98 F150 spare tire carrier problem

[Dragon]

The winch will let the tire down part way but not enough to get the tire off the carrier. If anyone has a clue please let me know either to get it down or to remove the winch. We can see the bolts that hold it on I can't find a book that shows what happens when I unbolt it. Our years are are so much easier to fix than this thing.

[fordman]

i dont like those things they get dirty and then they are done. i dont know how to help you on this one.

[cep62]

Cut the cable?
Use cable cutters or a torch or a grinder/cut off wheel.
Don't use wire cutters , the hard cable will ruin them.

[papabug71]

Let it down as far as it will go & shoot it full of WD-40 or some type of penetrating oil. See if it will free up. More than likely, the cable is just in a bind.

To keep this from happening again, periodically lower the carrier all the way & cover the cable in wd-40 or similar product. I like 3-in-1 oil myself.

Good luck.

[70_F100]

I've seen those mechanisms full of dirt many times.

Do like Papabug suggested. Let it down as far as it will go. Instead of WD-40, take a garden hose and wash it out really well. Work it up and down a few times to make sure you've got it cleaned out well, and you might be able to lower it.

Once you get it freed-up and the tire on the ground, that would be the time to lube it up. As suggested, use the 3-in-1. WD-40 is not really intended as a lubricant, but rather as a water-displacement chemical. It does have SOME lubricating qualities, but not like a good penetrating oil.

[fordman]

any kind of oily substance will tend to catch any dirt that gets into it. i would use a dry lube of soem kind. graphite may not work. but i think they do make other types of dry luburicants. but i think they are in a aresol spray can. so how can that be a dry lube? i dont know that is what they claim.

[70_F100]

The "dry" spray lubes have a solvent that will evaporate quickly.

One good example is CRC White Lithium Grease.

Spray it on, and it's thin as h@ll.

Let it set for a couple of minutes, and it's white "grease".

Same thing with the spray graphite lubes.