Marshall QM grain and silage tipping trailer service schedule
Trailers · QM-6 to QM-1800 (Marshall trailer instructions, 2026 edition)
Every maker's service job for the Marshall QM grain and silage tipping trailer, counted in hours, with the oils, filters and parts each one needs. Add your implement to Farmyard Workshop and it works out what's due from your hours and dates, and keeps the service history.
Track your QM grain and silage tipping trailer for freeService intervals
| Job | When |
|---|---|
| Grease tandem springs or rocker (every 8 hours) | every 8 hours |
| Check U-bolts and spring bolts | every month |
| Grease hubs and check castle nuts | every 6 months |
| Check tipping pins and ram bolts | every year |
| Check wheel nuts (weekly) | when needed |
| Drain the air tank (air-braked trailers) | when needed |
Service jobs and parts
Grease tandem springs or rocker (every 8 hours)
Running gear · every 8 hours
Marshall says grease the spring and rocker bushes on tandem-axle trailers every 8 hours of use, and coat exposed tipping ram stages with grease regularly.
| Part | Qty | Notes | Part number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grease | 1 | check your handbook |
Step-by-step
- Lower the body fully, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and chock the trailer wheels.
- Grease the spring and rocker bush nipples on each side of the tandem.
- Smear grease on any exposed ram stage and the top of each stage to stop the rods rusting.
- Do not tip the body to reach anything: Marshall says all maintenance can be done with the body down.
Tools: Grease gun, Wheel chocks
Check U-bolts and spring bolts
Running gear · every month
Marshall says check U-bolts and spring-locating bolts every 8 hours for the first week of work, then monthly.
Step-by-step
- Lower the body, stop the tractor, take the key out and chock the wheels.
- Check the U-bolt nuts: 19 mm 270 Nm, 22 mm 540 Nm, 24 mm 600 Nm.
- Check the spring-locating bolts and the hitch bolts (bolt-on hitch 500 Nm).
Tools: Torque wrench, Sockets
Grease hubs and check castle nuts
Running gear · every 6 months
Marshall says check and grease the hubs and bearings after the first 14 days of work and then every 6 months, and check the castle nuts after the first 40 hours and then every 6 months.
| Part | Qty | Notes | Part number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hub grease | 1 | check your handbook | |
| Split pins | 1 | New for any castle nut you disturb | check your handbook |
Step-by-step
- Park on level ground, lower the body, stop the tractor, take the key out and chock the wheels.
- Grease each hub through its nipple or by refilling the hub cap.
- Lift each wheel clear and support the axle on stands. Rock the wheel to feel for bearing play: there should be no side movement.
- Check every castle nut is tight and split-pinned.
- Check the brake rams extend and return freely. To adjust a brake, loosen the nut behind the clevis, turn the piston so adjustment comes out of the ram, then retighten the locknut.
Tools: Jack and axle stands, Grease gun, Long bar, Spanners, Wheel chocks
Check tipping pins and ram bolts
Body and tipping · every year
Marshall says tipping points wear and become a safety problem: remove and check the pins every year and replace as needed, including the ram bolts.
| Part | Qty | Notes | Part number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tipping pins and ram bolts | 1 | As needed; order by model and serial from Marshall | check your handbook |
Step-by-step
- Unload the trailer. If the body must be raised, use the body prop: it is designed to hold an EMPTY body only. Never go under a body held only by the ram.
- Stop the tractor and take the key out with the body propped.
- Remove each body pivot pin and the ram pins, check for wear and ovality, and replace worn pins and bolts.
- Check all hydraulic hoses for chafing, wear and perishing, and the ram for leaks.
- Check the chassis, strengtheners and tow hitch for wear and cracks.
- Grease the pins on reassembly and lower the body before removing the prop.
Tools: Body prop, Hammer and drift, Spanners, Grease gun
Check wheel nuts (weekly)
Wheels · when needed
Marshall says check the wheel nuts when new, after one hour, after one day, then weekly; and the same again after any wheel has been off.
Step-by-step
- Stop the tractor, take the key out and chock the wheels.
- Torque the nuts in a cross pattern: 18 mm studs 270 Nm; 22 mm studs 475 Nm.
- Check tyre pressures against the tyre's own rating and Marshall's chart.
Tools: Torque wrench, Socket to suit
Drain the air tank (air-braked trailers)
Brakes · when needed
Marshall says drain the large air tank regularly to stop moisture building up, and check the air pipes for kinks and damage.
Step-by-step
- Stop the tractor and take the key out. Chock the wheels.
- Pull the drain valve under the air tank until no more water comes out.
- Check all air pipes and couplings for kinks, damage or loose joints.
- On spring suspension, check the load-sensing valve linkage is intact.
Specifications
| Range | QM-6 (6.5 t) to QM-1800 (18.5 t) |
| Wheel nut torque | 18 mm studs: 270 Nm; 22 mm studs: 475 Nm |
| U-bolt torque | 19 mm: 270 Nm; 22 mm: 540 Nm; 24 mm: 600 Nm |
| Bolt-on hitch bolts | 500 Nm |
| Body prop | Designed to hold an empty body only |
| Tipping limit | Never tip a loaded trailer beyond 21° unless the tail door is released and the load is going out |
| Tyre pressures | From Marshall's chart by size, e.g. 385/65R22.5 (15 x 22.5): 90 psi; 560/60 x 22.5: 58 psi; 550/45 x 22.5: 41 psi. Check your tyre's own rating |
Known problems
Tail door opens suddenly
Marshall warns to be ready for the tail door to open fast when the catches release, and to keep everyone out of the area round the body when tipping.
Water in a monocoque body
If the trailer is parked up, take out the drain bolt at the front of the floor so water does not lie in it.
Lights left unused
Marshall suggests an oil spray on the lights if the trailer stands for a long time.
Repair guides
- Tipping ram leaking, creeping down or slow: pins, hoses and resealing (body on the prop) (Specialist, 1–2 hours for checks; ram reseal by a hydraulic specialist): Oil on a ram stage, body sinks when the lever is in neutral, body lifts slowly or jerkily, a stage sticks, knocking at the ram or body pivots, tail door slamming open when the catches release.
- Brake adjustment and shoe wear (tipping trailers and spreaders) (Moderate, 1–2 hours): Trailer pushes the tractor when braking, long brake ram or actuator travel, one wheel locking, brakes dragging and hubs hot, park brake won't hold.
- Wheel bearing play: check, regrease and set hub end float (Moderate, 1–2 hours per hub): Wheel rocks on its hub, rumbling from a wheel, hub running hot, grease thrown out round the hub cap, hub cap missing.
- Wheel nuts working loose (Easy, 30 minutes): Rust streaks from a wheel nut, wheel clicking or knocking, elongated stud holes, nut found loose at a check, after a tyre has been changed.
- Suspension: U-bolts, springs, rocker and drawbar bushes (Moderate, 1–2 hours): Axle shifted on its spring, knocking over bumps, uneven tyre wear, cracked spring leaf, dry or squeaking tandem bushes, sprung drawbar bouncing.
- Drawbar, towing eye, hitch bolts and air brake checks (Moderate, 1 hour): Clunk from the drawbar when pulling away, worn or oval towing eye, loose bolt-on hitch, water in the air system, air brakes slow to release, weak braking when loaded.
- Lights and wiring faults, and protecting a trailer that stands unused (Easy, 30–60 minutes): Lights dead or dim after the trailer has stood, corroded plug pins, water lying in a monocoque body floor, rust starting on ram rods and bright parts.
The full step-by-step guides are in Farmyard Workshop once you add your implement.
Sources
More from Marshall.