Running board hinge replacement question

[Franklin Jones]

So, I’ve been on a journey with my running boards. I purchased a replacement motor, but fubar’d the hinge trying to remove just the motor, and so I returned that and got a replacement hinge/motor assembly.

On the old hinge, there was a bar (rod?) that ran across to the rear hinge. It was riveted onto one of the pins in the hinge. But the new hinge doesn’t have a pin that is long enough for the bar.

is the bar necessary? Can I remove it and run without it? Am I missing something obvious?

 

[star-art]

The connecting bar is needed for EL models because the running board is so long. I transfers some of the torque from the motor to the rear hinge assembly.

You got a new front hinge that's made only for non-EL aka "shorty" models. These cannot be used on long-wheelbase trucks. You will need the correct hinge for an EL or Navigator "L" model.

 

[star-art]

Here's some helpful info on servicing the running board brackets and motors:

https://www.runningboardmotor.com/teardown.html

 

[Franklin Jones]

So, I made my own custom hinge extension.

Went to my local Ace Hardware, got a 3/8” clovis pin, drilled a hole for a threaded shaft, drilled the head off the pin, drilled a hole in the hinge pin for a threaded shaft, tapped both holes, ran a shaft into the pin and then screwed the assembly into the hinge.

bingo, bango, bob’s your uncle.

 

[bobmbx]

So, I made my own custom hinge extension.

Went to my local Ace Hardware, got a 3/8” clovis pin, drilled a hole for a threaded shaft, drilled the head off the pin, drilled a hole in the hinge pin for a threaded shaft, tapped both holes, ran a shaft into the pin and then screwed the assembly into the hinge.

bingo, bango, bob’s your uncle.

View attachment 33642

View attachment 33643

View attachment 33645

View attachment 33646

View attachment 33647

After the coming apocalypse, people like you will be like gods.

And this guy will be on my team....

 

[star-art]

Impressive! Is there any chance it might try to unscrew itself while working back and forth? I'm guessing not but stranger things have happened. LOL

 

[Franklin Jones]

Impressive! Is there any chance it might try to unscrew itself while working back and forth? I'm guessing not but stranger things have happened. LOL

I thought about that, and don’t think it should be an issue since it will never make a full rotation.So even if it does unscrew a little when deploying, it is just as likely to screw back in when retracting.
Plus, it’s still affixed to the rear, which will reduce unscrewing as well.

Of course, you’re right, and Murphy and his law show up at the most inopportune times. So I dumped a little red locktite into both halves. It’s not going anywhere.

 

[star-art]

Murphy and me go WAAAAY back! LOL I'm always looking over my shoulder in case he shows up. . . He he he

 

[Franklin Jones]

Whelp, Murphy saw my hubris and punished me justly for it.

As soon as I reinstalled the board and hinges on the truck, the torque broke the locktite and/or the threads, so the hinges just rotated independently.

Gonna have to tear it apart and either a.) drive the old pin out of the old hinge and replace it, or b.) try my fix again, but with a longer, thicker shaft.

(That’s what she said.)