Guide bar replacement?
 

Hi folks...new to Hilo .
I have a late 80's classic.Was working fine till we tried to raise it,with the cubby door jamming at the front.Took a couple of tries before we figured this out,and being without a manual,well,you get the idea.
So...we have discovered the guide rod.And the plate that slides along it.
Suspect that we bent it a bit,and yes it is rusty,sanded it a bit,then greased it thoroughly.
Got the top to go up ,but down was a no-go.A couple of tries later,and seeing/hearing a binding of the plate on the rod.A few taps of the hammer,a couple more tries lifting and lowering,and the pin holding the bar in place snapped.
So now,though getting dark,we believe the guide bar is bent a bit.
Pounded it back in place,new pin,lots of grease,and the plate binds again...then breaks the second pin.At least we were able then to get the top down and move trailer to home base.
So....I understand this is a 3/4 inch bar....ours is 39" long.
Is there a specific part or place to order,or can we just buy a rod from hardware store,cut to length,drill for the pin,and that's it?
Any tricks or tips to replace this rod? I don't think pulling it out and smoothing it off with wire brush or emery is gonna render it very slippery,no matter how much grease,regardless if it is ,in fact,bent(can't really tell till I pull it out come daylight).
I don't suspect any other binding points with cables.They all seem in good nick,and well lubed,ditto pulleys and guides/blocks.I'm pretty sure we bent it when jammed on the front cubby door.Even of not bent,it's pretty nasty with rust and pitting.
Other posts have mentioned that this bar,in newer trailers,is plated and shiney...ours is far from that...quite pitted.
Before this door jam fun,it worked flawlessly.
Actually,any tips would be great...no manual,so kinda working in the dark on this.Am fairly mechanical,but the system is all new to us.We are in Canada if parts ordering becomes the issue.
Much thanx!

The bars in the newer trailers are chrome plated. If it was me, I would just get a bar, cut to length, drill for pin and put it in. be sure that the hole in the ram cable plate is free on a new piece of bar. Even if you had a manual they don't tell you how to replace the guide bar.
Read this in the Reference Library, https://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f61/...aulic-ram-303/

Be sure the plate on the end of the hydraulic ram is square to the ram if this is bent it will not slide freely on a new guide rod.

Update....
Being a sunday I can't find a solid rod over 36"...Use a hollow one?
Seems pretty stiff...but stiff enough?
I don't ever expect much out of an owners manual,but maybe it would give me clues to at least name the parts so I can ask a reasonably intelligent question of you experienced folk!
Whole lotta stuff I never saw before under here;)
Thanx again

The manuals don't name the parts either. Check the Reference Library in this forum, there are many manuals there, look at one close to the year of your trailer as they haven't changed much. There is also a lot of useful information there. I wouldn't use a hollow one.

Thanx for the replies...very timely!
Seems in my part of the world,I will have to order up a length of rod...no one stocks anything longer than 3 feet around here.Northern Canada can be a pain in the .......

Another quicky.....
Is the carrier plate supposed to be welded to the ram rod?
Hard to tell with all the rust,but mine may not be welded,or weld broken.
I'm just trying to figure out what keeps the plate square to the assembly....am assuming it's the 2 aspects of the ram rod and the guide bar.

I am not sure about yours but I think someone else said there is a nut on the end. Sorry I don't feel up to crawling under one of mine to look. The guide rod keeps the ram from rotating which keeps the pulleys in alignment.

Did you click on the link that I supplied and read it? any way here is something that was said in it.
(quote) I used the vice grips to hold the ram and remove the head, I was told that there are two types of heads one that screws right onto the ram (the head has a treaded hole) and one that has just a hole and uses a nut to hold it on.

What he calls the head is the steel plate on the end of the ram that has the pulleys mounted on it.
Hope this helps if not keep asking.

Maybe there is a threaded rod on the plate that screws onto the ram???
I've been told I really don't want to drop the ram...lousy job they say.
Would mean releasing all the cables,dropping ram,drilling and tapping to get old threaded piece out(cuz I am sure it will break off inside the ram rod),tapping new thread,then welding on a new post onto the plate.
Looks like we gonna have to lift this thing to work under it too.

Replacing the hydraulic ram
 

I haven't had the need to do this repair. Get on the website for Midget RV and HiLo .The website is www.jrrepair.embarq .com I did a search on the internet and it brought up pictures of repair parts and prices. JR repair is another great resource for information/advice. 1-419-883-3002. They also sell parts.

Parts!
Wow...Thanx Sam....will try them today.
If it's gonna be a major job to do this,might as well replace the parts if possible...better than my questionable welding skills!

Don't think Sam's click on works, try this one,
Home - JR REPAIR

Nope...but this one does.
Happy Columbus day!
Home - JR REPAIR