RhainyC.....drop the wire all the way down, coat the wire with Ford/Merc Wheel Bearing Grease, and apply some more to the turning rod gears...raise the cable up again, and drop it back down again...install the spare back over the cable, and don't worry about it again.
...All 3 of mine have Everything the factory left us with to fend for ourselves on the side of the road:
1 Lugwrench
1 Spare Tire dropping tool/jack handle
1 (Useless) Jack
1 Pair of Gloves.
Did you guys know they came with gloves?.....They were an off white, cotton/Poly blend with black non-slip 'nubs' on the fingers and palms...well, in 1991, 1992, and 1993 they were...as those are the years of my Explorers..
Ryan