Front leg hand crank - Montana Owners Club

rlwhit · 08-21-2007, 06:07 AM

We are leaving soon to go deep into back country where there are no services. Just thought as a good thing to try was the hand crank for the front legs. Whow!!! would not fit on rod. It does now. Hope I never have to use it. That would be one h--- of a chore. Just thought you might want to check yours.

dsprik · 08-21-2007, 06:21 AM

Good idea...

richfaa · 08-21-2007, 06:34 AM

What hand crank for the front legs????? The only crank we have is the one for the spare tire....

49merc · 08-21-2007, 07:42 AM

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rlwhit · 08-21-2007, 08:47 AM

Rich I think it is the same one as the spare tire crank.

richfaa · 08-21-2007, 11:10 AM

Welllll.. I did not know that..We will go out and check that out////

dsprik · 08-21-2007, 11:12 AM

Yes it is, Rich.

Trailer Trash 2 · 08-21-2007, 11:46 AM

I cranked one ONCE, and let me tell you it was a realy good work out, there not like a big rig with two speeds just one---- real slow.
The next time it will be hooked to a big drill and a big generator to handle the power needs.
What happened to your battery?

richfaa · 08-21-2007, 02:19 PM

Now that I think about it that does sound familiar..I think I knew that but like so many things lately..I forgot about it. I will hang a tag on the crank that tells me what to use it for..

bigbob7777 · 08-21-2007, 05:34 PM

Where does the crank fit?

dsprik · 08-22-2007, 02:31 AM

The crank goes right on the end of the shaft in the roadside propane compartment. the shaft has a little cotter pin stuck through the shaft. Your spare tire crank fits right on there.

jmd80ta · 08-22-2007, 04:45 AM

I just realized in reading this I don't know where my spare tire crank is. Where is the spare tire crank usually located?

dsprik · 08-22-2007, 06:19 PM

Mine was just thrown in my basement with my rear stabilizer crank when I picked the 3400 up at the dealership...

jmd80ta · 08-23-2007, 03:10 AM

Interesting as I don't remember getting one. Does a jack also come with the unit so you can change a flat on the trailer?

rubble express · 08-23-2007, 05:26 AM

We had the same problem when we blew the 40 amp fuse in the middle of nowhere. The crank handle would not fit over the shaft in the left propane area. Had a burr on the female end of the crank hanle. I could have beat it on but would never have gotten it off. I stole a 30 amp fuse out of the main box and ran the hydraulic pump for about 10 seconds at a time, letting it cool for 30 seconds in between tries. Finally got the gear up. I tried to remove the burr when we got home and it still wouldn't fit. The dealer gave me one out of a new unit and it fits fine. Hopefully he didn't just stick my old one in the other unit (but I bet he did!). Bottom line: check yours out for fit before you need it.

cargary · 08-23-2007, 07:44 AM

rlwhit:
After reading your post and the responses to it, I decided to take a look at how mine fit. It went on fine and actually, I was surprised on how easily it turned. The problem is - it takes many turns of the crank to have it move any distance. Just to try it out, I put a level on a surface where I could see it and after 20 turns, it didn't really move but a fraction of a distance. Bottom line is, I'm glad to have it as an alternative when necessary, but I wouldn't want to have to actually use it in order to hookup or unhook. As someone else mentioned, it would be a good idea to have alternative power source to rotate this shaft in case it is ever needed.
Thanks for the post.
Gary & Carole

Jay Bird · 08-23-2007, 09:46 AM

Take plenty of fuses. You may find out that you may not need the crank. I used mine once because I blew a fuse and did not have a spare. Had spare fuses for everything but the crank.

Capt Kidd · 08-23-2007, 11:42 AM

Had to use mine on the maiden voyage due to a blown fuse. I didn't know there was an inline fuse till I called the dealer the next day.

What a pain the hand crank is. You can do it but it is not fun. Part of the problem is the crank itself and having to use both hands.

I haven't really looked at it yet but was thinking that it would be a lot easier if you could somehow use a socket rachet instead of the crank. Has anyone adapted theirs and if so how did you do it?

bigmurf · 08-23-2007, 03:14 PM

Cut the handle off and chuck it in a drill motor.

dsprik · 08-24-2007, 04:07 AM

I have blown about 4 fuses over this past 13 months. Need to go to an auto parts store to get those 40 amp fuses, as Walmats, Kmarts, etc only stock up to 30 amp for some reason. Blew one fuse trying to raise my legs with the back stabilizers down (don't ask). Just a tip - don't do that. At least it blew the fuse before doing any damage to the back jacks or frame...

I will try my crank out to make sure it fits. Hope to never have to use it though.

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