Tongue Jack Failing

Joined
Oct 16, 2025
Messages
8
My 1998 Atwood tongue jack is becoming difficult to operate and no longer improves with fresh lubrication. It is not rusted; has had a good life, stored indoors in a dry environment. Despite being 28 years old, it likely has no more than 100 extend and retract cycles, bearing less than 300 lbs. I popped the top cover to have a look. The mitre gears (I'm no mechanical engineer, but I think that's what they are called) don't look terrible. They are lubed, but it appears they are meshing hard - a bit shiny on one side of the teeth.

Any thoughts for deeper trouble shooting? Honestly, I'd just as soon replace the jack, rather than eff with it, but I haven't seen any jacks with the same bolt mounting pattern; looking for plug and play suggestions. Do you think replacing the gears is possible, if I cannot locate a bolt-on replacement jack? Looks like the gears are held on their shafts by roll pins, that may or may not be simple to remove. Am I correct in thinking Attwood products are now a part of Lippert?

Thanks in advance!
 

alldodge

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Welcome
Most the jacks use 2 gears (1-handle and 1-long screw) but the real work is done by a long screw attached to the second gear. Can grease the gears by not the screw
 

dingbat

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The issue is the hardness of the gears.
They work until the clearance in the gears surfaces are worn away. Still work but takes a lot more effort.

Have not run into any issues finding a replacements in either the horse or boating worlds. Changed a welded on a-frame jack for a guy a couple of weeks ago.

Worst comes to worst, Atwood makes a jack that clamps to the side of the tongue. Works well. My last two boat trailers had them
 
Joined
Oct 16, 2025
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So far I have found these two gear kits. Their textual description sort of implies they might be universal, but it's uncertain:

1) Fulton, Jack Service Kit, Marine and Recreational Jacks 800-1200Lbs capacity
2) CURT Trailer Jack Sidewind Gear Kit #28914
 

redneck joe

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I'd push the pin on the handle gear then turn handle and see if clear then do the next to find which one is tougher. My guess is is needing lube in the vertical shaft but unsure how.
 

Grub54891

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Jun 17, 2012
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Third picture of the gear, is that a notch on the bottom gear? If so, Maby you can pump a bit of oil in there and let it run down to the bottom. I may be wrong but it’s worth a try.
 

redneck joe

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Third picture of the gear, is that a notch on the bottom gear? If so, Maby you can pump a bit of oil in there and let it run down to the bottom. I may be wrong but it’s worth a try.
Good eye it does look like a hole in thought just a glob of grease. Would WD40 or similar work?
 

Jeff J

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Jun 23, 2021
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I wouldn’t use WD40. It wasn’t developed as a lube. Some jackscrews get motor oil so maybe some 30 wt. I have also seen moly-b grease and dry film called out but I don’t think either of those would be practical for this application. If staying with thin spray, I would recommend LPS 2 or maybe Rem oil over Water Displacement formula 40.

There is a lot of things that are easy to repair that get thrown out and/or replaced for no good reason. A little lube in this case may be all it takes to get another 20 years out of it.
 

Jeff J

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Fiber is out today. Someone cut the bundle coming into town so I am having a hard time getting the pictures to load with the wife watching Netflix through my cell phone hotspot.

Are there any markings on the jack? I would expect the manufacturer and model be stamped into it somewhere.
 

Jeff J

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A universal jack would likely clamp onto the same location. It’s just unlikely to use the original bolt holes.

Maybe the base could kept and just the jack replaced. Most are just held on with a snap ring.
 

Scott Danforth

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Looks like older haul master jack.

Take the large snap ring off the old one and mount the replacement. Or pull the 4 screws off the mounting point and bolt the new one in its place

Or if you want to lube this one, pull the jack, disassemble it, lubricate it, and reassemble
 

redneck joe

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I was thinking wd as a solvent to soften up old crusty lube in the tube?

And a replacement will use u bolts to attach so no need to match bolt pattern.
 
Joined
Oct 16, 2025
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Fiber is out today. Someone cut the bundle coming into town so I am having a hard time getting the pictures to load with the wife watching Netflix through my cell phone hotspot.

Are there any markings on the jack? I would expect the manufacturer and model be stamped into it somewhere.
Just Atwood and the standard "don't kill yourself" legalese on the gear cover is all I can see.
 
Joined
Oct 16, 2025
Messages
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A universal jack would likely clamp onto the same location. It’s just unlikely to use the original bolt holes.

Maybe the base could kept and just the jack replaced. Most are just held on with a snap ring.
Four Winns actually welded on a stand-off mounting plate that I'd prefer to utilize - I have no metal skills. In my experience, the clamp-on mounts are weak and/or I over-torque them and the mount bends without adding any "grip," and then slides around over time. Also come with crap hardware that rusts as if it was never intended to see water.
 
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