5th wheel jaw not staying open.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Midnightrider909, Aug 2, 2020.

  1. Midnightrider909

    Midnightrider909 Road Train Member

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    I have never had this issue before so figured I’d ask. I have no problems unhitching but if I drive around bobtail for awhile the jaw halfway closes itself and then you can’t hitch another trailer until you pull the jaws apart. This gets grease all over my puller tool and is annoying. I even have to manually pull the jaw all the way open sometimes during a quick drop and hook. There doesn’t seem to be any excessive debris or grease holding it up but it’s hard to see in all the nooks around the jaw. What do you think is keeping it from opening all the way. It takes a bit of a pull to get it all the way open.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2020
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  3. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    What brand fifth wheel?
     
  4. Midnightrider909

    Midnightrider909 Road Train Member

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    No clue. Its on a 2018 780. Its manual pull, not air release.
     
  5. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    Your gonna have to work on your jaw game.
     
  6. Michael 247

    Michael 247 Heavy Load Member

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    If the Pull Handle won't open the Jaws i would have a Mechanic look at it ..I've had 5th wheels lock while bobtailing but the pull handle would always open it..Sounds like a serious problem ..Are you sure you are pulling the handle hard enough
     
  7. Midnightrider909

    Midnightrider909 Road Train Member

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    It is not hard to pull the handle at all. Unhooking is not a problem. Keeping the jaws open all the way until I hook to a new trailer is is issue. Sometimes I have to take my fifth wheel puller tool and pull the jaws themselves open because they wont stay all the way open.
     
  8. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    If you can’t open the jaws back up simply by pulling on the handle then I’d say you need to get it looked at if you’re not seeing anything out of the ordinary. If I’m bobtail and the road is rough mine will bounce closed but I can just pull the handle to open them back up before I back under the trailer.
     
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  9. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    A Jost is a bit of a trick to unlatch.

    That said, those have a notch in the handle that should prevent what you’re describing, assuming that’s the brand you have.
     
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  10. Midnightrider909

    Midnightrider909 Road Train Member

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    I just went down to the truck and took this picture and this is after about 300 miles of traveling bobtail. As you can see the jars are about half closed.
     

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  11. Shawn2130

    Shawn2130 Heavy Load Member

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  12. Midnightrider909

    Midnightrider909 Road Train Member

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    I pulled the handle again and it opened up quite a bit more but I’m used to opening this thing once and it staying open. FC632C44-95A0-49C1-A211-303650F75B31.jpeg
     
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