Swing Tongue Pin Seized

[Xelaw]

The swing tongue pin on my trailer is stuck. I started with hammering and applying PB blaster, ATF+acetone, and heat from a propane torch for weeks, but got nowhere. I managed to cut off the top and bottom of the pin so that I can swing the tongue, but the bolt is still stuck in the channel in the inner frame. I drilled through the top and bottom, but the holes don't meet. The top hole has a 7/16" wide hole I drilled, and the hole on the bottom is maybe 1/4". I tried using a ball joint press with a smaller pin (because the base of the ball joint press is a little wider than the stuck pin), but the smaller pin bent. The way I see it, I can keep drilling (those bits aren't cheap), get hotter fuel for my torch, or get a hardened pin and an impact driver to use with the ball joint press. Any suggestions?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Swing Tongue Pin Seized

Do you have any pics of what you're working on? The swing tongue on my trailer would be easy to unstick a stuck pin due to it's open construction, so I'm not sure what your dilemma is.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Swing Tongue Pin Seized

Instead of heat, get a couple blocks of dry ice and freeze it.

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Swing Tongue Pin Seized

Air hammer would probably get the job done. I used one to push ball joints out a couple weeks ago when i didnt have the right size sleeves for the press, actually worked very quickly.

 

[Xelaw]

Re: Swing Tongue Pin Seized

Air hammer, ball joint press, more lube, and more heat didn't work. I finally decided to keep drilling at it and finally drilled through it slightly off center to where the contact between the bolt and the channel broke and banged it out. I used Ridgid Coldfire bits and stepped up one bit size at a time while applying plenty of lubricant. For anybody in a similar situation who comes across this post, I think a ball joint press and an air wrench would work well before trying to drill out. You can rent a ball joint press for free from Autozone. I just couldn't get ahold of an air wrench, so I wasn't able to turn the press with enough force to push the pin out.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Swing Tongue Pin Seized

PB Blaster and "PATIENCE".

I haven't found anything, yet, it won't unstick! But, PATIENCE, is the rule.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Swing Tongue Pin Seized

Pssst.... coat the new pin in marine grease. Also, get a can of kroil to keep on hand. Works wonders.... and fast.