freeing a partially seized drop down axle

[beer batter]

Ran into some problems over the holiday break with both axles on the drop down shack. They each stick when coming from and going to the traveling position where the axle cross bars engage with the channel bar in the locked position with the wheels down(if that makes sense). Basically the last few inches when cranking the house up, and the first few inches when dropping the house down. I had to use a pry bar to force it the last time out, and I broke one of my winch cranks trying to crank it into position prior to using the pry bar.

Put a torch to each axle and tried injecting grease into the zerks fittings on each axle, but I'm pretty sure none of the grease made it in there. At this point I'm pretty sure the pivot is rusting up pretty good.

I've already replaced the winch crank, but the real problem still exists. I'm assuming I have to pull these axles and clean them off. Anything else?

[waterwolff]

I had the same problem with mine but upon closer inspection found that the shaft was slightly bent preventing it from completely rolling in the square stock. I took mine to a welder and had him replace the shaft. I now pack as much as I can in the truck to lighten the load in the house.

Mike.

[beer batter]

found that the shaft was slightly bent preventing it from completely rolling in the square stock.

That's interesting because that is exactly where things start to seize up on me, right when the shaft enters the square stock and all the way to the bottom. I must say that some of my trips on and off the ice over the past week were quite interesting making it through the snow. Airborn would be a good way to define some of my fish house moves. I was initially thinking that it was friction with the shaft and the square stock but was talked out of it by some friends that swear it would have to be the axle pivot just because of how stuck it was.

I'll have to check to see if anything bent before tearing into the axle.

[minnbowhunter]

It sounds to me like a pivot shaft rusting. Were the zerks taking the grease? If not, replace the zerks, Grease the snot out of it and work it back and forth as best as you can. Mine was so bad it one time, I had tons of slack in the cable and got the whole family and a couple neighbors inside and it still would not drop.

[walleyeseeker]

I just had the same problem last week. I had to take mine off, clean the shafts, hone out the tubes, and put it back together. It works better than new. A few hours of frustration now for many hours of fun later.

[beer batter]

Were the zerks taking the grease?

Pretty sure no grease went in there, even after heating it up with a torch. Looks like I've got a project for Saturday. Thanks guys.

[live4chrome]

Not to revive a dead thread but this same issue is happening to my buddy. We are supposed to take the house to Red this week but not sure that will happen if we cant get it fixed. We can drop one side down but the other will only go down a couple inches and up a few more.

I guess my question is how do you get into it to clean it, and what is a Zerk? Im driving down to st cloud tomorrow to try and help figure it out. This is what we are working with.

http://hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthre...-dr#Post3325161

[leech~~]

Not to revive a dead thread but this same issue is happening to my buddy. We are supposed to take the house to Red this week but not sure that will happen if we cant get it fixed. We can drop one side down but the other will only go down a couple inches and up a few more.

I guess my question is how do you get into it to clean it, and what is a Zerk? Im driving down to st cloud tomorrow to try and help figure it out. This is what we are working with.

http://hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthre...-dr#Post3325161

Here is a grease zerk, it's where you put grease into areas that need it like ice house drop down axles. Like someone suggested in the other thread. Drill a hole in the stuck area and tape in a zerk and try to force some grease in there which you will need a pretty good grease gun to do it once tapped in.

I would think maybe drilling a hole and tapping a zerk in about where the red circle is maybe about right unless you can get under the frame a little back from there on the shift?

[live4chrome]

Thanks man! I'll report how it works.

[leech~~]

Thanks man! I'll report how it works.

You did report that, that side does move a few inch up and down. Any movement is good so just keeping it heated and lubed and bring it up and down a bunch of times may break it loose. Good luck and hope you get up there. It really suks to lose a planed weekend!

[Husker24]

Its to late now but I believe prevention is the key regardless of what you are talking about. Get some zerks on there and grease them, I'm not sure you have much hope for those at this point, soak em in oil or diesel and hope for the best.

[live4chrome]

I'm driving down in the am. Going to drill some holes fill it up with jb80 and then some grease

[Surface Tension]

Heat, penetrating fluid, and work it up and down. Eventually it'll free up.

[cam7069]

surface tension has the rite way

[leech~~]

surface tension has the rite way

Ya, well he's late to the game, I already said that above!!

[live4chrome]

We it it down, and a new heater installed. Lifted and dropped it a ton and she went.

[leech~~]

We it it down, and a new heater installed. Lifted and dropped it a ton and she went.

Good news. Were you about to tap in a grease zerk or just kept going up and down? Hopefully going down the road will loosen it up a little more so it doesn't stick out on the lake when it's time to leave? Your buddy still needs to find a way to get some lube in there so it doesn't happen again or it's only going to get worst! Good luck fishing!

[JSK76]

I bought my house this spring and used it for camping a few times this summer. Went up and down fine, took out fishing while the temps were in the 20's still worked fine. Tried it when it -10 and one side was so stuck I needed a pry bar to get it down. The previous owner said he greased the one side with some good Amsoil grease, that side worked fine. So at least on my house just not having the right temp grease made it almost an act of God to move. I will be taking mine apart and using lithium grease to re grease the bad side.