Electric Tongue Jack Manual Override

[overlander64]

My Overlander has languished for the past few years while my Minuet traveled most everywhere with me. This year, the Overlander is going to be my primary coach for travel. My ten year-old electric tongue jack is acting up, and I need to be prepared with the correct size socket to operate the square drive manual crank. I believe that the jack is a Barker Ultra-Fab or its predecessor. There are no markings on the jack and the only labels have been obliterated by weather -- all that remains is the twin blue line border around one of the labels.

Does anyone know the socket size needed for the square drive manual override found below the circular rubber plug on top of the jack?

I am including a photo of the tongue that is the best photo that I have the jack in question.



Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Kevin

[Kevin245]

Kevin,

It looks exactly like the "Hi-Torque" Acme Power Jack by H&H Engineering ( Division of Barker) on my 73 Avion. The Owner's Manual shows the crank handle (PN 21047) but does not give a size. The Avion is at our remote site until May 11th. If no one comes up with the information before then, I will send it to you when I get there.

Regards,

Kevin

PS... I still say you should have kept the 6E59 WBCCI numbers

[Jim Foster]

Kevin

Your jack looks like the one on our Caravel. Does it have the little plastic cover on top that you remove to get to the square drive? If so, I think it is either 3/8 or 7/16. Take the little cover off and find the size using an open end wrench.

Ours came with a crank that is the proper size. I can check ours the next time I go to the trailer (one or two days) and let you know what size ours is.

[overlander63]

Kevin, I have that jack on our Sovereign. I'll pull out the crank handle, and see if I can size it for you.

[overlander63]

Kevin, that square drive manual override is a 3/8" square, and a 3/8" socket extension fits directly over it, with no sloppiness.

[overlander64]

Greetings Terry!

Originally Posted by overlander63

Kevin, that square drive manual override is a 3/8" square, and a 3/8" socket extension fits directly over it, with no sloppiness.

Thank you!! That is the information that I needed. I will be shopping for this weekend's Rally tomorrow and will add a 3/8" socket set to my shopping list.

Kevin

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by overlander64

Greetings Terry!



Thank you!! That is the information that I needed. I will be shopping for this weekend's Rally tomorrow and will add a 3/8" socket set to my shopping list.

Kevin

Kevin, it is the female end of the socket that fits over the override. You might be able to find an 8 point 3/8" socket, or possibly the double female joiner that fits between the two halves of a cheap distributor wrench. it is 3/8" square, and male.

[overlander64]

Greetings Terry!

Originally Posted by overlander63

Kevin, it is the female end of the socket that fits over the override. You might be able to find an 8 point 3/8" socket, or possibly the double female joiner that fits between the two halves of a cheap distributor wrench. it is 3/8" square, and male.

I am assembling a streamlined toolkit to carry when towing with my Cadillac -- to be such a huge car it has an unusually small trunk. I will check my tools that survived the flash floods of 1993 (a roaring stream washed through my garage redistributing everything throughout the valley where I lived at the time). I don't believe that many of my mechanic tools survived, and I haven't replaced many since my time has been limited on mechanical projects. A compact 3/8" drive socket set may be just the thing to fit in the top tray of the toolbox that I plan to carry in the trunk of the Cadillac.

I certainly appreciate your help!

Kevin

P.S.: I think that I may have found the problem that is causing the jack to be temperamental -- the switch seems to be moisture sensitive -- each time the problem has appeared it has been during damp or rainy weather -- we had hot sunshine this afternoon and the jack worked like a charm for the first time this week (we have had rain every day except this afternoon -- we had very dense fog this morning and the jack refused to operate until it had been in the sun for several hours).

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by overlander63

Kevin, it is the female end of the socket that fits over the override. You might be able to find an 8 point 3/8" socket, or possibly the double female joiner that fits between the two halves of a cheap distributor wrench. it is 3/8" square, and male.

Craftsman makes 8 point sockets. Buying a single one the correct, 3/8", size should not be expensive. They should be in stock at the nearest Sears.

The correct size for an individual tab also makes a good tap driver with a ratchet or speed handle. You may want to buy more than one.

[mojo]

My Bambi didn't have the manual crank for the electric jack when I bought it so I emailed the manufacturer, explained my situation and asked if I could get one from them. They replied by sending me one at no charge. Guess they like streamers...

[pablo]

i'm have been looking for a new jack and don't want to cut loose of alot of cash. ebay has a bunch and most are reman units and the seller won't tell me what has been remaned if it's the gears i don't want that problem again. the ultra fab seems to be the least expensive at around $125 + shipping. also will a 3000# rating work?

Thanks
Pablo