Saw a post whereby someone was looking to remove the anti-theft bud/tulip/lock on their spare tire winch. Despite cleaning mine annually, the tulip started to strip as the tire approached the top, making it very difficult to snug it up. At least the tire comes down, but going up it was starting to rattle/bounce around. The last thing we need is to have spare tire removal issues when we need it most.
Anyway, here are some pics on how to remove the anti-theft part and just use the hook tool in your tool kit in the existing slot. ie, go back to a non-anti-theft. Stick it in a vise.....Pic 1. Remove the plastic guard with a pair of Vise-Grips...it's just a slip fit. Take your Vise Grips and grab the cylinder/housing that contains the bud/tulip/lock...give it a good yank....it is just press fit in/has a light retainer set up....I just wiggled mine and gave it a good hard yank and it came out. Some one posted that they had to grind it out, others mentioned giving it a wack with a hammer...it just slips in, pulls out.
If you want to replace it, just press in a new one.
The gravel roads in my area have flour dust on them......it turns to gumbo snot in the rain, but when it is dry, it is super fine and gets into everything...ie, like filling the tulip, so once you slip with the tool due to build up of dust, it starts to strip.
Anyway, here are some pics on how to remove the anti-theft part and just use the hook tool in your tool kit in the existing slot. ie, go back to a non-anti-theft. Stick it in a vise.....Pic 1. Remove the plastic guard with a pair of Vise-Grips...it's just a slip fit. Take your Vise Grips and grab the cylinder/housing that contains the bud/tulip/lock...give it a good yank....it is just press fit in/has a light retainer set up....I just wiggled mine and gave it a good hard yank and it came out. Some one posted that they had to grind it out, others mentioned giving it a wack with a hammer...it just slips in, pulls out.
If you want to replace it, just press in a new one.
The gravel roads in my area have flour dust on them......it turns to gumbo snot in the rain, but when it is dry, it is super fine and gets into everything...ie, like filling the tulip, so once you slip with the tool due to build up of dust, it starts to strip.