Stubborn Pool Ladder

[Webster]

Hello Friends,

I'm stuck. Well, the ladder, is stuck. I started closing the pool. I loosened the bolts on the wedge anchors that I just put in at the beggining of the season earlier this year. I managed to get one side loose by tapping the bolt. The other side wont budge. After getting a 4 pound hammer among other things, I managed to bend the bolt pretty good (See pic.), but the wedge below didn't budge.

I tried a car jack with a 2x4 and the 2x4 nearly broke. I got a punch and a hammer and tried to beat it down with that but it still didn't move. It's like the wedge and the ladder are welded together. I'm starting to think even if I do get it out it will be unusable.

I'm open to suggestions, ideas, comments, criticism, finger pointing and sarcastic comments.

Thanks

 

[Mdragger88]

Have you tried flushing it out with water then air? Sometimes there’s just crud in there. Then let some wd40 or kroil oil sit overnight.
There’s several tips in this thread

Pulling my (stuck) ladder for the winter/cover.

New pool owner here, purchased a home 2 weeks ago with an inground pool and it had a pool cover in storage. Though the cover has seen better days, we will use it for sure this year. Realized we need to pull the ladder out to properly cover the pool but one problem, seems like it won't budge...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Webster]

Have you tried flushing it out with water then air? Sometimes there’s just crud in there. Then let some wd40 or kroil oil sit overnight.
There’s several tips in this thread

Pulling my (stuck) ladder for the winter/cover.

New pool owner here, purchased a home 2 weeks ago with an inground pool and it had a pool cover in storage. Though the cover has seen better days, we will use it for sure this year. Realized we need to pull the ladder out to properly cover the pool but one problem, seems like it won't budge...

www.troublefreepool.com

Well I know what I'm doing today. Thanks!

 

[Newdude]

If it's not to late, skip the WD40 because it's too close to the pool. I did it with mine and it ran into the pool and i smelled it for years when that area got wet.

I hit mine upward with a 10lb sledge underneath (with a 2x4 firmly attached to save the finish).

Or unbolt the steps and see if the one rail twists.

 

[Webster]

If it's not to late, skip the WD40 because it's too close to the pool. I did it with mine and it ran into the pool and i smelled it for years when that area got wet.

I hit mine upward with a 10lb sledge underneath (with a 2x4 firmly attached to save the finish).

Or unbolt the steps and see if the one rail twists.

Thanks for the tip. I did unbolt the top two steps. The bottom one would require me to get in the pool and the water temp is around 60 degrees now so I'm trying to avoid that.

 

[Webster]

The ladder wedge is still undefeated.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Ladder wedge - 1, Webster - 0.

 

[Homebrewale]

If it's not to late, skip the WD40 because it's too close to the pool. I did it with mine and it ran into the pool and i smelled it for years when that area got wet.

I hit mine upward with a 10lb sledge underneath (with a 2x4 firmly attached to save the finish).

Or unbolt the steps and see if the one rail twists.

I use a rubber mallet. I can whack away without worrying about missing a 2x4 and damaging the finish. It kind of frees me to swing away instead of half swings with a sledge due to be tentative about causing damage.

 

[Mdragger88]

If you do get it out put some white lithium grease on it before reinstalling next time.

 

[Newdude]

. I can whack away without worrying about missing a 2x4 and damaging the finish.

The 2x4 was heavily taped in place perpendicular under the rails for those 2 reasons.

 

[JamesW]

Get a metal rod the biggest diameter you can get that will fit in this section (Red Dot) and hammer it down.

 

[sktn77a]

If you do get it out put some white lithium grease on it before reinstalling next time.

And don't over tighten the bolts - it deforms the ladder tubing and you'll never get it out.