Tiedown stuck in mount

[umbrellajive]

One of my tiedowns is stuck in the frame mount. I sprayed WD40 into the mount, let it sit a bit, then tapped around on the mount and tiedown with a hammer but it still won't budge. Any suggestions?

Makes the new Torklift Talon (aluminum, rust-free) tiedowns look even better...

[umbrellajive]

Thank you everyone, appreciate these tips. This PB Blaster lube sounds like magic so I am going to look for some, spray it, let it soak, and then get back to hammering.

"Rust never sleeps." - Neil Young

[mkirsch]

There's no magic solution.

Penetrating sprays do not work instantly. If you spray it and the bolt instantly turns or the mount instantly pops out of the socket, it was going to come out anyway. The spray didn't hurt but it also didn't help.

WD-40 is a poor penetrating spray. Use their special-purpose penetrating lube, or PB blaster, or Kroil, or Liquid Wrench, or a mixture of automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Even then it will take at least 24 hours to do any good at all, probably longer.

The quickest solution is "heat and beat." You need an oxy-acetylene torch to provide the heat, or 3-4 propane torches all at once. A single propane torch cannot put out the BTUs to heat the outer sleeve to a high enough temperature. It will get too hot to touch, but not hot enough to expand because the heat dissipates faster than the torch can replenish it.

[Ski_Pro_3]

When a hammer won't do, you need a BIGGER hammer! Might try taking the whole assembly OFF the truck and using a press. Harbor Freight has 20 ton presses for pretty cheap prices and, any time you can justify a new toy, er, tool, well then, problem solved!

http://www.harborfreight.com/garage-shop/shop-presses/20-ton-shop-press-32879.html

[Mote]

I see Torklift makes a "finishing kit" that plugs the ends of the tubes when not carrying the camper. may help keep dirt out and keep things from sticking in the future.

[Geewizard]

One of my Torklift tiedowns was stuck just like that. Seems "someone" was in a hurry to mount the TC and maybe kinda forced it into place, maybe kinda, with a 4x4. This was even after cleaning out the gravel and dirt inside very thoroughly with a hose and scraping the inside with a long screwdriver.

Then "someone" wanted to take it off after the trip and found it stuck. "Someone" had to put a 2x4 on the flange and apply vigorous hammer blows to get it to come out. It did come out. Seems there is a lot of rust and scale buildup near the end of the frame mount, probably from having moisture captured by the gravel and mud for a long time. "Someone" sprayed WD40 in there and let it soak.

Someone

[Super_Dave]

I think the mount is open from the backside so punching it out from the back might allow you to give it a pretty good whack.

[joe_b_]

The slip in part of my tie downs has a bit of slack in them. So I would get a large adjustable wrench and see if a little left and then right, then left, and so forth might work the removable part loose. If it is just rust, it may break the bond loose enough to be able to squirt some lube up in there and get it to slide out. If that doesn't work, or a few good taps with a large hammer, I would take the entire part off as it would be much easier and safer to use a torch on it out from under the truck. Twisting and heating it should work. Other possibility would be to just leave it in place and use it. I keep my tie downs installed all the time, even when I an pulling our 5th wheel as they don't get in the way of anything. However they sure hurt to walk into them though. LOL

[Led_67]

Have you tried PB Blaster...It stinks but has always worked for me. If that does not work then you may have to get you a torch and gently heat the outer pipe while tapping the tiedown.

Good Luck