Tow hitch - additional load spreader plates

TOW HITCH - ADDITIONAL LOAD SPREADER PLATES

Model

Defender

Reference

Service action 386

Bulletin text

SERVICE ACTION BULLETIN

Circulation: X Indicates to whom this information should be circulated SERVICE MANAGER X SERVICE RECEPTION PARTS MANAGER WARRANTY MANAGER

Defender 99 Model Year All derivatives

PROBLEM:

TOW HITCH - ADDITIONAL LOAD SPREADER PLATES

CAUSE:

The continued development of the Defender model has included changes to the chassis rear cross member. A consequence of this development will require the fitting of additional load spreading plates for customers who have Defender 99 model Year vehicles with a tow hitch fitted directly to the rear cross member.

ACTION:

The types of tow equipment that require the fitment of the additional load spreading plates are commonly known as Rotating Towing pintle (NATO tow hook type) and Jaw and ball/pintle (ball and/or pin), close coupled 50mm ball or any other type and is fitted directly to the rear cross member. These configurations will require the fitment of load spreading plates.

Should a customer contact you as a result of the direct mailing exercise, check the tow hitch configuration to ensure that it fits the description, refer to two of probably many variations shown below, which ever configuration the customer has it should be checked to ensure that it has load spreading plates or a drop plate as part of the hitch set up. The fitment of the load spreading plates is ‘Free of Charge’ to our customers.

PROCEDURE

1. Rotating Towing pintle 2 Jaw and ball/pintle (ball and/or pin) (NATO tow hook type)

SERVICE ACTION BULLETIN No: A/D386

EN Bull. N o : A/D386

AFFECTED RANGE:

XA159807 to XA174358

Rover Group 2000

NOTE: The stiffener kit contains fixings for most variations of tow hitch, some of which will not be required dependent upon which tow hitch application the kit is being fitted to.

1. ROTATING TOWING PINTLE (NATO TOW HOOK TYPE) - Fig 1

1. Loosely fit 3 off M10x25mm long bolts to secure the bottom stiffener plate to the underside of the chassis cross member - Item 1 on illustration. 2. Offer up the drop plate and fit 2 off M10x30mm long bolts to the bottom stiffener plate and loosely fit the 2 nuts - Item 2 on illustration. 3. Fit the pintle back plate and secure in place with 4 off M12x75 long bolts. Tighten bolts to 75-90Nm - Item 3 on illustration. 4. Fully torque up 3 off M10x25mm bolts to 40-50Nm - Item 4 on illustration. 5. Fully torque up 2 off M10x30mm nuts and bolts to 40-50Nm - Item 5 on illustration.

2. JAW AND BALL/PINTLE (BALL AND/OR PIN) AND CLOSE COUPLED 50MM BALL - Fig 2

1. Loosely fit 3 off M10x25mm long bolts to secure the bottom stiffener plate to the underside of the chassis cross member - Item 1 on illustration. 2. Offer up the drop plate and fit 2 off M10x30mm long bolts to the bottom stiffener plate and loosely fit the 2 nuts - Item 2 on illustration. 3. Fit the bolts 2 off M12x40 long bolts to the top holes in the back plate. Tighten bolts to 75-90Nm - Item 3 on illustration. 4. Fit the pintle to the drop plate and secure in place with 2 off M16x70 long bolts. Tighten bolts to 160200Nm - Item 4 on illustration. 5. Fully torque up 3 off M10x25mm bolts to 40-50Nm - Item 5 on illustration. 6. Fully torque up 2 off M10x30mm nuts and bolts to 40-50Nm - Item 6 on illustration.

SERVICE ACTION BULLETIN No: A/D386
Rover Group 2000

PARTS INFORMATION:

KNK100090K Load spreading kit

WARRANTY CLAIMS: UK Complaint code A386 Option code A = 00.10 hour - Inspect only Option code B = 00.30 hour - Fit kit

Europe/Rest of World Complaint code D386 76.11.89/42 = 00.10 hour - Inspect only 76.11.89/43 = 00.30 hour - Fit kit

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Those vehicles that do not have the types of tow hitch application fitted will require a warranty claim made against them to remove them from the campaign file. During normal service/warranty work a quick visual should be made of the tow hitch configuration to ensure that all relevant vehicles have been captured and an inspection claim of 00.10 hour made to remove the vehicle from the outstanding campaign file on the warranty database.

SERVICE ACTION BULLETIN No: A/D386
Rover Group 2000