Tongue Jack

[54fuselage]

Posted this to the Flying Cloud forum, but it's more "Airstream general":

Hi there, new to the forum and ready to get work underway on my "new" 1954 Flying Cloud. First thing I need to take care of is the tongue jack - it won't budge. Many things I plan to upgrade, but this was something I hoped could stay original. It has a round 4-hole base and a teardrop shaped tube. Are there any good replacements with a similar round base? Would it be difficult or expensive to fix or have refurbished?



There is a previous forum thread with a jack design exactly like this, but it sounded as though switching to the common triangular shaped base was the only solution given.

[ROBERT CROSS]

54,

If your intent on keeping it original....try soaking in .Evapo-Rust.

Soak for a couple days and the rust is gone...I have used it on our 53 Ford....No wire brushes, sand paper or elbow grease needed. Can be used over and over.

Bob

[cwf]

A bit of 'elbow' grease may help. Near top of the 'tube' by the crank you should find a small 'hole' for squirting in some oil... might try some of the 'evapo-rust' which Bob mentioned... might loosen things.. also, you may be able to 'dribble' some down the crank shaft...

Another option is some over the counter (OTC) called PB Blaster... it will 'loosen' rusted parts that are meant to 'move'.

Always.. some time to 'soak'...

You may want to consider 'blocking' the tongue and wheels then removing the 'jack'. You can then 'invert' the jack which will allow you to dribble some solvent between the outer/inner tube... then SOAK...

[54fuselage]

Thank you guys, I'll start with working some machine oil and wd-40 in there, and will look into these other products too. I've heard of PB Blaster, but have never used it. Would be nice to apply some of that Evapo-rust to the frame...anyone have a 10'x25' soaking tub?

[switz]

Many years ago, I was at a plating facility near Muncie, IN and they had a liquid zink tank (molten) that was about 15' wide and 40' long and 5' deep. They would put antenna tower sections in there to plate them.

Also a neat way to "vaporize" your murder victim.

In a frame off job, perhaps an entire frame would fit?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by 54fuselage

Thank you guys, I'll start with working some machine oil and wd-40 in there, and will look into these other products too. I've heard of PB Blaster, but have never used it. Would be nice to apply some of that Evapo-rust to the frame...anyone have a 10'x25' soaking tub?

Or soak 1/2 at a time....

BTW it was a NOS part.

Bob

[J. Morgan]

Ideally you would want to get the jack apart to clean, inspect, and lubricate, but I don't know that you can get it apart without freeing up the mechanism.




1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow

[Arrowstream]

I realize that I'm a few months late on this discussion, but for the benefit of anyone else with the same problem:
here's the same jack on a 1956 Shasta


I removed the bolts holding it onto the frame. When you remove the top handle, the inner tube and bearing race will come out of the outer tube. Replace the bearings with new (from a bicycle shop - 50 cents apiece).

Tidy everything up and put it all back together. It works like new now.

[54fuselage]

Wow, great to know! I've already purchased a nice replacement but would still like to get this one back in working order. The info you gave is very helpful Arrowstream!