Hard (very) to raise spare tire

geoB

Took the spare off to test & set pressure. Easy to drop. Does not want to go back up. I'm using the crank that came with the 2021 T@B 400 BD. Any suggestions on how best to make go up?

TIA

geoB

Answer: WD40 & lie on your back.

GatorEgg

Lubricate mechanism.  Use a lithium grease.  

tabiphile

WD as a lubricant is a whack a mole solution to far too many things. It's not a lubricant per say.
Lithium is a lubricant, but a bit messy. I like to use something like Ballistol. Never WD 40.
The threads on one of these units are constantly exposed and rust prone. A lubricant that is easy to apply is the golden ticket. 
Another alternative is to put some Mobile one in a small squeeze bottle to apply to the threads as they need it. 

rfuss928

Lifting the spare takes a lot more effort than dropping it down.  I might be tough using the hand crank.  You can see if the cable moves easily in both directions without the spare in place.  If unloaded motion is smooth and low effort, it is just lifting the weight that you are experiencing.  I use my power drill that I also use for the stabilizers. 

DM159

Having just lowered our 2022 TAB400 spare (for the first time) to do an inspection and then attempted to reinstall the spare, it was not going to happen.  I tried 3 times without success.  The cable is in fine condition, the cable holder looks and acts as expected (well lubricated) while lowering the spare.  Retracting the spare into position was impossible.  There is not any "mechanical advantage", acting on the cable to lift the spare weight.  I used a floor jack to balance the spare into position with the cable in correct orientation and then rewound it.  Spare is safe and secure again.    

Binghi

Sounds like raising the spare tire is a two person job - one on the outside using the hand crank and another underneath helping lift the tire during the cranking process.