Tongue jack help

[St. Clair Slayer]

The tongue jack for my Ranger is binding and very difficult to raise and lower. It is a special hole pattern for the bolts so the Fultons that I have picked up do not line up. Has anybody out there found a replacement jack?? If so could you point me in the right direction. I am getting the feeling that I may have to go through my Ranger dealer which is about 7 gallons away from my house each way. Any way to save a few bucks in this environment would be appreciated. Oh yeah it is the 4600 series trailer for a 621.

[Like2Fish]

The jack on my 619 trailer has a zerk fitting near the top of the jack. I'm assuming your jack has the same fitting. Have you tried greasing the tongue jack?

I would call Ranger first to see if they can help you without driving to your dealer.

Like2Fish

[St. Clair Slayer]

Like2fish yes I have greased the jack. The jack functions properly when not under load, although you can feel the binding as it goes up and down while not under load. Once it is raised or lowered under load the binding makes her a real bugger to crank. I believe this happened from raising and or lowering with the jack under side pressure which caused a problem with the gears. The trailer is a 2004.

[gdi]

When you have it on your hitch crank it all the way out and clean the jack leg. May have some dirt on it wipe it down and then try a spray lube on it.


gdi

I just went through the same thing with my 05 621 trailer jack. However mine is located in the center of the trailer tongue. Cabelas told me that these jacks go out about every 16-18 months. I called ranger parts department and ordered a new one $65.00. They will ship to you via ups. Also I believe that the 621 trailers have way to much tongue weight on them. but I have no way to tell.
Good luck.

[RDJ]

I just went through replacing my jack (Fulton product) on my Skeeter and in researching different jack options I had a very helpful and appreciated conversation with a tech at Fulton who helped me for future maintanance. I have always just applied grease to the upper gears and handle assembly thinking this is the main point of lubrication but he shed some light on what to do for me. On most of the Fulton products there is a drain hole at the bottom of the tube that your wheel is attached to. Within this inner tube is the "screw" that runs things up and down. He said that when these jacks lock up or bind up its from lack of lubrication on this long screw, not the upper gears at the crank handle. He recommended once a year or as needed to turn the jack upside down so the wheel is up and spray some aerosol driven grease down into the tube to coat the "screw" system housed within. You may have to remove the wheel to get a good shot at it but it was easy to see what he meant. I didn't even know this drain hole existed until now as I guess I had never looked up under the wheel for any reason. This will now be an annual or twice annual maintanance procedure for me. He said that even though the lack of lubrication on this screw accounts for most jack failures, it is not outlined in the owners instructions under maintanance procedures for these products. Not sure what kind of jack the Rangers run or if yours has this underside access to the screw gear inside the inner tube but you may want to check it out and try to get some good heavy spray grease up in there..Good luck, RJ in Montana

[ffishman]

Some years ago, I had a similar problem. After a lot of messing around, trying different things, I replaced it. New one worked great. Curious as to why my old one was acting up. I took it apart. It had a slight bend in it, which caused it to bind. Just looking at it, you could not see it.

[REW]

St. Clair,
You might be better off to bite the bullet and get an after market tongue jack with a heavier rating and modify the trailer tonge as needed to get it to work.

I expect that you are pulling a lot of tongue weight and the standard jack may not be up to the task.

A few years ago, I went to a jack stand that had about double the rating of the original jack and I have never looked back. I also picked up a jack that has two wheels on the bottom of the jack instead of one. The double wheels make it much easier to move the boat, and it makes much less depression in softer surfaces.

For example:
http://shop.easternmarine.com/index....categoryID=192

Take care
REW

[St. Clair Slayer]

Thanks for all the help guys. I will investigate the tube this afternooon. The binding is only along the area that is under load when raising and lowering. not above or below that area. I am also picking up a floor jack today. I have wanted a floor jack for many years. I just about blew a nut getting her off the hitch Friday night! Perch were bitng, slow for the walleye Friday night.

[kman]

Yep, just went through the same deal with my 04 620 trailer.. Pretty soon you will simply snap the gear inside the tube and that will be that.. Call ranger and have them send you a new one... The jacks for these trailers are rated for 1200 lbs. Anybody ever do the math on the tounge weight? That would be interesting......... Ken.....