Tongue jack cranking bad

[float5]

I have been having an awful time cranking the tongue jack. I had sites where I had to crank to the top a number of times. Never had it this bad in previous years or on the 19'. Used some 3-in-1 oil but no difference. Brought it home and my husband is having the same trouble. Just really hard to crank. Anyone having this?

Maybe I am just getting old and it seems harder. My hands and arms are bad. I am pretty sure I gained some muscles cranking it around the Midwest to a bunch of states. But really became diffcult even on flat concrete. Just did not have this problem before.

[Greg A]

Time for power tongue jack....

[float5]

Yes, I have wanted a power jack from day one. But wondering the problem. Just have not had this and it certainly seems to be the jack and not us. Has yours become very difficult to crank? I have not heard of people having the crank become so hard.

[Greg A]

No, never had one do that, but went to power tongue jacks years ago and quit messing with cranking. My guess would be you'd have to disassemble it and lube the gears then reassemble, or replace it. I'd just replace it with a power tongue jack at this point and don't look back. Three bolts run the electrical and you will be very happy campers.

[gbaglo]

Not going to get any younger.
I'm getting more cranky though.

[trlqwen]

I hate cranking the tongue jack. The last several trailers I have owned I replaced the tongue jack with a power one. It makes it easier to hitch and unhitch.

[KirkB]

My original tongue jack got hard to crank and eventually failed last year. I got a replacement from ETI. I had asked ETI about lubing the jack when it started to get stiff, and was told to put grease on the top gear, but that does not lube the threaded post inside.

The replacement has a grease nipple which will allow me to lube the internal parts, also a lower gear ratio which means easier but more cranking.

I probably abuse my jack more than most people, as I crank it up high to get level on my sloped driveway, and also crank it up hard when hitching and unhitching with the Andersen WDH to make adjusting the chains easier.

If you want a power jack, sounds like now is the time to get one.

[float5]

Originally Posted by KirkB

My original tongue jack got hard to crank and eventually failed last year. I got a replacement from ETI. I had asked ETI about lubing the jack when it started to get stiff, and was told to put grease on the top gear, but that does not lube the threaded post inside.

The replacement has a grease nipple which will allow me to lube the internal parts, also a lower gear ratio which means easier but more cranking.

I probably abuse my jack more than most people, as I crank it up high to get level on my sloped driveway, and also crank it up hard when hitching and unhitching with the Andersen WDH to make adjusting the chains easier.

If you want a power jack, sounds like now is the time to get one.

Were you in warranty or had to pay? From what you say, maybe that high cranking caused the problem because that is what I had the last many weeks.

Yes, we just need a power one now. Can't keep trying to do this.

[steve dunham]

I figure if I am too old and weak to turn the handle on the trailer Jack then I will just guit camping .

I drilled and tapped a small hole about 1 1/2" to 2 " inches below the handle in the outer tube . Took a spray can of lithium grease with an extension tube and shot some grease through the hole I drilled. I aimed the spray tube upward to get the upper gear and downward to get the screw threads on the shaft .
Worked the crank a few times and everything freed right up.
Took a short machine screw with anti sieze and plugged the hole I drilled and covered the screw head with a couple of wraps of black electrical tape.
Every spring I remove the tape and screw and apply more grease.
Jack seems to work just fine by hand

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

I figure if I am too old and weak to turn the handle on the trailer Jack then I will just guit camping.

Better quit driving then if your vehicle has power windows. After all, if you can't crank a window open or shut you might as well give up.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but your comment makes no sense. We don't have a power jack because we are "too old and weak" to crank it manually, we have one because it's convenient and quick, particularly when using an Andersen hitch.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Better quit driving then if your vehicle has power windows. After all, if you can't crank a window open or shut you might as well give up.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but your comment makes no sense. We don't have a power jack because we are "too old and weak" to crank it manually, we have one because it's convenient and quick, particularly when using an Andersen hitch.

I just don't think everything in life needs to be motorized or computerised
It's not that big of a deal to turn a crank a few revolutions IMHO but it seems to others it is one of life's most extreme physical challenges

I have no issue with your sarcasm , I stated my honest opinion and that's all I am willing to do . If you believe that a power jack is a necessity , while I disagree I respect your opinion and your right to state same.


** PS : I also have a WDH **

[cpaharley2008]

Steve, why not insert a zero grease fitting, then all you need is your grease gun, some jacks have a fitting.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Steve, why not insert a zero grease fitting, then all you need is your grease gun, some jacks have a fitting.

I didn't have a grease zerk and was too lazy / cheap to drive into town to buy one . So I have no good excuse or reason for what I did , all I can say is what I did worked .

[gbaglo]

I find listening to the screech of the electric jack more painful than cranking manually, but I'm also losing my hearing, so an electric jack may be in my future.

[Donna D.]

I wanna know why these manual jacks are so high geared (or is it low geared)? Where you crank and crank and the dang thing moves 1/4 of an inch. When it's hot out, it's a great way to get sweaty and then a person truly deserves a cold beverage

[padlin]

Kind of like a bike, the lower the gear ratio, or is it higher, the easier the peddling.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by padlin

Kind of like a bike, the lower the gear ratio, or is it higher, the easier the peddling.

Yeah, going up hill on a 10 speed. The legs are going like crazy and the bike barely moves

But back to the original problem. I wonder if dosing the jack with some PB Blaster would help?

[cpaharley2008]

You can always replace your original jack with a better one, just make sure the capacity is the same but otherwise some are very easy to operate, manually.

[KirkB]

Originally Posted by float5

Were you in warranty or had to pay? From what you say, maybe that high cranking caused the problem because that is what I had the last many weeks.

My trailer was over 2 years old when the jack died, so I didn't ask for any warranty coverage, I was just looking for a good price on a quick replacement so I could unhook my trailer.

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I wanna know why these manual jacks are so high geared (or is it low geared)? Where you crank and crank and the dang thing moves 1/4 of an inch. When it's hot out, it's a great way to get sweaty and then a person truly deserves a cold beverage

I think ETI used a higher weight capacity jack as the replacement, so more cranks per inch of lift. I suspect I am not the only customer to have a problem with the old model, with no way to lube easily. I get tired of cranking with the new jack, even when it isn't hot out. Does your cabana boy deliver cold beers?

[gbaglo]

I donno. My jack is original to 2008. I haven't noticed any particular issue with the jack, only that I'm older.