Problems with trailer hitch working

Oldfart9999 · February 20, 2017, 08:25:48 AM

I'm not talking about a hitch being hard to use because of rust. Yep, rust, we can't see up where the ball attaches to the hitch and rust can build up in there making it hard to close or open the hitch, there is an easy cure. Each time you check your lights or tires, you should be doing this regularly, take a spray grease, not WD-40, a grease and spray it up in there, it keeps it lubed and eliminates the

that sometimes appears out of nowhere when the stupid thing delays our trip to the water.
Rodney

Mike Cork · February 20, 2017, 08:36:24 AM

My father puts regular ole grease on everything but it causes jeans with grease marks all over the shins from transfer.

I have some lithium spray grease, wonder if it would be effective?

analfisherman · February 20, 2017, 08:48:09 AM

Mike, give a can of Silicone Spray a shot.
It's cheap, not messy, lubes and protects from rust and easy to apply, can pick up at any hardware store...I give the trailer ball a shot too.....and if you forgot to treat your line on the fishing reel.........give it a spray with the Silicone.

Mike Cork · February 20, 2017, 08:57:46 AM

I've got that too, I'll give it a shot.

Oldfart9999 · February 21, 2017, 07:33:17 AM

Quote from: Mike Cork on February 20, 2017, 08:36:24 AM
My father puts regular ole grease on everything but it causes jeans with grease marks all over the shins from transfer.

I have some lithium spray grease, wonder if it would be effective?

Will work well, I use what I can find now because I haven't been able to find Lithium, I do wipe it up with paper towels, hate greasy jeans and shins.

Rodney

Donald Garner · February 21, 2017, 09:55:28 AM

Tks for sharing the tip.

Thornback · February 22, 2017, 08:05:25 AM

Thanks for the tip. I never thought about spraying lubrication into the cup of the hitch but it makes sense. I do from time to time clean off my hitch ball with paper towels and WD-40 and then put a thin layer of grease on it.

Polaris425 · February 22, 2017, 08:08:42 AM

Quote from: Mike Cork on February 20, 2017, 08:36:24 AM

I have some lithium spray grease, wonder if it would be effective?

That's what I use. White lithium spray. But some brands (like wrench or whatever it is) make a big mess. I can't remember what brand I had that I liked but I think it was Autozone's brand. It went on more like a liquid spray but then dried to a thick white grease, instead of like the wrench brand it just comes out 100 miles an hour thick white goop.

I spray it on everything. Hitch, Hinges on the trailer tongue, garage door hinges and wheels, etc...

ohio archer · February 25, 2017, 08:09:53 AM

Don't neglect to look at the main frame. My hitch had been on my truck since it was built ('03 GMC Sierra). Went in to have the hitch changed due to buying a new boat. Mechanic put his foot on the upper side to get some leverage and a whole 10" section broke off. The tabs were rusted thru as well. Just couldn't tell by looking at it. Not sure how the thing was towing a boat. Glad it didn't break on the road.

Nutt · February 27, 2017, 10:12:40 AM

I clean and lube my ball and hitch pretty often with silicone spray that I get from work. I was just wondering the other day about how many years everyone gets out of their ball. Thinking about changing mine out to a new one.

big g · May 24, 2017, 05:31:13 PM

Quote from: analfisherman on February 20, 2017, 08:48:09 AM
Mike, give a can of Silicone Spray a shot.
It's cheap, not messy, lubes and protects from rust and easy to apply, can pick up at any hardware store...I give the trailer ball a shot too.....and if you forgot to treat your line on the fishing reel.........give it a spray with the Silicone.

I too spray my line with Silicone spray. Works great, and a lot cheaper then commercial line spray.