Trailer Swingaway Tongue Pin stuck

This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 10 months ago by Old Classic.

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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June 28, 2022 at 9:57 am #705799

pantera05
Participant

I need to replace my brake actuator. When I try and remove the outside tongue pin I can’t. It’s either rusted or bent. I have tried penetrating oil and hammer and the pin won’t budge. The pin has never been removed because I have never used the swing away tongue. Now my question to Bass Cat is can I take the bolt/nut off the hinge part on the other side so I can have access to the actuator and possible break lose the stuck pin or does that cause more problems?

Thanks!!

June 29, 2022 at 5:25 am #705807

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

That’s a sticky situation as we’ve seen people damage the hinge portion several different ways. Older tongue bolts were mild steel Grade 5, while pins are implement pins. Later trailers have a SS bolt and they are easier to free. The best on stuck pins we’ve seen is grinding off the top shoulder and punching the pin through, after allowing lubrication to soak in. It’s not going to be easy or fast, though go slow with force. Don’t push it and it may take a few hours.

June 29, 2022 at 6:29 am #705808

tdobb
Participant

Have you loosened the bow strap before trying to remove the pin? When I bought my 2008 P2 I don’t think the pins had ever been removed. I used penetrating oil for a couple of soaks, and then went to work on them. The middle one came out pretty easy once the oil had soaked in, but I found that I couldn’t budge the outside pin. Once I loosened the bow strap, it took some of the binding tension off the swing tongue and I was able to give the pin a good blow with the maul and it popped right out.

Once I got the pins out, I went thru with a wire brush and cleaned out the holes and wire wheeled the pins, applied a light coat of white lithium grease and they go in and out very nice now.

June 29, 2022 at 1:01 pm #705812

bassinman2002
Participant

I have had 2 aluminum Bass Cat trailers with the same problem, BCB has replaced the tongue assembly a total of 3 times, main issue is the 1/2 inch grade 5 pins they bend after towing, the center pin comes out easy, the outside pin gets hammered in and I use a 3 lb hammer to beat the pin out and a drift pin. Just a poor design that BCB is well aware of, though they try. I changed the pins to stainless steel, that is worse because SS is softer though I did not know that then. I am Planning on going to 5/8 Grade 5 hitch pin hoping that does not bend as easy. The fit on the swing tongue is off as when the strap is loose I can move the tongue up and down 2 inches holding it at the end. I have looked at many swing tongues and most have one problem or another, The best do not allow the upward and downward movement by placing a plate over the top and bottom.

This is maybe way more than you wanted to know, So just get a big hammer and beat it out and buy more hitch pins LOL

June 29, 2022 at 1:10 pm #705813

pantera05
Participant

Thanks BCB!! Since it is HOT and gas is too HIGH looks like I will have time to work on this. Lesson learned, I will use the swing away tongue from time to time just to keep it freed up.

tdodd, yes strap is loose. 🙂

August 13, 2022 at 4:11 pm #706707

Old Classic
Participant

You can turn the pin 180 degrees, couple of hard pulls & stops should straighten the pin enough to remove.
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