Sway control threads not bottoming out

Question

I just picked up a new friction sway control for my trailer. The instructions say that the on/off bar or handle should be turned until the threads bottom out. I take this to mean that the threads are screwed all the way in. I have about 1/4 inch of threads showing and I would need a 2 foot pipe to tighten the handle any more. It would definitely bend the handle or break the bolt if I did that. Furthermore, the installation instructions state that I shouldn't need to adjust the adjustment bolt on the bottom of the device more than 1/4 turn or so from the factory setting.
Question: Since the threads won't bottom out the on/off handle supposedly is no longer an on/off handle. Should I screw out the adjustment bolt on the bottom then readjust it after the on/off handles threads are bottomed out?
I have read many postings with people confusing the on/off handle and the adjustment bolt when people have asked similar questions on the web. Can we try not to do that here?
Thanks for any help.

bbells · Answer

Here is a photo if it helps:

wing_zealot · Answer

I don't care what anyone on here says. I keep my on/off handle lined up with the bar. I have the adjustment bolt set where I need it. I have the threads showing on the handle and the threads showing on the adjustment bolt nearly identical. Two full turns of the handle to take it off, two full turns of the handle in opposite direction to put it back on. Works for me. that bottoming out the handle thing seemed like nonsense to me; maybe that's what they say for newbie purposes.

garyindaupeh · Answer

Probably the only way that you would get the handle threads to bottom out would be if the pad material were worn out. Then the sway control wouldn't work either. I have no idea what they were thinking of when writing those instructions. Perhaps they weren't!

bbells · Answer

Ok, I called the manufacturer - Something I always hate doing. This is what he said:
The threads on the on/off handle must bottom out for the sway control to work properly. Loosen the adjusting bolt on the bottom until you can bottom out those threads on the on/off bar. He also added that the factory setting for the adjustment bolt is ten turns after the bolt is started. And, that someone could have lost count at the factory. After the on/off bottoms out, turn the adjustment bolt until it is snug, then give it an additional 1/4 turn. Test it and adjust as necessary.

sport45 · Answer

bbells wrote:I just picked up a new friction sway control for my trailer. The instructions say that the on/off bar or handle should be turned until the threads bottom out. I take this to mean that the threads are screwed all the way in. I have about 1/4 inch of threads showing and I would need a 2 foot pipe to tighten the handle any more. It would definitely bend the handle or break the bolt if I did that. Furthermore, the installation instructions state that I shouldn't need to adjust the adjustment bolt on the bottom of the device more than 1/4 turn or so from the factory setting. Question: Since the threads won't bottom out the on/off handle supposedly is no longer an on/off handle. Should I screw out the adjustment bolt on the bottom then readjust it after the on/off handles threads are bottomed out?I have read many postings with people confusing the on/off handle and the adjustment bolt when people have asked similar questions on the web. Can we try not to do that here?Thanks for any help.It looks to me like the bolt is bottomed out. "Bottomed out" means the bolt hits the bottom of the threaded hole. It has nothing to do with how much bolt is exposed above the threads. I'm assuming it's a blind hole. If it's just a nut welded to the bar and the bolt is binding before it goes all the way through I'd chase the threads on the nut with a tap.That said, I have no idea how the connection pictured is supposed to work... Is there some compressible gasket-type material missing between the washer and bar?

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Sway control threads not bottoming out

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