Stuck pool ladder

[Yaeugd]

Just got pavers and pool ladder is stuck. I tried tapping the bolts to loosen the wedges remove the bolts and won’t budge. I beat it with a rubber mallet. Hit the screw with a metal Cole chisel and a 2 lbs hammer. I have no idea why it’s so tight unless some cement got in there. Any ideas how to get it loose?

 

[cowboycasey]

try getting an air compressor and hitting it with 100 pounds of air... probably dirt and who knows in there... if that does not work hit it with a pressure washer, dry wit ha towel and hit it with air again...

Should come loose

 

[Yaeugd]

Ok will try.

 

[Newdude]

I always strapped a 2X4 underneath both top rails in the hook-y part of the ladder. Then hit upwards underneath the 2X4 with a sledge to convince it. Make sure you secure it well or the side you aren’t hitting will break free and smack you.

 

[Yaeugd]

I’ll give that a try if the air and water doesn’t work.

 

[JamesW]

Make sure you secure it well or the side you aren’t hitting will break free and smack you.

And, you know this how?

 

[JamesW]

You really need to get the screw down to get the wedge down. Try tapping it down some more.

 

[Newdude]

And, you know this how?

Some trial, and much more error.

I took THAT one for the team, for sure.

 

[Pool_Medic]

Flush out any crud that’s binding it with plain ole water, done it a thousand times.

 

[Yaeugd]

Well flushed with a power washer and blew it out with air several times. Wedges still not budging. I have a feeling these clowns might of cemented it in or something. I’m called the pavers company let them figure it out because i still have to give them the final payment after they replace a step. I guess I’ll be deducting a ladder installation from the final bill if they screwed up the install.

 

[mknauss]

Was the ladder in when they used the plate vibrator for the pavers? The sand they use could have gotten in between the ladder and wedges and that has it locked in. Let them deal with it.

 

[Yaeugd]

No the pavers were fully installed then they installed the ladder the next day. I wanted to check to see if it can get it in or out before I settle up with them. Good thing I did.

 

[Newdude]

Time for plan B ????

 

[Newdude]

It really sounds barbaric using a sledge, But you only have 2.5 ft to swing upwards under the top rail and can’t possibly get much more force than a love tap. The only reason for the 2X4 is so it takes the small dings and not the ladder. It usually only takes 2 or 3 love taps and it pops.

 

[Yaeugd]

Well I was right they got cement in the cylinders and all over the wedges took them two hours to remove the ladder and chisel out the cylinders to make sure they were debris free probably going to order new wedges just in case they were deformed turn the process The owner said that in 30 years this has never happened because his guys know better obviously not.

 

[Pool_Medic]

Mistakes happen, glad they stepped up and fixed it.

 

[Darin]

Double up you 2x4s on edge or get a 4x4. Grab your floor jack out of the garage. Put a good amount of upward tension on the 2x4s then smack the ladder near the cement. Get another scrap piece of wood to place between your big hammer or beater so that you do not beat up your metal ladder. This works as i have to do this every year when closing. Just take your time.

 

[m a hanson]

Double up you 2x4s on edge or get a 4x4. Grab your floor jack out of the garage. Put a good amount of upward tension on the 2x4s then smack the ladder near the cement. Get another scrap piece of wood to place between you big hammer or beater so that you do not beat up your metal ladder. This works as i have to do this every year when closing. Just take your time.

Mine is also stuck, I was going to tackle it when I get ready to close it so I can put in a safety cover. It took 8 or more hours over two days to get all the water off the tarp using a pump. Do the screws need to be loosened first? I have no clue how the ladder is held in, looks like a clamp and screw configuration

 

[Darin]

Mine has a 1/2 inch bolt that i loosen. The threaded end goes into a lead sleeve that cinches up around the inserted end of the ladder. There is no need to completely remove the bolt but if you do you can easily thread it back in when you ladder is removed.

 

[m a hanson]

Thanks, I was eyeing that bolt yesterday, trying to determine if it indeed cinches around the ladder there. One side is a bit loose, the other one is firmly entrenched. It's possible it was not placed in there level, the front may be further inside than the back. Or it's pinched, I will do some more exploring.