Fifth wheel air release

We have a truck in the yard, the air release don’t work either, just pull the lever. Ours we need to clamp a vise grip on to hold in release position.

 

The automatic 5th wheel release, in both my old truck, 2019 VNL760 and new truck 2022 VNL760, are very inconsistent and seldom works like I think it should. I just pull the handle on the 5th wheel release. Just not worth the bother using the automatic release when it's so simple and easy to pull the 5th wheel release handle instead.

 

The air release most likely has an air leak and is not allowing the jaws to unlock completely. Use the handle until you have it repaired

 

Lubricate the pieces under the 5th wheel.

 

No need to try and lift trailer off fifth wheel, also backing the truck Into the trailer will take all the tension off the jaws to release easy

 

You may wish to read the owners manual about how it operates also. After I finally got tired of it not working, I dug out my manual and found that the tractor brake must be set before the 5th wheel release will work. Even after knowing that, it doesn't work any better. But, I did learn that trying to operate it without the tractor brake set is a futile effort to begin with.
And, yes naturally I make sure the tractor is pushed back against the 5th wheel. Pretty common sense that it probably won't work with the tractor pushing forward on the 5th wheel. Also, found it does work a bit better if I start to dump my tractor bags first. But, just so much hassle to do all that when it's much easier to just pull the handle instead. Pain in the neck to make sure the tractor is pushed back against the 5th wheel, have the tractor brake set, then dump the bags and try to get it to work. After all that, you still have to get out and look whether or not it's actually released the 5th wheel. Just so much simpler to pull the lever instead.

 

Pour diesel over the jaws and the rod portion of the handle.

 

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