Groaning Noise while closing up

[dkutz]

When I close up the trailer the crank lets out a horrible groaning noise.  I have tried lubing everything I can find.  All pullies and the crank etc, still noisy.  Its fine onthe way up but load on the way down.

Any ideas?

[austinado16]

First make sure there's not excess load on the cranking mechanism due to some fault in the lift system like a seized or stiff pulley, or binding in the lifts, etc.

Second, what are you using for lubrication?  You may have to start with a penetrant like P.B. Blaster, Kroil, Liquid Wrench, Mouse Milk, etc. and then move to a quality spray lube like Triflow.  You may also want to get in there with grease on your fingers.

Might be worth having someone crank it down while you lay underneath, listen for where the sound is coming from and using a flashlight try to see what's going on.

Note that nowhere above did I mention WD-40......which is neither a lubricant, or a penetrating oil.  It is a water dispersant (WD) and is formula 40 of all the fumula they tried.  Developed for drying the electrics on carrier based missiles.

[dkutz]

Note that nowhere above did I mention WD-40......which is neither a lubricant, or a penetrating oil.  It is a water dispersant (WD) and is formula 40 of all the fumula they tried.  Developed for drying the electrics on carrier based missiles.

I use it on my missle launcher all the time, never on my PUP!

The sound seems to be coming from the rod that runs from the ratchet to the handle.  I have lubed all with silicone and white lithium grease, no luck.  Not a HUGE thing just annoying

[austinado16]

I'd try something other than silicone and white lithium grease.  Silicone is not going to take the load of the metal-to-metal action, and white lithium grease just turns into white paste in short order.

Try something like Triflow (made for bicycle chains and guns) and a waterproof wheel bearing grease designed for extreme pressure and weather exposure (boat trailer bearing grease).

[ScouterMom]

my 35 yr old starcraft also 'moaned and groaned' where the winch handle goes thru the frame.  like yours, any kind of lubricant didn't help.  it's rubbing, and it's old and no lubricant lasts more than a few turns before it's worn off in that one spot.  

So we used electrical tape.  wrapped it around the winch handle where it rubbed the frame, AND lubed the hole, and no more groaning.  At least for a few trips until the tape wears thru, and we re- tape it.

Not a great solution, but it works.

laura

[TheViking]

When I close up the trailer the crank lets out a horrible groaning noise. I have tried lubing everything I can find. All pullies and the crank etc, still noisy. Its fine onthe way up but load on the way down.
 
Any ideas?

 
 
Are you sure it's YOU that's doing the groaning Deiter

[wavery]

Hey Deiter...have you located your cat lately :yikes: .


j/k

Sounds, like that, will "Telescope" through a cable system. Remember the old trick with the 2 coffee cans and a string pulled tight in between?.......same theory. It may well be a pulley that is either stuck or not getting lubed. My guess would be stuck, if it is making that much noise. What you may be hearing is the cable dragging across a pulley that is not rolling. If that's what it is, it will wear out the cable and/or cut the pulley in two, eventually.

[dkutz]

Hey Deiter...have you located your cat lately :yikes: .

No NO that not it.  But it would be a great sound effect for halloween rally!

[ScouterMom]

nah - the cat wouldn't groan, it would SCREAM!