New Owner of 2001 2518 TM

[Padgett]

I just use a 6" long 1/2" anchor bolt ground a bit for grip. Works fine on the scissors jacks with a battery drill on LOW speed but had to make a hook on a long bar for the awning.

Originally Posted by Padgett

I just use a 6" long 1/2" anchor bolt ground a bit for grip. Works fine on the scissors jacks with a battery drill on LOW speed but had to make a hook on a long bar for the awning.

Thanks! I will give that a try.

[Bill]

Yes, an anchor bolt is cheaper, since it costs about 80 cents, while an Allen wrench costs about $1.10. When you buy the Allen wrench, it is ready to go. The threads on the anchor bolt are a problem. You can cut off the threaded end and then grind some flats into the stub, or you can grind the threads down (as Padgett did) to get a vaguely triangular (or hex) shape, so that the drill chuck can grip it. I don't know if the threads are hard enough to damage the drill chuck, but for 30 cents, I went the other way.

Just my conclusion. Others will vary, of course.

Bill

[TrailManorMan]

I also spent more money, I use an Allen wrench!

[Padgett]

OTOH the sharp edges of the allen is liable to wear the jack hole. I'd rather have the round surface of the bolt there (and why I went with a 1/2 bolt rather than something smaller: surface area).

Took about 2 minutes to grind some flats but I have quite a bit of equipment here.