Tailgate hard to move...suggestions?
 

I bought a '01 TJ used, and the tailgate is very hard to open or close. I
was wondering if anyone else had this problem, and what they did to resolve
it. I tried some WD-40 on the hinges (which look fine), but that didn't seem
to do much. Has anyone got any ideas or products they used? Thanks...

Re: Tailgate hard to move...suggestions?
 

I've seen guys just drip a drop or two of transmission fluid on hinges to
help 'em break free. Unless it's necessary, i.e. hinge frozen up, I just
stand there and work the hinge back and forth through its full range of
travel until it loosens up. I know this sounds a little oversimplified and
might contradict the benefits of some kind of lubrication but here's my
logic.
If you lube it, dust and grime that's in there just turns to gunk and
attracts more stuff to stick to it. Also, we lubed a roller once on our
aircraft and, at colder altitudes, it was worse than before. You might have
another option though.
I don't know if you can disassemble the offending surfaces. But, if you
can, you might consider drilling and tapping the outer portion and
installing a grease fitting. If it's bad enough that you wanted to go this
route, you'd be able to grease that darned thing like a suspension
component. Just make sure you "measure twice" because you don't want to
ruin something or undermine structural integrity because of an ill-thought
fix.
Hope this helps.
--
o_o_o_o
Best Regards, /| ,[_____],
Jim, WP3JQ |¯¯¯L --O|||||||O-
()_)¯()_) ¯¯¯¯¯ )_)
EM60qk 30.447439N 086.628959W

Re: Tailgate hard to move...suggestions?
 

I've seen guys just drip a drop or two of transmission fluid on hinges to
help 'em break free. Unless it's necessary, i.e. hinge frozen up, I just
stand there and work the hinge back and forth through its full range of
travel until it loosens up. I know this sounds a little oversimplified and
might contradict the benefits of some kind of lubrication but here's my
logic.
If you lube it, dust and grime that's in there just turns to gunk and
attracts more stuff to stick to it. Also, we lubed a roller once on our
aircraft and, at colder altitudes, it was worse than before. You might have
another option though.
I don't know if you can disassemble the offending surfaces. But, if you
can, you might consider drilling and tapping the outer portion and
installing a grease fitting. If it's bad enough that you wanted to go this
route, you'd be able to grease that darned thing like a suspension
component. Just make sure you "measure twice" because you don't want to
ruin something or undermine structural integrity because of an ill-thought
fix.
Hope this helps.
--
o_o_o_o
Best Regards, /| ,[_____],
Jim, WP3JQ |¯¯¯L --O|||||||O-
()_)¯()_) ¯¯¯¯¯ )_)
EM60qk 30.447439N 086.628959W

Re: Tailgate hard to move...suggestions?
 

I've seen guys just drip a drop or two of transmission fluid on hinges to
help 'em break free. Unless it's necessary, i.e. hinge frozen up, I just
stand there and work the hinge back and forth through its full range of
travel until it loosens up. I know this sounds a little oversimplified and
might contradict the benefits of some kind of lubrication but here's my
logic.
If you lube it, dust and grime that's in there just turns to gunk and
attracts more stuff to stick to it. Also, we lubed a roller once on our
aircraft and, at colder altitudes, it was worse than before. You might have
another option though.
I don't know if you can disassemble the offending surfaces. But, if you
can, you might consider drilling and tapping the outer portion and
installing a grease fitting. If it's bad enough that you wanted to go this
route, you'd be able to grease that darned thing like a suspension
component. Just make sure you "measure twice" because you don't want to
ruin something or undermine structural integrity because of an ill-thought
fix.
Hope this helps.
--
o_o_o_o
Best Regards, /| ,[_____],
Jim, WP3JQ |¯¯¯L --O|||||||O-
()_)¯()_) ¯¯¯¯¯ )_)
EM60qk 30.447439N 086.628959W

Re: Tailgate hard to move...suggestions?
 

Roughly 1/11/04 09:42, Drink's monkeys randomly typed:

> I've seen guys just drip a drop or two of transmission fluid on hinges to
> help 'em break free. Unless it's necessary, i.e. hinge frozen up, I just
> stand there and work the hinge back and forth through its full range of
> travel until it loosens up. I know this sounds a little oversimplified and
> might contradict the benefits of some kind of lubrication but here's my
> logic.

Problem is that this can accelerate wear. As opposed to simply
adding a bit of dry lube if the wet stuff bothers one.

> If you lube it, dust and grime that's in there just turns to gunk and
> attracts more stuff to stick to it. Also, we lubed a roller once on our
> aircraft and, at colder altitudes, it was worse than before. You might have
> another option though.

A good one would perhaps be keeping your jeep on the ground....this
has been rumored to avoid the high altitude stiffening problem rather
effectively. Using an appropriate temperature insensitive lube
would be another option.

Re: Tailgate hard to move...suggestions?
 

Roughly 1/11/04 09:42, Drink's monkeys randomly typed:

> I've seen guys just drip a drop or two of transmission fluid on hinges to
> help 'em break free. Unless it's necessary, i.e. hinge frozen up, I just
> stand there and work the hinge back and forth through its full range of
> travel until it loosens up. I know this sounds a little oversimplified and
> might contradict the benefits of some kind of lubrication but here's my
> logic.

Problem is that this can accelerate wear. As opposed to simply
adding a bit of dry lube if the wet stuff bothers one.

> If you lube it, dust and grime that's in there just turns to gunk and
> attracts more stuff to stick to it. Also, we lubed a roller once on our
> aircraft and, at colder altitudes, it was worse than before. You might have
> another option though.

A good one would perhaps be keeping your jeep on the ground....this
has been rumored to avoid the high altitude stiffening problem rather
effectively. Using an appropriate temperature insensitive lube
would be another option.

Re: Tailgate hard to move...suggestions?
 

Roughly 1/11/04 09:42, Drink's monkeys randomly typed:

> I've seen guys just drip a drop or two of transmission fluid on hinges to
> help 'em break free. Unless it's necessary, i.e. hinge frozen up, I just
> stand there and work the hinge back and forth through its full range of
> travel until it loosens up. I know this sounds a little oversimplified and
> might contradict the benefits of some kind of lubrication but here's my
> logic.

Problem is that this can accelerate wear. As opposed to simply
adding a bit of dry lube if the wet stuff bothers one.

> If you lube it, dust and grime that's in there just turns to gunk and
> attracts more stuff to stick to it. Also, we lubed a roller once on our
> aircraft and, at colder altitudes, it was worse than before. You might have
> another option though.

A good one would perhaps be keeping your jeep on the ground....this
has been rumored to avoid the high altitude stiffening problem rather
effectively. Using an appropriate temperature insensitive lube
would be another option.

Re: Tailgate hard to move...suggestions?
 

Wood did pass the time by typing:
> I bought a '01 TJ used, and the tailgate is very hard to open or close. I
> was wondering if anyone else had this problem, and what they did to resolve
> it. I tried some WD-40 on the hinges (which look fine), but that didn't seem
> to do much. Has anyone got any ideas or products they used? Thanks...

First off, WD-40 isn't a lubricant it's a Water Displacer, hence WD.

As for lube, get yourself some PB-Blaster and let that soak in.
If the vehicle ever got hit the hinges may be out of whack there
should be a way to re-align the hinges by loosening the bolts then
opening/closing.

Re: Tailgate hard to move...suggestions?
 

Wood did pass the time by typing:
> I bought a '01 TJ used, and the tailgate is very hard to open or close. I
> was wondering if anyone else had this problem, and what they did to resolve
> it. I tried some WD-40 on the hinges (which look fine), but that didn't seem
> to do much. Has anyone got any ideas or products they used? Thanks...

First off, WD-40 isn't a lubricant it's a Water Displacer, hence WD.

As for lube, get yourself some PB-Blaster and let that soak in.
If the vehicle ever got hit the hinges may be out of whack there
should be a way to re-align the hinges by loosening the bolts then
opening/closing.

Re: Tailgate hard to move...suggestions?
 

Wood did pass the time by typing:
> I bought a '01 TJ used, and the tailgate is very hard to open or close. I
> was wondering if anyone else had this problem, and what they did to resolve
> it. I tried some WD-40 on the hinges (which look fine), but that didn't seem
> to do much. Has anyone got any ideas or products they used? Thanks...

First off, WD-40 isn't a lubricant it's a Water Displacer, hence WD.

As for lube, get yourself some PB-Blaster and let that soak in.
If the vehicle ever got hit the hinges may be out of whack there
should be a way to re-align the hinges by loosening the bolts then
opening/closing.