Stabilizer Jacks - provided tool or power tool?

[mpking]

Oh I agree about WD-40. I did it because we were just at the beach with the rig and I figured maybe sand/salt....it would help dissolve/rinse that away. I didn't have any illusions that it would grease them.

How often do you think this maintenance (lubing them) needs done?

Like every frustrating answer... It depends. I'm a weekend warrior, so I do it twice a year. When I winterize, and when I de-winterize. (Camper is parked almost 6 months, so it works for me)

[Jlawles2]

With my TT i would do them every few uses. I kept a can of spray White Lithium grease in the front hold next to the hand crank and would spray they threads between the arms so it would stay somewhat protected during travel. Also this meant that the grease was getting worked into the nut. I sprayed they drive end at the same time. Remember the outside is the load bearing side and needs to be greased. i don't think mine had bearings, but just 2 washers.

[TucsonJim]

I'm normally a pretty mellow person. But I did lose my temper (badly) when a person decided to use an impact driver to raise theirs right next to our bedroom window at 5:30 am. My sailor talk was loud and clear. With that said, I'd use a power driver to raise and lower mine as long as it is not during quiet hours.

Jim

[bellis]

With my TT i would do them every few uses. I kept a can of spray White Lithium grease in the front hold next to the hand crank and would spray they threads between the arms so it would stay somewhat protected during travel. Also this meant that the grease was getting worked into the nut. I sprayed they drive end at the same time. Remember the outside is the load bearing side and needs to be greased. i don't think mine had bearings, but just 2 washers.

Do you have a link to the product? I may just purchase that.

[ThePowells]

Thinking about this for a moment, I had a flashback to a prior century and wondered if this would work. How many of us carry a 4 way lug wrench? I'm sure that the screw head is a standard size and the weight amd momentum of a spinning 4 way would make it much easier than the speed handle provided.... Thoughts since I don't have a dog in this fight?

[Jlawles2]

I've used several different ones:

https://www.wd40.com/products/white-lithium-grease/
https://blasterproducts.com/product/...ithium-grease/

[mpking]

Thinking about this for a moment, I had a flashback to a prior century and wondered if this would work. How many of us carry a 4 way lug wrench? I'm sure that the screw head is a standard size and the weight amd momentum of a spinning 4 way would make it much easier than the speed handle provided.... Thoughts since I don't have a dog in this fight?

Physics agree's with you

[Jlawles2]

IIRC the head size on the jacks is 3/4 or 13/16. I'd have to look in my box for the socket for the driver to see.

[Cate&Rob]

So WD-40 is a not what people think it is. It's a water dispersal agent with a mild lubricant in it, but when it dries all the lubricant properties are gone. It's not a great long-term lubricant.

You need to use a long term lubricant, like Chain lube, Spray on White Lithium Grease, or Spray on Silicon. The lubricant you use on the slides could be similar, I haven't looked at it too closely. I use spray on White Lithium Grease.

WD-40 can be worse than doing nothing. It washes out the original lubricant from the bearing (or a door lock cylinder) . . . then the WD-40 evaporates and the mechanism is seized more solidly than it was before. The Grand Design factory service techs use CRC Powerlube "for everything" (slide mechanisms, door latches, etc) and I have adopted this thoughtout the RV and pretty much everything else that I work on . When the liquid evaporates, it leaves the lubricant behind.

Rob

[bellis]

WD-40 can be worse than doing nothing. It washes out the original lubricant from the bearing (or a door lock cylinder) . . . then the WD-40 evaporates and the mechanism is seized more solidly than it was before. The Grand Design factory service techs use CRC Powerlube "for everything" (slide mechanisms, door latches, etc) and I have adopted this thoughtout the RV and pretty much everything else that I work on . When the liquid evaporates, it leaves the lubricant behind.

Rob

That is correct. WD-40 is a mild lubricant at best. It is really a dissolvent that will wash everything else away. I used to hear folks describe carrying duct tape to stick things that needed stuck and WD-40 to unstick things that should not be stuck.

I didn't have any issues with the stabilizer jacks this weekend. I will grease them up soon.

[Guest]

That is correct. WD-40 is a mild lubricant at best. It is really a dissolvent that will wash everything else away. I used to hear folks describe carrying duct tape to stick things that needed stuck and WD-40 to unstick things that should not be stuck.

I didn't have any issues with the stabilizer jacks this weekend. I will grease them up soon.

I use the CRC with PTFE on almost everything. Its a dry lube which works well for us on the stabilizer jacks. Oil or grease will attract dirt.

Jim

[Jlawles2]

Guest Jim, I like the white lithium b/c it films over and looses a lot of that tack that holds dirt.