Fifth Wheel Won't Lock?

If you go sticking stuff into the 5 wheel like pipe, long iron bars etc STAND aside dummy. Don't stand over the thing, it will try to kill you .... SNAP!

 

Sorry didn't make clear what I meant. If the jaws are in the closed position
you have to open them BEFORE you try backing under the trailer. BE SURE to
remove all foreign objects BEFORE backing under trailer again.

 

Hmph. I stand corrected. Shows that my reading comprehension is beyond fubar today.

 

No problem.

Never sure how much advise to give out to an unknown person. But I
sure appreciate the help I got over the years from more experienced
drivers.

In this case the driver asked for help at 12:47 AM . Several answers were
given, than at 6:37 the driver is still having problems. Hopefully he gets it
figured out.

 

My truck, 2016 T680, sticks sometimes as well. I think it's only when it hits just right on the jaws while backing under the trailer that instead of rotating the proper way, it pushes the wrong direction. It's like it jams it where I can't move the release arm at all. When that happens I just pull back out, soak as much of the moving parts with Motorkote as I can. I use a spray bottle, let it soak in for about 5 minutes or so, then I try again. Usually works first time.

 

Generally newer Freightliner comes standard with a Jost 5th wheel. We've had two problems with them. First, they were too hard to pull the release -for that we had to get the nut turned on the side. Just like Boattlebot said.

The other was cleaning out the impacted grease in the spring mechanism with a screwdriver and a can of WD40. Gunk can get mashed in the mechanism and jam it open. Heck of a mess, but it worked.

 

Pull out from the trailer ,tip the 5th wheel up in the front and spray the heck out of all the linkage . then take a winch bar or piece of pipe and manually trip the jaws.
Pull the handle and keep doing it until it starts working smoothly .
Then try to rehook.

 

Well,did ya get it fixed ?

 

Dont use that white lithium grease just use some diesel or diesel and oil in a squrty bottle cheapest way