5th wheel adjustment

I’m putting you on my Speed dial. 239 Area code does not mean ignore.

 

SAF Holland TF-TLN-5001 2" Fifth Wheel Lock Adjustment Tool

Shows the tester for 327$us. Don't know anything about the company, just giving a price reference.

 

I’m blown away by how many people on this site have absolutely no mechanical knowledge or ability

I really love when you guys start talking mechanical

Right up my Alley.

 

I’ve seen our shop use that tool on my company truck back when it had repeated 5th wheel issues.

Nothing to it. All the handle is doing is pulling the pin into the jaws or pulling it out.

Actually the one our shop had looked much better built

Stupidly overpriced for what it is.

 

Good to go.
Back into it and set the brake, then it should release.
Did that with a new Mack on the yard once, new truck to me, when I pulled the parking brake computer bumped the engine to fast idle. Lucky I did not rip the driveshaft out of it while slightly riding the clutch. Watch out for that.

 

The weld in king pins are around $40 down here from Utility or Wabash. We’ve replaced a few of them from time to time. I made an adjustment pin from one years ago.
Like everyone said It is best to adjust to a new pin but if you are pulling only one dedicated trailer I recommend adjusting it to that pin. It will keep the jaws in better shape that way. If it is ajusted tight to a new pin it will be loose on a normally worn pin and have slack.
It will come unlatched with handle if it is too tight on a new pin but you got to work harder to pull it loose like has been said above.
If you are having a tough time reaching the adjustment nut on the wheel try sliding it all the way up so it will be easier to get to in front of the tires or worst case you can try to park at a 90 degree angle and get to it from the side of trailer if the pin set is to deep in the front.

 

This is the pin on my 1950 Fruehauf flatbed after I sanded it clean and got some burrs out of it from being hit hard too many times. It is 70 years old and who knows how many miles. Still in spec according to Utility and the test gauges. It’s worn down about 1/16 almost 1/8 of an inch on the 2 inch collar on the pull side “backside” and still sits tight in the jaws.
I adjusted the fifth wheel to the new pin tool I made and it had a little play in it so I did final adjustment to it. I have not had a problem pulling the handle and getting loose from any other trailers.
I painted it orange before I greased it up for an experiment so I can watch it and see where the witness marks end up. So far so good. No extra alarming wear happening yet.
If you look close enough at the bolster plate you can see a couple of the counter sunk heads of six of the 5/8” rivets that Fruehauf used to install the pin. It is not welded in and is still solid.

 

This post is why I'd want a professional to show me exactly what to do.

 

I love them too. Older ones, nobody is coming by and pulling your fifth wheel. With my puller, I still have to jerk it.