How to extend platform ladder?

[wongedwoman]

I have a platform ladder. I want to extend the legs of the ladder but unable to press the spring locking pin down to extend legs.

Any easy solutions?

Thanks

[JacobZ]

Hi @wongedwoman,

Can you advise what platform ladder you have? This will help me understand the issue you are facing and offer advice on your specific issue.

A photo of the problem you're having would also help. Let me know if you need a hand uploading images, I'm happy to help if required.

Is it one of the little aluminium push pins you often find on the legs of gazebos? 

If so, I have found that the pain they cause your thumb when pushing hard is sometimes the barrier to pushing them in. Wearing gloves or using a towel or something soft to protect your thumb could help.

They can also sometimes seize up a bit, so tapping it with a hammer to free it up before trying with your hands can also help.

Some Quick Action Clamps could also be useful to push the pin in, especially if there are two that have to be pushed at the same time. This can free up both of your hands so you can use them to extend the legs.

Let me know what you think and if I'm wildly off, please let me know some further details so I can assist further.

Jacob

[wongedwoman]

The photo of ladder and pin which I find it hard to push.

[JacobZ]

Hi @wongedwoman.

Yep, those are the type of pin I thought you meant.

I have this exact same work platform/trestle bench and agree that the pins can be a bit tricky to push in because they need to be strong enough to support the weight on the legs. With a weight rating of 150kg, they need to be pretty strong and under a fair bit of tension. 

I have a technique that works for me and once you've got it, it is not too hard.

The way I do it is, I put my foot on the rung between the legs and use both hands to squeeze one pin in and pull the outer part of the leg up while pushing down on the rung with my foot. 

There is enough movement that if you keep pressure on the rung with your foot the first pin will stay pressed in so you can then use both hands to push the other pin in. Make sure you maintain constant downward pressure on the rung between the legs or the first pin may slip back into place, and you'll have to start again.

You can repeat this for each level of height adjustment.

Once you get the technique down, it isn't too difficult, but as I mentioned above, gloves will also help as the pressure you need to apply can be hard on the thumbs. The clamps I mentioned will also work.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[wongedwoman]

Thank you. I will try. I might take it back to bunnings to see if they can do it for me.

[wongedwoman]

Thank you Jacob.  A tap with the mallet got the job done.  All legs extended.

Thank you so much.  All  I needed was a hint.  The mallet.