Problem opening tailgate

Worst case scenario on mine is;it didn't have a problem until it had been parked in the garage at our new apartment...I'm being afraid that somebody tried to break into it and just broke it instead...It garnered the the problem while it sat there for three or four days.

 

hey Stormin. Doesnt wd 40 cause rust in the long run?:confused: Shouldnt it be followed with a lithium lubricant spray (or what other product would you suggest)?

 

tsynek, WD in WD-40 stands for Water Displacement so no, it will not cause rust in the long run but it is not permanent protection for rust neither.

 

Yeah, it's acidic to paint and it's oil-based, so eventually it would peel off the paint and expose the metal. Nothing a good pressure washer couldn't fix.

I use Lithium on electrical and door/window/lock mechanisms, but there's another grease that comes in a tube like a small grease gun, that better for hinges and high tensile steel like hinges. I think Castrol made it. It's a waxy, thick grease, and also non-conductive (means less rusty hinges).

 

Yesterday, I tried to open the tailgate again. It unlocked and I was able to flip it down about 20 deg (out of 90 that it was supposed to do). Something is blocking it and I think that's just unlocking both ways. I guess WD-40 helped somehow. I will give it more time and try again in a few days. Who knows, maybe I will be as lucky as autobotsquire.

 

Spray more WD-40. It dries up in day or less, depending on hot weather and wind.

 

thanks to whoever started this, now IM having tailgate trouble with my 89 mercury... dangit

 

That would be me

I have tried to open my tailgate yesterday and it is again not working. I can only swing it open but not lower it :confused:

 

they call it chagrin

I think some of us,me included,may have failed to mention the problems we were having with our tailgates,,,until someone else brought the subject up...

 

i think we should organize a work rally. my motorhome group does that once a year, they have a rally where everyone meets together at one campground, and helps each other with projects and work that need to be done on the motorhomes. That way we can all share what we know. like the brake guys can go around and coach with brakes, the tailgate guys can coach with tailgates. but each owner does their own work.

the biggest problem would be getting a good place thats near enough for most of us to drive to!

 

Any GM or Mopar parking lot?

 

Thats a great idea, if we could get them to let us use the shop area too!!! since they wont be using it.


still have to find something central that we can drive these rigs to. you know theyre all getting old!

 

Kansas, Detroit, and 40 other cities. Heck, parts of Wall Street!

 

Great idea but it would have to be regional. Hopefully we can find enough members per region that this would work.

I am in for a meeting somewhere in the Tri-State area (incl. PA and other close enough locations for one day drive).