titan pallet fork stabilizer bar

newbury · Mar 8, 2020

I bought a pair of Titan 43", 4,000 lb clamp on pallet forks about a decade ago. And a stabilizer bar. The stabilizer got stuck closed for years. I soaked it with penetrate and with a 20ton jack have managed to expand it so the distance between the forks is 50 3/4 inches. Seems really stuck or it's hitting a detent.
Note they only list it

T[FONT=&quot]he stabilizer bar adjusts from 29 to 44 within the forks.[/FONT]

Does anyone know if the stabilizer is supposed to come apart in 2 pieces?
I want to wire brush down the stabilizer but manipulating it is a heavy lift.
/edit - I messaged Titan but no response yet.

Xfaxman · Mar 9, 2020

Does the knob make it spread or just lock it in place?

newbury · Mar 9, 2020

just lock it in place

ruffdog · Mar 9, 2020

I have the same forks and 2 stabilizers. One of the adjustment bolts on the first stabilizer moved slightly then started galling in the welded-on nut. I forced the bolt out but the threads were tore up. Thankfully, the bolt threads were softer and suffered more than the nut. Titan then sent the second stabilizer and it was fine. I tapped the nut (metric) and replaced the bolt, then I greased all threads so this won't happen in the future. Yes, once the adjustment knob is loosened, the two pieces of tubing will slide completely apart.

newbury · Mar 10, 2020

ruffdog said:
I have the same forks and 2 stabilizers. One of the adjustment bolts on the first stabilizer moved slightly then started galling in the welded-on nut. I forced the bolt out but the threads were tore up. Thankfully, the bolt threads were softer and suffered more than the nut. Titan then sent the second stabilizer and it was fine. I tapped the nut (metric) and replaced the bolt, then I greased all threads so this won't happen in the future. Yes, once the adjustment knob is loosened, the two pieces of tubing will slide completely apart.

Thanks.
With the effort I've put in to separating them it would have been well worth the $55 to have just bought another pair or fashioned my own with a 2x4 and ubolts. May still do so.
Do you know what size the bolt is? That's been long lost in the move from Va. to Ms.

WARNING - keep them lubed.

ruffdog · Mar 10, 2020

The threads for the 2 end bolts and the adjustment knob are 12 x 1.75 mm

newbury · Mar 15, 2020

Finally got a response from Titan:

Hi George!

Thank you for contacting Titan Support!

The stabilizer bar is composed of two main parts for the body, one that slips over the other. However, they may only be adjusted from 20.25" - 40.25" - so they are not designed to come apart entirely.

It does sound like the 'getting stuck' issue has to do with the product not performing properly, and I do apologize for that inconvenience. Because this item is outside the one-year warranty period I cannot offer a resolution, though any method of safely loosening the stabilizer bar so that it is unstuck would be preferable. I appreciate you reaching out to us in regards to this issue, if you need any more assistance in the future let me know and I'll help in every way I can.

Sincerely,

- Tristan

I'll take the