Broken pin in TT front jack

[Almot]

Something like this jack.
The truck ball was set too high so I was lifting the trailer front until it was all in the air, and the pin broke. My fault.

Opened that chrome cover on top of the post, took the gears apart. Found 3 pieces of what used to be a pin, about 1/16" diameter. Just a round pin, 1.5" long or so. With 2 short (half inch?) slotted spring sleeves holding it in the bore at the ends. Put a nail of roughly same diameter - broke few days later even though I was VERY careful.

Is it some special steel in that pin, or a special shape? And where would one buy it?

[profdant139]

Nails are a lot softer than hardened or tempered steel -- much easier to cut with a hacksaw. Easier to bend them and break them with a pair of pliers. But using a nail in an emergency was good thinking!

[Almot]

Looks like a straight smooth pin, no slit. The spring-sleeves on it have slits of course. Will check at hardware stores, thanks. The tongue couldn't be more than 700 lbs for sure. Darn Chinks.

It's odd that nails break though - I thought they were from regular carbon steel, same as non-stainless bolts and nuts.

[opnspaces]

I second the hardware store. Take the broken pieces and head to Lowes, Home Depot or Ace. They will have drawers of specialty nuts, bolts, t-nuts, plastic bolts, and pins. just find the one that looks closest and you should be good to go.

[Ozlander]

First off, it's not your fault.
That's supposed to be a 2000 lb. jack. I doubt if you have 2000 lbs. of tongue weight.
But then, it's a Lippert part, what can you expect?
Can you get a larger pin in the hole?
Maybe even drill it for an 1/8" pin.

[powderman426]

If it had a slit in it, it was probably a roll pin. Hardened steel and available at a hardware store