Deen
Vancouver, WA
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Joined: 12/07/2000
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My father always greased the hitch ball and arm pivot points. I always greased the hitch ball and pivot points. Never had any troubles. But it's been 20 years since we had a TT and the hitch manufacturer recommended it back then. What do they say now?
Deen - Vancouver, WA
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jplunkett
Virginia
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Joined: 04/04/2008
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White lithium grease here -- applied to ball enough to transfer to the inside of the coupler. I've used this for years with all the trailers I've pulled.
safe travels,
John & Elizabeth Plunkett
Louisa, Virginia
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Old Blue
New York USA
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Joined: 11/07/2003
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Been working on all types of rv since 1961 and we always grease the hitch ball with something....so they get dirty..and messy..so what..just clean them off and add more grease..won't hurt a thing
Bill
Bill
36 Holiday Rambler
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rolnrolnroln
WA
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Joined: 02/15/2004
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Do I know anyone who had a problem from not greasing? Sure, me. I bought my HRC new and listened to my father who never lubed. (It worked for him because he never kept a TT very long.) I had always lubed, but decided to try the "no lube thing." The ball has some wonderful gouges in it and I have an appt. with a mobile certified welder to cut off and replace the coupler. It got worn enough to get sloppy. No repair possible. Needless to say, I will be a luber from now on. I could have bought a lot of pants for what this repair is costing. How long? From 1996 to now.
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seniormutt
terra linda CA
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Joined: 10/27/2005
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Did you ever hear of a worn out ball or coupler? Squeeks? never. I don't think so. I & mate have ruined a lot of pants from greasy black knees. Keep the ball clean if you can-It'll last a lifetime.
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bondebond
Central Kansas
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Joined: 07/16/2008
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seniormutt wrote:Did you ever hear of a worn out ball or coupler? Squeeks? never. I don't think so. I & mate have ruined a lot of pants from greasy black knees. Keep the ball clean if you can-It'll last a lifetime.
Here's your answer: I had to replace the ball that I bought earlier this year because I pulled a 2,200 mile trip with it dry. The ball is severely pitted, especially the side facing the TV's bumper, as this is where the majority of the weight ground into the ball. I wish I had taken pictures of the ball to show to others just how bad it can be (and I was only pulling a PUP - over mountains and all, sure, but still...)
The coupler appears to not have suffered as much, so I will not replace it yet but keep an eye on it for further wear.
I now use white lithium grease and put a ball cover to keep my clothes nice and clean.
I'm not taking any more chances, especially if it can be solves by $4 worth of supplies.
Myself, The Boss, and two wanna-be Bosses
2006 Jayco 1007
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mobeewan
Hampton, Va
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Joined: 01/03/2007
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I prefere my balls clean and dry. I have 4 trailers and I never grease my balls. Never had any problem. I loaned my utility trailer to a friend. He greased the ball after I told him it didn't need it. He hit a bad bump on the interstate and the trailer popped off the ball and almost ground away the safety chain before he got it stopped. He was hauling his new Harley. IMO it was because the ball was greasy and the latch didn't hold because it was greasy. I have had the trailer several years now and hit bad bumps before that and never had the coupler pop off the ball. After I got it back and used it I got my pants greasy because the coupler was greasy. I also busted my ass and shin the next two times I stepped out of the back of the truck and stepped on the greasy ball because the coupler was greasy.
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Keith99RS
Suffield, CT
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Joined: 11/14/2005
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seniormutt wrote:Did you ever hear of a worn out ball or coupler? Squeeks? never. I don't think so. I & mate have ruined a lot of pants from greasy black knees. Keep the ball clean if you can-It'll last a lifetime.
Read the post made about 20 minute before yours and then read the post below the one I quoted.
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Keith99RS
Suffield, CT
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mobeewan wrote:I prefere my balls clean and dry. I have 4 trailers and I never grease my balls. Never had any problem. I loaned my utility trailer to a friend. He greased the ball after I told him it didn't need it. He hit a bad bump on the interstate and the trailer popped off the ball and almost ground away the safety chain before he got it stopped. He was hauling his new Harley. IMO it was because the ball was greasy and the latch didn't hold because it was greasy. I have had the trailer several years now and hit bad bumps before that and never had the coupler pop off the ball. After I got it back and used it I got my pants greasy because the coupler was greasy. I also busted my ass and shin the next two times I stepped out of the back of the truck and stepped on the greasy ball because the coupler was greasy.
Are you for real?? The coupler "popped" off your friends ball due to 1 of about 3 reasons. None being because he greased it.
Reason 1: He did not latch or pin the lock and thus never locked it down on the ball properly.
Reason 2: He had the wrong sized ball, too small.
Reason 3: Your coupler is not working properly.
The coupler has a beveled and concave shaped wedge that locks under the ball when the handle is locked down. If anything your lack of greasing wore the coupler out of limits and it was a problem waiting to happen. It just happened to your friend and not you.
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soren
north eastern,Pa.
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Joined: 05/12/2002
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seniormutt wrote:Did you ever hear of a worn out ball or coupler? Squeeks? never. I don't think so. I & mate have ruined a lot of pants from greasy black knees. Keep the ball clean if you can-It'll last a lifetime. Given the fact that there is plenty of visible evidence of spalling (a term used when a metal to metal contact causes one surface to be damaged by a scaling or peeling action) and several posters here who describe the need to replace both balls and hitch couplers, I haven't got a clue where you have decide that no damage is possible. I have a well used dual cam that is missing almost half the steel thickness in the saddle areas from the dry metal to metal contact. This is a deliberate and correct wear action on a deliberately unlubricated friction point. Metal wear is not hard to comprehend. keeping grease off yourself with a ball cover isn't rocket science either. Do whatever blows your skirt up there, but don't advocate silliness like avoiding manufacturers instructions, and good preventive maintainence practice, because you can not seem to avoid getting dirty clothes. When I was a young lad, my mom used to get reports that I would arrive at the elementary school covered in dirt. After a little review of the issues and a promise to stop walking through the creek and every puddle I found, the issue was resolved. Is there a lesson here?
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