SARE WHEEL MECHANISM-still a problem. Mk5 95D lwb, hitop

[axzed]

Hi all. I cannt believe the grief I am still getting with this. What proceedure is normal?
I have now removed the rear bumper & tow hoop bracket for access.
I tried all manner of prising until I sussed that if I raised & supported the spare it somehow allowed the hinged plate that covers the oerating nut to move back & allow the jack handle/winder to at last meet the nut & turn it. So, now it will wind the spare up, but only allows it to drop by about 4in.
This is not good as I see the spare wheel is held by a torx nut (I think) & a bolt/wing nut, both of which r siezed & I have no torx socket. So, please, tell me, what is the normal method of release & do u need to travel, armed with a special socket & fight for your spare?
Have I got a faulty mechanism? The rear stefixing brackets had distorted obviously from a collision, so I removed that first, falsely deducing that the spare was unable to hang correctly thus the problem. It seems that the plate cant pivot, held captive by some sort of catch within the tube it is attached to, unless the spare is lifted.
HELP, please.
PS Anybody got a visual of the rear step bracket profile? I wish to bend them back into shape I see that the n/s one must have a different shape to the unbent o/s one? Is it curved?
cheers

[MrMPuk]

It should only be the wing nut that holds the wheel.

[MarkM]

The wing nut was siezed solid on mine (strange as it was plastic ) but I removed it and the wheel sits quite happy in the mechanism and lifts and drops without problem.
Try getting a friend to gently apply pressure (pull) on the spare as you try to wind it down. You do have to apply forward pressure to the mechanism to get it to work properly as it will feel as if it is turning but not actually do anything. Once you get it down then lube it up so it should function ok in the future.

[axzed]

Hi. Thanx.
Yes, now I recall thinking that u could angle the retaining plate out if u removed the wing nut.
Does the wheel not lower to the ground?
Any comments regarding my other problem?
cheers

[MrMPuk]

Yes, you should be able to lower the wheel to the ground and more.

[MarkM]

Hi. Thanx.
Yes, now I recall thinking that u could angle the retaining plate out if u removed the wing nut.
Does the wheel not lower to the ground?
Any comments regarding my other problem?
cheers

The wing nut is on a lozenged shaped plate, that one end of is connected to the cable, don't try and bend this part.
Your bumper problem you would have to post a pic of your van as the bumpers on the rear of Hi Tops sometimes are the older version with the small rear corner caps, if it is the later sort well I haven't swapped my bumper over as yet.

[axzed]

Thanx all.
No problem with the bumper brackets, its the step.
Cable!? I havent seen any cable yet, but now I know.
Pity I didn,t, because I spun the spare to see if it wound down & I have probably knackered it.
I am aware of pushing the jack handle in to allow coupling, but the whole problem was that it would not move the pivoting cover plate.
I will try the down pressure on the spare to assist the lowering mechanism.
Yes, the wing nut felt strangely flexible, I thought soft metal as I had no visual.
cheers all

[axzed]

The spare finally fell off after lifting again to gain access to the hexagonal nut.
The plate has a claw that holds the wire cylindrcal housing & that's why it needs raising.to clear it before it can hinge back. R u supposed to jack spare up before attempting to lower?
Wire was all knotted & sheared at top connection.
I removed the unit & ground the bolts down to have a look, but I can't dismantle.
I wish someone had explained the theory/system involved when I queried this in April & I might have got it sorted, undamaged.
Gotta get a replacement.
WORSE, I was doing this alfresco, on the streets of London & someone nicked my PATs keys, the new unprogrammed & the old one.
So, I will be posting for a PATs bypass/disable cure.
I have just changed the lock set!!!
Whats the best/easiest way to disable the van & prevent theft?
For now, I've placed chains etc on the steering wheel/pedals & removed battery & throttle linkage.

[MarkM]

The spare finally fell off after lifting again to gain access to the hexagonal nut.
The plate has a claw that holds the wire cylindrcal housing & that's why it needs raising.to clear it before it can hinge back. R u supposed to jack spare up before attempting to lower?
Wire was all knotted & sheared at top connection.
I removed the unit & ground the bolts down to have a look, but I can't dismantle.
I wish someone had explained the theory/system involved when I queried this in April & I might have got it sorted, undamaged.
Gotta get a replacement.
WORSE, I was doing this alfresco, on the streets of London & someone nicked my PATs keys, the new unprogrammed & the old one.
So, I will be posting for a PATs bypass/disable cure.
I have just changed the lock set!!!
Whats the best/easiest way to disable the van & prevent theft?
For now, I've placed chains etc on the steering wheel/pedals & removed battery & throttle linkage.

As I understand the mechanism, the pushing in part to begin with is what releases the claw. I simply inserted the jackhandle and started to wind the wheel down....with hindsight I 'may' have wound up first but then mine isn't seized in anyway.
The unit is sold on ebay for the Connect but I have yet to see one for the real Transit, so might have to be a main dealers, to be honest the cost will be rather a sharp intake of breath I fear so just cut the cable off and store the wheel inside the van, bodge a plate up and fix to the side of the van, NS would be favourite. Ex BT's had metal brackets here to store gas bottles so there is sufficient strength on the panel uprights for you to fashion something.