Tongue jack handle question

I would like to relocate the handle on my jack from the front to the back. This would let me open the rear hatch on my van without unhooking. I took the top cover of the jack off and there is a gear that the handle runs through and it is held to the handle with a gear key. This key seems to be riveted all the way through the gear. I can't pull it out with needle nose pliers. Does anyone have experience removing this key?

Thanks

[Bill]

What model TM do you have?

Bill

A 1997 2518. I'll try to take some pics of what I'm talking about.

If your tongue jack is made like mine it is held on by 3 bolts. Take them out and rotate the whole jack so the handle works better for you.

[ZekenSpider]

I think the Power Jack used on the recent TMs is in this link

http://www.atwoodmobile.com/manuals/...2011.21.07.pdf

The three bolts are visible on page 4 of the .pdf

Jerry

If your tongue jack is made like mine it is held on by 3 bolts. Take them out and rotate the whole jack so the handle works better for you.

Sounds like a good idea but on my TM the 3 holes aren't spaced symmetricaly so the jack can't be rotated. I believe it is the same on all TM tongue jacks so that idea may not work. If I remember right, the gear on mine was held on by some sort of shear pin or something and I used a drift punch to knock it out.

Ed

[Wavery]

Originally Posted by boater454

I would like to relocate the handle on my jack from the front to the back. This would let me open the rear hatch on my van without unhooking. I took the top cover of the jack off and there is a gear that the handle runs through and it is held to the handle with a gear key. This key seems to be riveted all the way through the gear. I can't pull it out with needle nose pliers. Does anyone have experience removing this key?

Thanks

I had the same issue. I removed the standard jack all together and replaced it with a (1000# rated) swing jack. It's done very well so far.

Thanks, What Harveyrv did is what I'm thinking about if I can't get that pin out to simply move the handle to the back. I'll try a punch from the other side of the pin. I took a couple pics but they didn't turn out very well.

I looked at the bolt pattern and it appears symetrical but may not be. Since it's triangular I could rotate it to either side and it might give me enough clearance. I only need about 1/4" to open my liftgate.

[Wavery]

Originally Posted by boater454

Thanks, What Harveyrv did is what I'm thinking about if I can't get that pin out to simply move the handle to the back. I'll try a punch from the other side of the pin. I took a couple pics but they didn't turn out very well.

I looked at the bolt pattern and it appears symetrical but may not be. Since it's triangular I could rotate it to either side and it might give me enough clearance. I only need about 1/4" to open my liftgate.

It's just a roll pin. It punches out in one direction only. I believe that you need to put the punch on the opposite side from what shows in the pic. If you don't have a drift punch that size, you could grind the point off of an 8 penny nail and use that. I had to replace those gears one time. The pin punches out pretty easily.

You will notice the the hole in the handle may not be in the center of the shaft (I may be wrong though). It may prove quite a challenge if you need to drill a new hole. If you need to drill a new hole through the shaft, it will have to be perfectly on center. If you have a drill press it could be done with some careful measurements. Slightly off center and the pin won't line up.

The thing that I like best about the swing-up jack is that I don't have to mess with that stupid, detachable wheel any more.

I bought a swing jack last night so if I can't get the handle switched I'll just put that on. Thanks for the tips!!