I have a question that I'm sure someone can answer for me. We have a 2017 19 and the jack is starting to get hard to crank when hitching up the trailer. I have never had this type of jack before that you crank from the side. The previous unit we had used a top cranking mechanism. I was wondering if someone can give me some info on lubricating it. Thanks a million.
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Things are more like they are now than they've ever been before.
-Ohio Ralph-
If it's one with a couple screws that hold down a top plate, I did like Jim mentions. I lubed the gears with white lithium spray grease as I had a can of it. I used to spray down the shaft with some silicone spray.
Could be worth looking at just swapping it with a power jack.
The jack does the job but it's a primitive mechanism.
On the front there is a bushing. On the rear there isn't any bushing, just a shaft under a side load going through a hole.
Yes, the gears require lubrication but so do the bushing and the hole. I pull the shaft out and use grease, a better and longer lasting option for that situation.
Took out the three bolts on the bottom plate that holds the entire unit in place. Held the jack upside down and sprayed lubricant in. Solved the problem, and an easy fix.
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Dave
2009 Escape 17B
2010 Toyota Highlander
Good ideas here, I'm gonna check mine in the morning...
One additional thought. If you use a spray lubricant, it might be best to use motorcycle chain lube. It has the advantage of having a volatile solvent that quickly evaporates to leave behind a viscus effective lubricant that will last a long time in use. You can get it almost anywhere that sells lubricants, including the big box stores.