"sandy" wrote in message
oups.com...
We just bought a new toy (Windrider sailboat) and brought it home. As
hubby is disabled, I'm the one who has to do everything and I've found
trouble right off the bat. I can't seem to get the trailer wind-down
wheel lift to turn (it was a major hassle just getting it turned to
the ground). I'm assumming that it must be heavily rusted and have
been spraying it with WD40 and some spray grease. So far I haven't
managed to budge it. Then I decided to go ahead & take it off the
ball using a long pole to lift it....and....you guessed it....that is
also rusted and I can't get it to lift up. I might be devastated if
we hadn't got a good deal on a boat that hubby has been aching to have
for months!!! Can anybody give me any pointers or should I go
searching for a strong man!!! The trailer itself looks to be in
great shape but it has been sitting in the open for a while with no
care or maintenance.

Thanks! And while I'm asking...once I get it unstuck, what
maintenance should I be doing on the trailer. I do have a grease gun
for the buddy berrings.

Sandy

I wondered about that myself with my Futon tongue jack because of salt water
use. Thay do sell one especially for salt water but I was advised to just
drill the proper size hole in the barrell, insert a grease fitting and keep
it filled with the proper wheelbearing grease.

In your case... it probably depends on how badly corroded it is. I'd replace
the thing with a new one. The lighter ones aren't all that expensive and
worth it if you are providing all the muscle.
Same with the coupler.... if it's corroded badly...get a new one at a
trailer parts store. I'm guessing your boat isn't that heavy so a new 7/8
inch coupler might cost in the $20 range. Even a 2' version isn't
bad....again especially if you're the muscle. Boating is a lot more fun
when things run smoothly.

** hold on.. I just did a search on the boat and it weighs only 120 lbs.
It shouldn't cost too much to make your light duty trailer a joy to use.