Freeing up rust welded trailer tongue jack?

[softdown]

Would replace but the thing is welded on like a nation depended on it.

Wound up drilling several 1/8" holes so PB penetrating oil could be applied on all sides. The original cotter pin that allows the top gears to interact got broken off some time ago. Have broke about a dozen cheap nails in my efforts to free it up using the top gears. Have also tried vice grips on the bottom. No dice.

Is this just impossible to do? Perhaps a propane torch would help? Anybody had any luck?

If I can just free it once, I can sand off the rust and oil it up with CorrosionX HD thus getting some more life out of it.

 

[Sprig]

I would try to find a way to remove it and replace with a new bolt on. Either cut it off or use a cutting torch

 

[tpenfield]

Is it actually welded on? or is it just rusty U-Bolts?

If U-Bolts take the Sawzall and cut the bolts. If it is welded on, then see if you can cut the welds while leaving the frame material intact.

You probably will be buying a new jack anyway.

 

[softdown]

"the thing is welded on like a nation depended on it" Cutting it off would be quite difficult, it would involve cutting through 10" of thick weld. Somebody was fond of welding and good at it.

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

I think some pictures would be helpful.

 

[bruceb58]

"the thing is welded on like a nation depended on it" Cutting it off would be quite difficult, it would involve cutting through 10" of thick weld. Somebody was fond of welding and good at it.

Find someone with a cutting torch or a plasma cutter.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

I would be surprised that much welding didn't warp the tube steel of the tongue. I agree with removing it and replacing. I would use some slicer wheels on a grinder to cut through the weld. Unfortunately, there really is no saving that jack if its as bad as you say.

 

[ezmobee]

You could probably still cut/break off the majority of the old jack just leaving you with a plate hard core welded on. You could then just bolt a new one on the opposite side of the tongue.

 

[dingbat]

I cut one off a horse trailer the other day. Took less than 15 minutes with a 4" grinder with a cut off wheel

Some touch up with a 9" grinder using a 80 grit soft pad and one the worst for wear

 

[softdown]

Welcome aboard.

I think some pictures would be helpful.

Yes.....this board like pictures. Easy to do when chatting with a smartphone. Small project with my laptop. Just have hundreds of things to do this week...and next....and the next.

 

[GA_Boater]

Yes.....this board like pictures. Easy to do when chatting with a smartphone. Small project with my laptop. Just have hundreds of things to do this week...and next....and the next.

We all have hundreds of things to do. But we're taking the time out of our busy schedule to help you after you asked for advice.

Sorry I asked, but I wanted to see what you are having so much trouble with. Many smartphones have cameras and pics from phones are posted here all the time.

 

[softdown]

We all have hundreds of things to do. But we're taking the time out of our busy schedule to help you after you asked for advice.

Sorry I asked, but I wanted to see what you are having so much trouble with. Many smartphones have cameras and pics from phones are posted here all the time.

Excuse me but modifying a trailer and picking up a 26' sailboat, with 4' draft, without engine 1300 miles away is a bit harder to do than most things. Not to mention the boat has to travel ~ 20 miles, on a river, to a lift out.

Posting a photo is a bigger job for some, others not so much. My smartphone doesn't have internet here, it barely works at all. If it had internet, I would download tapatalk and be a photo wiz on forums.

Anyway....I ordered a new Dutton-Lainson jack due to good experience. Will cut off what I can with a sawzall.

 

[GA_Boater]

Like we know the trailer isn't in your backyard. You could have told us. We can only help as much as you give feedback. Good luck on the trip.

BTW - Tapatalk won't help. It isn't supported by VBulletin.

 

[Redfred1]

t is amazing what can be done with a cut off wheel!

 

[softdown]

t is amazing what can be done with a cut off wheel!

The favorite tool of many. I favor a sawzall because I have a couple hundred steel cutting blades and less debris flying towards my handsome face.

 

[bruceb58]

Most of the time, a sawzall won't be able to remove the old jack if you are planning on replacing it with a new one.

As usual, hard to know what to recommend without a picture.

 

[softdown]

No Title

Here is the photo that people keep asking for. Only took 8 minutes.....less time than I expected.

 

[briangcc]

Here's what I would do...and I'm by no means an expert...

Attach a new bolt on unit far enough ahead of the seized unit that the new one can pivot up and out of the way when the trailer is connected to the tow vehicle.

Using a new hacksaw blade(s) cut the lower portion of the seized unit off so it can't interfere with towing should the unit get close enough to the road surface to strike it. Yes this is low tech but I'm not about to be standing in the snow attempting to use power tools. I doubt the unit is worth saving given its outward appearance.

When you have the trailer in an area that isn't snow bound, get a cutoff wheel and go at the attachment points as previously recommended by a bunch of guys/gals who have a lot more experience at this stuff than I. Watch your trailer wiring when you do this as I see someone draped it right behind your existing seized unit. **Might want to zip tie that to the trailer tongue so it's a little more secure if its for permanent lights.

 

[bruceb58]

Attach a new bolt on unit far enough ahead of the seized unit that the new one can pivot up and out of the way when the trailer is connected to the tow vehicle.

Looks like there is more than enough room on the other side of the trailer and you wouldn't even need to worry about the room from the old one. Cut the old one down so it's out of the way and install the new one on the other side of the trailer.

BTW, if that thing is welded vertically to the trailer, it may have severely weakened the beam of the trailer. Hard to tell if that thing is bolted to the beam of the trailer or not.

 

[briangcc]

If you rotate the picture and enlarge it a bit there are weld marks on the one side of the jack. Looks to go the length of the baseplate.Doesn't look too terribly thick of a weld so I think a cutoff wheel followed by a BFH would make short work of that. I just wouldn't want to be standing in the snow doing it.