Ice Castle Axle Won't Crank Down

[vman11]

I have a 2007 6.5x12 Ice Castle that has a axle that won't easily crank down. One side goes down perfectly, but the other side "binds" up. We usually have to use a spud bar under the fender to pry the wheel up enough to allow the house to sit correctly on the ice.

Wondering if anybody else has come across this issue. I can't remember hitting any massive pot holes that might cause the assembly to tweak.

I also called Ice Castle with this issue and the guy told me to grease it and work it until it moves freely. I've greased them before, not before every trip, but I have shot grease into them. Could it be this simple?

[TravP]

They axles freeze up after awhile. My dads does the same thing. To remedy this my uncle pulled his apart and added grease zerks.

[Loon]

I had a cable sneak around the pulley and wedge itself between the pulley and the mounting bracket.

Seemed like a seized pivot...showed the symptoms of one...

Check to make sure the cables are in line with the pulley. Just a thought.

[vman11]

Pulleys are free - thanks for the suggestion though.

The axles do have zerks. Maybe that one just needs more grease?

It cranks up alright; however, it is hard to feel if it is binding or not on the way up because of the mechanical aid of the ratchet and pulley system.

[walleyeseeker]

I had the same problem with mine. There wasn't enough grease around the pivot points. Mine was bad enough that I had to take it apart and hone everything down. Now with enough grease, it works better than new.

[ICETP]

You might want to check the grease zerks for clearance. I had trouble getting grease to go into the zerk on one of my pivots, I removed the zerk and installed a small washer behind it and replaced the zerk, it made a big difference.

[fishnhooks]

I have seen this typically happen on the drivers side worse than the passenger side. To me it sounds like you might have to remove collar on the pivot and pull the arm off. Clean up the spindel and the inside the tube that goes on the spindel. Put some grease on the spindle and in the tube and put it back together, then put grease in the zerk.

"hooks"

[gurkster]

I have the same exact issue. I plan to fix it in the summer. As a work around now I use 2x4 blocks to block the house up a little so it is level. I drill my holes with the house up and then lower it in the fresh slush pile of the hole to get it to seal pretty good, I add snow if needed. It works, but I am disappointed that this happened. I did add grease routinely, but like you not on every trip. I hope it isn't to hard to fix over the summer.

ICETP - My grease zerks seem to be pressed in so adding a washer does't seem possible. Sounds like yours were screw in, or did you replace them?

Anyone notice real poor tire wear too? Seems my tires wear uneven?!?!

[FIRECAT]

Mine was new this year and already had to pull it apart. Wasn't sticking but showing wear on the axle tube coming off the frame. Factory screw up. Ya, you gotta grease the [PoorWordUsage] out of them to keep them working. Not a very good set-up, good chance for water and grit to get in there. No uneven tire wear, but only have about 600 miles on it.

[vman11]

How challenging is it to pull apart? The Ice Castle rep told me there is a large bolt or something attaching the entire assembly?

The house is sitting on the ice at LOTW, off of Adrian's road next to shore. I hope to run up there in a few weekends to use it again, but I would like to plan ahead with tools and such so I can get it functional. I will try shooting more grease and working it around first before I try to disassemble the wheel.

[cold one sd]

Every other year I pull my pivots off the axle, clean everything, grease the heck out of it and put it back together. I have never had to put any grease in through the zerks. It isn't an Ice Castle if that makes a difference.

[walleye34]

be very very careful "forcing" it down. My buddy did that and snapped the whole axle off and now he is having issues getting a new one put on. The older ice castles have "L" frame vs tube frame and they have no place to weld a new one on.

[fishnhooks]

What I had to use when I did it in the past was an impact, hammer (and maybe a larger hammer) and something you can pound on to help get the collar off that can fit between the arm and the collar(not for sure what they are called.... a flat end metal chisel???). Maybe a punch to punch the bolt going through the collar out, emery paper, long flat screwdriver (used with emery paper to clean the inside of the tube and the collar). Butane torch (to heat up the pivot, it helps to "loosen" the old grease when trying to pry off the arm and it might also help when trying to take off the collar), pry bars, grease, and a helping hand.

"hooks"

[FIRECAT]

[vman11] Mine's a 6.5 by 14 sportangler. I jacked it up used a couple of 9/16 wrenches to pull the main bolt out, pull your back pin out. loosen up the cable a lot, this should allow you to pull it out far enough to clean and regrease it. hopefully its not to rusted on. Good Luck!

[vman11]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm going to give it a shot. I plan on bringing a small bottle torch to warm things up a bit before we get too crazy.

Does removing the rim from the assembly help work on things or is it unnecessary?

[FIRECAT]

{vman11} Ya take the tire off, much lighter and easier to see whats going on. If im up their at the same time i'll stop by and give a hand.

[vman11]

Appreciate the offer Firecat...the next time I head up might be the evening of 3/4, but I won't get to Wheeler's Pt until 10PM or so. If I don't make it that weekend I'll be up the next with my old man and father in law. We'll probably be able to take care of it if that's the case.

Send me a message and let me know when you're on your way up next. I live in Fargo - maybe we can compare fishing notes.

[LightningBG]

I would jack up the whole shack and put blocks under it, then take the tire off , pull the pins and keep the cable loose. This way you can take all the pressure off of the pivot and see what it takes to move it, if its moving freely or not. Then go from there.