Dawn dish detergent on stuck slider pins?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by MYSTYKRACER, Nov 13, 2019.

  1. MYSTYKRACER

    MYSTYKRACER Medium Load Member

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    So I've read on here and other places about sometimes having to use a hammer on stuck 5th wheel / rear tandem pins. I have an instructor at CDL school that told us something else to try before that though would be a mixture of water and Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle that would eat away the caked on grease and dirt in about 15 mins that's likely causing the pins to be stuck. This instructor said this usually worked for them and they've rarely had to resort to the hammer method which could damage the pins and make it even hard for them to retract or seat properly.

    Just curious if anyone else has heard of this or tried it with any success? Seems like it could be a reasonable first step and if doesn't work, you can always still bring da hammer!
     
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  3. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    WD40 by the bucket.

    Worse case scenario brake fluid. Pour it on there.

    Dawn is reasonable but You are going to need the 5 gallon bucket version, I think they took out two chemicals which in the past were awesome on anything grease. But now took them out so not to mess up waste water or something.

    When you are in a position to degrease a truck in way you choose to do it, make sure you run it through the beacon and regrease it properly after
     
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  4. MYSTYKRACER

    MYSTYKRACER Medium Load Member

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    Yeah, a guy in our class asked about WD40 'cause it's always a good idea to have a can of that around, but our instructor recommended Dawn. I was thinking Simple Green might work as well too if Dawn doesn't have the same potency it used too?
     
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  5. Tx Countryboy

    Tx Countryboy Road Train Member

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  6. Majestic 670

    Majestic 670 Heavy Load Member

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  7. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Ive heard stories of soap with skin care oils. You think those dam thingshave bscrape the rails bolts, widowmaker bolt and so on.

    And if you have anyone attending literally a senior or junior thatsf

    I used to deal with migraines all my life and took in a round of botox one year that halted it, unfortunately for me it was about 9 and 18 months consecutive in total before the body settled dwn th what it is.

    So the Pumpkin has alerady

    When dealing with trailer pins.... DO not ever be in the line of fire those dam things.

    All you ever will hear is that Pop and have your mind filled with a very pressing matter punching a hole into the skull to put daylight into mel

    Thta pin is going to go bye bye. Carry spares like Petro hads 4 of a pin Just do what you need to do not to be left open to the wild sky above.
     
  8. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    IDK, WD-40 gets kind of pricey. At the rail yards, some of the Z-vans had stuck sliders, and we'd go to the shop, they'd soak the pins with water from a hose. I had my doubts, but if the brakes worked, it slid like butter. Now, to try and find a hose that's not frozen. I knew a guy kept a solid iron 1" bar about 3 feet long, possibly for their dispatcher, but he'd bang it agin the pins, worked great.
     
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  9. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    Dawn could be a temporary fix but the real problem is the parts need to be greased . so if u use dawn then make sure to grease the parts afterwards or its gonna be even harder to get them to slide next time
     
  10. Snow Monster

    Snow Monster Medium Load Member

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    Diesel, WD40, grease, vaseline, various penetrating fluids, hammers, snipe pipes, I've had to use them all at some time or the other.

    I found a little trick that can make it easier if the pins and holes aren't destroyed.
    Before you get out of the truck put it in reverse, ease the clutch out to get it rolling a bit, push in the clutch and give the trailer spike a quick pull.
    On most trailers the pressure on the pins will be on the back of the hole from moving in a forward direction most of the time, as well as during braking, and that's where the holes and pins will show the most wear or deformation.
    That little nudge in reverse can take some of the pressure off.
    But......, when you get out to pop the pins, take a hammer with you just in case!
     
  11. lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

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    I would avoid using anything that will mix with water. As water will mean rusting. The problem with using any soap is that it will remove in time any grease lubrication it may have had. Grease is your best bet. Penetrating oil if your a company driver. WD-40 is ok, yet it only slightly disperses water, PB blaster is better as it will adhere to the parts. Otherwise if it is your trailer you might want to consider a dry lubricant with graphite. The headache of using oil based lubricants is that not only will it stick to the part that needs lubrication. It will also allow dirt to adhere to the part. That dirt will act as a light duty grinding compound. Granted if and when a driver gets the trailer cleaned, the dirt that has adhered to the grease like lubricated area will hopefully get cleaned.

    Another compound to think about getting is motorcycle chain lube. It is a interesting lube. The lube has wax in it that partially hardens with the air. It is an aerosol. The lube is designed to stay on the chain at high speeds. Yet the wax encapsulates the lube so dirt doesnt get to foul the lubrication.
     
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