Okay you guys with all the brains out there! Here's a doosy! The tongue extension on my trailer is stuck...it's stuck! Dag balsted thing is stuck after pounding and pounding away to knock it loose! Argh! I've checked for locking bolts forward and aft on the extension only to no avail. I've hammered, pleaded, bribed, and threatened the darn thing and still no response. Any suggestions short of lighting a torch to this old trailer would be welcome. I love a challenge once in a while but this is ridiculous...hehehe.
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Mark
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Ted
Before you hook it to the tree. . .
You could try a pressure washer in the tube that the extension runs through. You see, what happens is that the metal inside rusts and expands, forming a massive grip on the extension. Sometimes pressurized water can losen up some of the rust. You will need to move the tongue about 1 foot in order to free up the rust enough. I pounded my extension out with a sledge hammer, and it only took about 8 hours! So, the tree idea is not too bad, but make sure your set-up is safe and observers keep their distance. Regards, Ted
You could try a pressure washer in the tube that the extension runs through. You see, what happens is that the metal inside rusts and expands, forming a massive grip on the extension. Sometimes pressurized water can losen up some of the rust. You will need to move the tongue about 1 foot in order to free up the rust enough. I pounded my extension out with a sledge hammer, and it only took about 8 hours! So, the tree idea is not too bad, but make sure your set-up is safe and observers keep their distance. Regards, Ted
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Mike - C22
stuck extension
I have a Neptune 16 that has an extension on the tounge. Actually, it's a separate piece of barstock that slides thru 2 brackets bolted to the main frame of the trailer. It became stuck a few years ago and I solved the problem by loosening the bolts that held the brackets on. I re-aligned the brackets, re-tightened the bolts, and haven't had a bit of trouble with it afterwards. It took about 1/2 hour of leisurly work to do. without the possibility of damaging the trailer by beating on it with a sledge hammer, or damaging the trailer or vehicle by chaining it to a tree and driving.
I have a Neptune 16 that has an extension on the tounge. Actually, it's a separate piece of barstock that slides thru 2 brackets bolted to the main frame of the trailer. It became stuck a few years ago and I solved the problem by loosening the bolts that held the brackets on. I re-aligned the brackets, re-tightened the bolts, and haven't had a bit of trouble with it afterwards. It took about 1/2 hour of leisurly work to do. without the possibility of damaging the trailer by beating on it with a sledge hammer, or damaging the trailer or vehicle by chaining it to a tree and driving.
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Ken Palmer
tounge extention
If your going to chain it to a tree I would recomend chaining both sides of the rear so as not to warp or twist the tounge and or trailer frame. get yourself a couple of cans of nuts off and spray both ends ping it and remember if your hitting it with a sledge your componding your problem by making tight spots. once you get it loose try and clean out the rust and paint it inside by tying a rag on a small rope and pulling it through a few times. I keep my extention out during the winter. another thing you can consider once it loose is using a good dry lube, not nearly as messy as grease. Ken
If your going to chain it to a tree I would recomend chaining both sides of the rear so as not to warp or twist the tounge and or trailer frame. get yourself a couple of cans of nuts off and spray both ends ping it and remember if your hitting it with a sledge your componding your problem by making tight spots. once you get it loose try and clean out the rust and paint it inside by tying a rag on a small rope and pulling it through a few times. I keep my extention out during the winter. another thing you can consider once it loose is using a good dry lube, not nearly as messy as grease. Ken
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john renfro
stuck
hello alan,what you have is a one piece tongue made from two pieces and held togather with rust i am taking my trailer to a welding shop to cut and replace good luck john
hello alan,what you have is a one piece tongue made from two pieces and held togather with rust i am taking my trailer to a welding shop to cut and replace good luck john
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David Williams
I replaced mine
I am a proficient welder/fabricator, and the answer to your question depends on the level that your tongue is rusted. If your tongue only has surface rust and you have access to a torch. Heat the outer surface of the tube...works best with a "rose bud", then spray penetrating oil to the ends of the tube. The heat will help the oil to make its way in. After heating the outer tube, you will need to beat, hammer, on the inner tube to free it. If you have a severe rusting problem, it would be better to replace the tongue. When I bought my boat/trailer, my extension was rusted, stuck. When I cut mine out, there was very little good metal left. Any welder can replace the tongue in a couple of hours. The materials are not expensive. Please, do not risk loosing your boat and endangering your fellow travelers, with a bad trailer tongue. David
I am a proficient welder/fabricator, and the answer to your question depends on the level that your tongue is rusted. If your tongue only has surface rust and you have access to a torch. Heat the outer surface of the tube...works best with a "rose bud", then spray penetrating oil to the ends of the tube. The heat will help the oil to make its way in. After heating the outer tube, you will need to beat, hammer, on the inner tube to free it. If you have a severe rusting problem, it would be better to replace the tongue. When I bought my boat/trailer, my extension was rusted, stuck. When I cut mine out, there was very little good metal left. Any welder can replace the tongue in a couple of hours. The materials are not expensive. Please, do not risk loosing your boat and endangering your fellow travelers, with a bad trailer tongue. David
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DesertBoatman
light a torch
Heat up the outer part of the slide, then try pulling it apart. Mine has been stuck solid. Some day I will have it replaced but where I launch I do not need an extension.
Heat up the outer part of the slide, then try pulling it apart. Mine has been stuck solid. Some day I will have it replaced but where I launch I do not need an extension.
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tom b.
OMG>Tie it to a tree???
You've got to be kiddin..if it's anything like mine.. it's stuck.like welded stuck. tying it to a tree ain't gonna work. I'd like to try the heatin up method but don't have a torch. I've been beatin on that thing forever.I've drilled some holes in the top so I could spray stuff into it.. Ya know hopefully lettin it seep around the rust..ha ha ha.. I'm now lookin to add an extension some other way. There might be some archive on here or u could try the trailer sailor .com board. there is a couple there. good luck and don't try the tree thing..but if you do.. have someone with a video camera handy, I'd like to see that on "funniest videos".
You've got to be kiddin..if it's anything like mine.. it's stuck.like welded stuck. tying it to a tree ain't gonna work. I'd like to try the heatin up method but don't have a torch. I've been beatin on that thing forever.I've drilled some holes in the top so I could spray stuff into it.. Ya know hopefully lettin it seep around the rust..ha ha ha.. I'm now lookin to add an extension some other way. There might be some archive on here or u could try the trailer sailor .com board. there is a couple there. good luck and don't try the tree thing..but if you do.. have someone with a video camera handy, I'd like to see that on "funniest videos".
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Stu Jackson C34 1986 #224
Trees DO Work
It just has to be a trusty tree. Took our C22 trailer to Clear Lake many years ago, the tree was the ONLY way to get the extension out. It worked. Stu
It just has to be a trusty tree. Took our C22 trailer to Clear Lake many years ago, the tree was the ONLY way to get the extension out. It worked. Stu
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