Rusty swing-away tongue pin

[chevyss86]

Hello all,
I have been fighting with the locking pin of my EZ-Loader swing-away tongue now for two weeks. The pin is rusted in place and refuses to move. So far, I have tried a ball joint press, floor jack, barrel jack and twisiting it with a pipe wrench. No matter what I have tried. The pin simply refuses to move.
I now turn to the experts to help me figure out this great mystery.

This is the short and to-the-point version. I can also send any needed information to help devise a solution.

Thanks,

Gary

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Rusty swing-away tongue pin

Try putting some heat to it, a propane torch may be enough to do the trick.
Heat the outer casting or hinge so as to expand it and loosen the pin.

 

[Bowser4x4]

Re: Rusty swing-away tongue pin

Another possibility:
Try Kano Aerokroil....it is a penetrating oil, but it is the best that I have seen. Soak it down a couple of times a day for a week and try it then. I removed the shock mounts on an old Corvette with this....after trying just about everything else.

Woof
Bowser

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Rusty swing-away tongue pin

I vote PB Blaster

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Rusty swing-away tongue pin

This was posted on another site I frequent.

"The April/May 2007 edition of Machinist's Workshop did a test of penetrating oils where they measured the force required to loosen rusty test devices. The lower the number of pounds the better.

Penetrating oil . Average load .. Price per fluid ounce
None ................. 516 pounds .
WD-40 .............. 238 pounds .. $0.25
PB Blaster ......... 214 pounds .. $0.35
Liquid Wrench ... 127 pounds .. $0.21
Kano Kroil ........ 106 pounds .. $0.75
ATF-Acetone mix.. 53 pounds .. $0.10

The ATF-Acetone mix was a 50/50 mix (1 to 1 ratio)."

 

[chevyss86]

Re: Rusty swing-away tongue pin

I knew this was the right place to come to! It will be a few days before I try again, but the ATF-Acetone mixture looks very promising. Will update as soon as I give it a try. Once the trailer gives birth to the pin, I will try to remember to take some pictures and post them here.

 

[chevyss86]

Re: Rusty swing-away tongue pin

Update.

I have had some time to think about and decided to leave the pin alone until the end of boating season. The pin is holding well. I would rather have the pin stuck than to have an unusable trailer with a messed up tonque. This boat has already cost me several hundred dollars in tires and bearing buddies. The pin is more a nuisance than a problem.

I will update everyone in a few months.

Thanks.