought my B&W hitch. The part isn't on their website but they emailed me their price - CAD$229.95 + tax incl. shipping.

I didn't have any problems with it last season and it turns by hand with no noises. So I'm just wondering how many here with the Reese Revolution or Sidewinder have bought and installed this kit as part of their regular maintenance. Also, what size is the castle nut?

[NMWildcat]

Why do you think you need the service kit for your 2019?
If anything, follow the maint suggestions in the manual and disassemble once a year, grease, reassemble, and retorque. I wouldn't think you would need to replace any bearings for years.
Oh, the castle nut is said to be 2 1/4".
I have the Sidewinder. This one is 8 years old. I replaced the bearings at about two years due to them coming out with new and improved ones. So for the last six years, I just take it apart and service it once a year. No need to replace the bearings.
That's an expensive rebuild kit that you shouldn't need unless you are having problems.

[itat]

Thanks, Scott. I recall reading previously that you service yours but I didn’t think you bought the kit. If it can be disassembled and lubricated once a year I’ll do that. Do you basically do what they show in the video?

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by itat

Thanks, Scott. I recall reading previously that you service yours but I didn’t think you bought the kit. If it can be disassembled and lubricated once a year I’ll do that. Do you basically do what they show in the video?

The Sidewinder is built differently than the Revolution (4bolts on top vs a nut on the bottom), but basically I just take it apart, clean the bearing surfaces, regrease with Lucas Red-n-Tacky, and retorque. The Revolution would be more similar to repacking wheel bearings. But if there is a good video, I would definitely take advantage of it

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

The Sidewinder is built differently than the Revolution (4bolts on top vs a nut on the bottom), but basically I just take it apart, clean the bearing surfaces, regrease with Lucas Red-n-Tacky, and retorque. The Revolution would be more similar to repacking wheel bearings. But if there is a good video, I would definitely take advantage of it

I do precisely the same with our sidewinder. Only difference is I use white lithium grease. The Lucas Red n Tacky is great grease but I think the instructions I had specified White Lithium Grease.

[itat]

Can you guys offer some tips on how to support the pinbox as you remove it?

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by itat

Can you guys offer some tips on how to support the pinbox as you remove it?

Sure, I have a rolling work cart that I place under the pin box. I use blocking to crib it up to put a piece of plywood on top of the cribbing.

Then I lower the landing gear to put the pin arm onto the plywood with shims to support both ends while the rotating column is plumb (vertical straight)

Then, after undoing the 4 bolts on the top I simply raise the 5er with the landing gear to lift it off of the arm. This provides access to everything I need to grease.

I simply reverse the process and torque the 4 bolts on top when the greasing of the parts is finished.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by itat

Can you guys offer some tips on how to support the pinbox as you remove it?

Doug's method works great for the Sidewinder, and I do something very similar.
But for the Revolution with the castellated nut on the bottom, you need something to support it while still having access to the nut. Might look for videos for ideas, or build a three sided box type affair.
Let us know!

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Doug's method works great for the Sidewinder, and I do something very similar.
But for the Revolution with the castellated nut on the bottom, you need something to support it while still having access to the nut. Might look for videos for ideas, or build a three sided box type affair.
Let us know!

Im thinking something similar will work, you just cannot have any support under the turret so you have access to the nut, Right?

First, just break the nut loose but do not remove it.

Construct a platform that is long enough to run from the aft end of the pin to the front of the turret. Set this on the rolling work table. Lower the arm so it is just resting on that platform.

Then use two straps, one in the front and one in the rear around the arm and the work table, to keep the weight of the turret from tilting the arm as you raise the camper up and off of that arm.

Then you have access to the nut to finish the removal of the nut, raise the camper up off of the arm with the landing gear, voila, access for service. Reverse the process to reinstall after service.

[itat]

I just found this old thread with some ideas for removing the Revolution.

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...nce-65920.html

[hagler]

I had my Reese Revolution pinbox on my 2018 Rockwood Signature Ultralite unbolted for 1 year and on the way back to Canada from Arizona the trailer started to jerk when turning. I bolted it back so it wouldn't turn and when i got back to Canada I took it apart. I found that the bearing had overheated and seized because there was not grease. I contacted Reese and they told me that because of the minimal loads, unlike wheel bearings, that the bearing in the Revolution pinbox did not need any grease. Being a tradesman I thought that sounded a little wacky. I bought the over priced rebuild kit and packed the bearing with grease before I put everything back together. If I run into trouble again I will just bolt the pinbox back solid as the rebuild is too expensive for what you get.

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by hagler

I had my Reese Revolution pinbox on my 2018 Rockwood Signature Ultralite unbolted for 1 year and on the way back to Canada from Arizona the trailer started to jerk when turning. I bolted it back so it wouldn't turn and when i got back to Canada I took it apart. I found that the bearing had overheated and seized because there was not grease. I contacted Reese and they told me that because of the minimal loads, unlike wheel bearings, that the bearing in the Revolution pinbox did not need any grease. Being a tradesman I thought that sounded a little wacky. I bought the over priced rebuild kit and packed the bearing with grease before I put everything back together. If I run into trouble again I will just bolt the pinbox back solid as the rebuild is too expensive for what you get.

Here is a link to the Owners manual for the Reese Revolution in case you do not have one.

http://www.hitchwarehouse.com/pdf/61516.pdf

It clearly tells you to lube the bearings and wear plates and to disassemble it and do that once a year as annual maintenance.

We have a Reese Sidewinder, no bearings just synthetic bearings. It says the same thing, to lube every year.

[hagler]

Thanks D.R. for the info. I totally agree that the bearing needs lube but was somewhat surprised when mine seized up on a new trailer after 1 year and when took it apart I found that there was no evidence of any lube. The bearing actually over heated so bad that it partially disintegrated. A lesson learned!