Receiver hitch sticking

[John_Mc]

Anyone have any good magic tricks for fixing a sticky 2" receiver hitch?

When I put an insert in the receiver, it slides almost all the way in, then sticks. I can just see the edges of the insert's hole starting to appear when I look through the pin hole receiver. I've scraped, spayed with various penetrating oils and lubricants, scraped some more, but it still sticks at that smae point (even when I try any of 3 different inserts I have at hand).

 

[Seven Gables]

A good sharp flat ******* file used on the inside of the receivers 4 sides or the sides that need it. B

 

[CADplans]

90% chance that it is rust,,,

The only answer is to take a 4 1/2" angle grinder to the insert,,
keep grinding, until it goes in and out easily,,

OR,,,

find a favorite tree to attach a chain to,, and jerk the insert out of the truck,,

Once it starts rusting, the smaller insert is really the only answer,, it will rust again,,

 

[John_Mc]

90% chance that it is rust,,,

The only answer is to take a 4 1/2" angle grinder to the insert,,
keep grinding, until it goes in and out easily,,

OR,,,

find a favorite tree to attach a chain to,, and jerk the insert out of the truck,,

Once it starts rusting, the smaller insert is really the only answer,, it will rust again,,

I was really hoping it would not come to that. I've got 3 inserts I use regularly, and another that gets used occasionally. They get used on 3 different vehicles. I really didn't want to grind all of them down.

 

[John_Mc]

A good sharp flat ******* file used on the inside of the receivers 4 sides or the sides that need it. B

I did a little of that, but I need a longer (and sharper) file to do it right. I'm guessing that painting it when I'm done is probably a waste of time. I can't imagine the paint would hold up for long.

 

[countrybumpkin]

If all the inserts stop about the same location and fit fine in your other vehicle receivers then you don’t want to grind on them, that’s not the problem. The problem is on the inside of the receiver they will not go into, most likely rust, dirt, rocks, mud or a combination those are the problem. You need to clean out the inside of the receiver, as stated above a good file and work all four sides of the receiver from the front all the way to the back, you may even wash it out with a pressure washer then use the file. Once you have it sliding in and out freely take some paint or even primer and spray the inside to help keep from rusting.

 

[LouNY]

I was really hoping it would not come to that. I've got 3 inserts I use regularly, and another that gets used occasionally. They get used on 3 different vehicles. I really didn't want to grind all of them down.

Have you used this receiver before with your inserts?
The UTV I just got has a 2" receiver but my inserts wouldn't fit,
they stopped inserting about half a hole from lining up.
The inserts depth was just a bit shallow when putting the inserts in as a rise,
when used as a drop it fit good.
I ended up grinding about a quarter inch off the long side of the tapered end of the insert.

 

[LittleBill21]

get a pressure washer pin hole design and spray it, it generally works, after that spray the inside down with fluid film. i had the same issue.

 

[Tomtint]

I have a couple of them that have done that from time to time. I end up cleaning them down with a wire brush, a quick shot of paint and a light coating of grease. Lasts for quite a while.

 

[John_Mc]

Have you used this receiver before with your inserts?
The UTV I just got has a 2" receiver but my inserts wouldn't fit,
they stopped inserting about half a hole from lining up.
The inserts depth was just a bit shallow when putting the inserts in as a rise,
when used as a drop it fit good.
I ended up grinding about a quarter inch off the long side of the tapered end of the insert.

Yes, I've used these inserts in this receiver before. They used to all fit, now none of them do. At first, just cleaning out the mud/dirt worked (I live on a dirt road, and do a lot of of driving on dirt roads). Cleaning isn't cutting it anymore. The truck was bought used with 140,000 miles on it. I suspect the age is catching up to the receiver.

 

[John_Mc]

If all the inserts stop about the same location and fit fine in your other vehicle receivers then you don’t want to grind on them, that’s not the problem. The problem is on the inside of the receiver they will not go into, most likely rust, dirt, rocks, mud or a combination those are the problem. You need to clean out the inside of the receiver, as stated above a good file and work all four sides of the receiver from the front all the way to the back, you may even wash it out with a pressure washer then use the file. Once you have it sliding in and out freely take some paint or even primer and spray the inside to help keep from rusting.

Yes, they all stop at the same location. What you describe is my plan now, I just have to get a better file. I debated bringing it to a friend with a sandblaster. However, I'm not sure if he can get a good angle on it to blast it clean.

The odd thing is that the open end of the receiver has a lot of extra space around the insert. There is a fair amount of wobble until I get the insert all the way in. It makes me wonder if the hitch was abused somewhere in the past.

 

[Reb954]

It sounds like you have a spot or area that has a build up of rust or debris. Take a long scrapper or even the square end of a file and scrape out all four sides inside the receiver. I bet that is all you need.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Well I wondered about the receiver being damaged, have you had this vehicle long and have your inserts worked fine before now in it?

 

[crashz]

Trucks in the NE rust so fast it can be a week to week thing. If the truck is in good shape and you want to keep it for a while longer, I'd replace the hitch. They aren't much money and more than likely if the receiver tube is rusted badly, so is the cross tube. I've seen quite a few factory hitches around here that are totally disintegrated, sometime with the insert still stuck in place.

BTW the fluid film will keep the rust at bay.

 

[John_Mc]

It sounds like you have a spot or area that has a build up of rust or debris. Take a long scrapper or even the square end of a file and scrape out all four sides inside the receiver. I bet that is all you need.

That's what I started with (the square end of a file, used as a scraper). It helped a little, but still very sticky for that last 3/4" that it takes to get the holes to line up.

 

[John_Mc]

Had the vehicle for a little over a year. All of the inserts worked fine up until a month or so ago. I don't remember doing anything to tweak it, and until today, my towing has been rather light (1500 - 2000#). I am wondering if I damaged it somehow. All of the loose crud (rust, dirt) is out of there.

I do have some customized "shorty" inserts that I use on the receiver hitch on my tractor's logging winch and on an antique ATV. I try not to use them in my truck, but did use one once. I wonder if the short insert tweaked it somehow. I can't see anything visually wrong with it, however.

 

[PILOON]

I used to have that rust problem 'til I slopped axle grease in the receiver tube.
OK, the grease is a dust magnet but it is easy to clean out.

LOL, downside is gloves are required to change hitches, but worth it.

 

[zing]

Yes, they all stop at the same location. What you describe is my plan now, I just have to get a better file. I debated bringing it to a friend with a sandblaster. However, I'm not sure if he can get a good angle on it to blast it clean.

The odd thing is that the open end of the receiver has a lot of extra space around the insert. There is a fair amount of wobble until I get the insert all the way in. It makes me wonder if the hitch was abused somewhere in the past.

I wonder if you could get in there with a dremel tool taped to a stick? Sounds like it is pretty far in for a flat file and tough to get at with any leverage on the file end inside. Put a grinding wheel on the end of your dremel and grind away any obstruction at the point where the receiver will no longer slide in. might need a flashlight for light to see by. Then rust paint as previous posters have said.

Don't forget to wear eye protection.

Good luck.

 

[tookielee]

Take the hitch off so you can access the back side? Or is it not open all the way thru?

 

[lucky llama]

I had a similar problem. Turned out the pin had caused a slight burr inside the main receiver right next to the pin hole. I user the side of a long file to remove the burr. No more problems now.