Wrecker Feet rusted and not moving.

[houdel]

MADSAM - That rust inside the leg tubes is going to be a PITA for the rest of the time you have the truck unless you get it out of there. The rust is thicker than the steel which rusted, so it will always bind unless you get most of the rust out. You need to get something to dissolve the rust like Naval Jelly. Try a hardware store and see what they recommend. Also try an auto parts store for a product called Metal Prep or something like that which is used to clean body metal before painting.

Maybe you can build up a custom sand blast nozzle to get inside there and blast the rust out. Or put some emery cloth on a stick and sand it out.

The best thing for removing rust is Muriatic acid, but unless you KNOW what you are doing I wouldn't recommend it. I have used in the past and it does work very well.

 

[timntrucks]

brian can you post some pics of you getting the thing out this summer i plan on cleaning mine up some with some touch up paint thanks TIm

 

[madsam]

putting the legs back in. They are sliding good now. Hopefully this will stop the rust.

 

[timntrucks]

man great view to work by, i need to do exactly what your doing this summer. thanks for the pics and insiration TIm

 

[madsam]

No problem. There is no perfect answer for this. I wish these legs has rollers. But then they have to hold a lot of weight on the roller. I have thought of putting a hydrolic cylinder to push them out and pull them in. but that would be a big mod if they work fine now.

 

[Gamagoat1]

You might want to grease them all the way around. They rub on the sides as well as the bottom and top. Besides, it will keep them from rusting again. Lube the threads on the outrigger also, makes em turn real easy.

 

[madsam]

I had greased inside the pipe too on the sides. I was looking to see where they might hit. Then I will place grease there too. After removing the rust and dirt. there was extra room for the leg to slop arround. It will never be perfect, but it should work better.

 

[madsam]

One last thought on this.

Don't pull to hard on the foot itself. There is only a small pin and collier that holds that part in. I pulled on the knuckle with a chain once it came out. It is a lot stronger.

 

[madsam]

last pic. Pulling on the nuckle to get the leg out after I remoed the lock.