*** Loud, Stiff, Front Ramp Hinges ***

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Lake Cle Elum

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Mar 13, 2004

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Lake Cle Elum, WA

• Nov 23, 2009

• #1

I have a SledBed Trailer I bought new about 8 yrs ago. Over time, the hinges for the front ramps have become very stiff and noisy. As everything is welded on, there is no way to take them apart and lube the shaft.

It's so bad, people in the snow park come running over and ask what's wrong with the engine in my sled. It sounds like a haunted house when I lower my ramps.

Any suggestions????

 

94fordguy

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Yakima, Wa.

• Nov 23, 2009

• #2

My first move would be to spray the heck out of it with WD-40 just to get things to quiet down and loosen up, then smear some grease on the cracks of the hinge with your finger (or something) to try to work it in over time...

I don't have a lot of experience with an enclosed in general, but it should work I would think.


just my $.02

 

whitefish

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Kent WA

• Nov 23, 2009

• #3

Drill them out and install a zirk. Load them with grease. Will need to use a tap if the trailer is steel.

 

L

Lake Cle Elum

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Lake Cle Elum, WA

• Nov 24, 2009

• #4

Grease & WD40 no workie..........White did you put your fitting at the end or in the middle. I tried drilling for one and couldn't get enough threads in the Alum. to hold?

 

whitefish

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Kent WA

• Nov 24, 2009

• #5

You might need to take a second drill bit of the same size and grind the taper off to flat. Use that one after the regular bit and it should give enough meat. Otherwise you may be able to tack weld a nut over the hole to thread into. I think McLendons and Tacoma Screw have aluminum nuts.

 

R

Rotax-Guy

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Jan 14, 2009

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Chelan

• Nov 24, 2009

• #6

I think new trailers have doors that are not that noisey!

 

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Kevin

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Nov 29, 2007

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Colorado

• Nov 24, 2009

• #7

Same problem here. Open sledbed trailer with the fold-down front ramps. I have not found a fix yet.

 

the fix-it guy

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cottonwood,mn

• Nov 24, 2009

• #8

heating the hinges will help draw lubricant into them, this can be tricky if they are aluminum. I have welded nuts onto tubes before to hold zerks for greasing.

 

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Kevin

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Nov 29, 2007

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Colorado

• Nov 27, 2009

• #9

I have been working on the front ramps on my open sled-bed for the past couple of days. A lot of penetrating oil, cheater bar on the wrench, mapp gas, sledge. I have three of the four bolts out. I put as much anti-seize on the new bolts as I possibly could.

If you have this trailer and can still get the bolts out easily, I would take them out while you can and put as much lube as possible on them. I have never installed zerks, but it may be time to learn!

 

L

Lake Cle Elum

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Lake Cle Elum, WA

• Nov 28, 2009

• #10

Some great tips here I will try. Thanks. Regarding getting the bolts out; my ramps come off just fine with the bolts out, but that does not disassemble the hinges.....

 

G

gmctoyhauler

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Nov 22, 2009

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South Jordan Utah

• Nov 28, 2009

• #11

rusty hinges

My 03 interstate enclosed had the same problem with zuirks installed and greased yearly. Inherently impossible to avoid with the salt and sand getting thrown onto them constantly. Mine became so bad that the hinge had so much resistance against the heavy door that it broke the welds on the hinge! Purchased a new hinge 9.00 and simply ground the welds of the old hinge and welded it on, and painted with black rustoleum. took less than 15 minutes! Good to Go!