Ok so, id liek to know, how many people have had to replace, or cut up or just cannot use their spare tyre lifter anymore.
Mine (1999 mk3 VG transit), well i tried to use the special long black foldup metal tool to turn the winder, but it jsut span around on the rounded bolt head.
On further investigation, after removing the unit after multiple flats and some of the most insane angry yelling u would ever see, i have discovered the root cause of this stupidity.
Ford's 8 side octagon bolt head which u turn with the special tool is the deumbest piece of automotive engineering ive come across to date.
What kind of stupid, brainless fool uses a mild steel, 8 sided bolt head as an important part of the vehicle underneath the chassis.
With 8 sides, the bolt starts off its life closer to a round circle than it would if they had just stuck with standard 6 sides, a hex head, like every single other bolt in the world.
it does not take an engineer to work out that an 8 sided bolt, will round prematurely, on its own, not to mention being stuck under the chassis and made of mild steel.
How many people have had to repace this part?
I ended up undoing mine, and cutting the 8 faced bolt thing down to a 1/2 inch 6 sided bolt so i cant stick my socket set and extension in there on my impact driver and raise and lower it in seconds.
The stupididty behind this design just makes me angry.