Remove your hitch.
- Thread starter Diamondpilot
- Start date
- Views: 34224
With time available...... Soaking with your favourite metal juice....
or/and
Lots of Heat (OA torches).....
Lots of Pull (took two 4x4 trucks pulling inline (dry pavement) on one hitch at my buddy's shop one time....) ......
Lots of Pounding (sledges).......
and, like Chris said, the hitch can still just go to scrap as a one piece item.....
This problem (up here) can lead to people saying "Oh well", and just pulling with a smaller-stuck-in-place ball.
It's a whole lot simpler/safer/cheaper to just pull the drawbar.....
Rgds, D.
or/and
Lots of Heat (OA torches).....
Lots of Pull (took two 4x4 trucks pulling inline (dry pavement) on one hitch at my buddy's shop one time....) ......
Lots of Pounding (sledges).......
and, like Chris said, the hitch can still just go to scrap as a one piece item.....
This problem (up here) can lead to people saying "Oh well", and just pulling with a smaller-stuck-in-place ball.
It's a whole lot simpler/safer/cheaper to just pull the drawbar.....
Rgds, D.
s219
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2011
- Messages
- 8,607
- Location
- Virginia USA
- Tractor
- Kubota L3200, Deere X380, Kubota RTV-X
That is pretty amazing to see, thanks for posting the pictures. I remove mine when not in use just because I know I will bang a shin or knee sooner or later.
I just change the ball , why buy two drawbars when I only need one , and its there when I need it . I paint it every second year .............
Whatever works, safely, is all that matters. (Just a general statement.... I'm not implying that you are doing anything unsafe by just changing balls Wawa. That said, would I want the average consumer today changing balls on a drawbar - No.).
Pulling different trailers, I need a different rise on the drawbar - for that reason alone I won't tolerate a fused-in-place drawbar.
Rgds, D.
ruffdog
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2011
- Messages
- 12,520
- Location
- America's Dairyland
- Tractor
- Bobcat Toolcat 5610G, Deere X744, Cub Cadet IH 982
I tow a variety of different trailers that require different type inserts so I always pull the insert and keep a light coat of marine grease on everything so no rust forms.
brokenknee
Platinum Member
Not illegal to leave in, in MN; that being said if the hitch or ball obscures your license plate in any way that is illegal. I know an officer that has and will write that citation. Some may just use it for PC to make the stop.
I tried to pull mine out the other day, been in there since last fall. The hitch itself is loose, can move it up and down. The key cylinder on the pin on the other hand has rusted so bad I can't even get the key in it to unlock. Guess I'm gonna have to hacksaw through the pin.
Bigfoot62
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2008
- Messages
- 2,478
- Location
- W. Central Louisiana
- Tractor
- JD 5090M; JD 5085M; JD 5083E; NH TN70A; Ford 2600
Hacksaw may not work. Some of those locking pins are made from hardened steel. Use a grinder to cut one end off.
If you haven't already, try blowing out some of the crud from the cylinder with compressed air, soak with your favourite metal juice, and repeat - for as long as you have patience..... works sometimes..... at least well enough to release the lock once.
Yet another good example of the "fun" we get to have in salt country......
For light duty security (kids w. no tools) I use a pin with a tiny hasp, takes a small padlock, which seems to stand up OK for occasional use. I think it was a Reese part (?).
Good luck, grind safe if it comes to that....
Rgds, D.
My truck is long enough that the weight-distributing drawbar head I use will hang over the borderline of a downtown parking spot. Esp. in one jurisdiction that is notorious for issuing parking tickets (for anything/nothing), I make sure to take that drawbar off, the odd time I'm downtown with the truck.
Rgds, D.
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 52,424
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
guess towing a trailer would obscure your vehicle license plate too eh?
D7E
Veteran Member
- Joined
- May 10, 2006
- Messages
- 2,267
- Location
- manitoba
- Tractor
- Versatile 895 Versatile 876 Ford TW20 Ford TW5 MF 3505 FWA MF 390 FWA Ford 7600 Fiat 766 FWA JD 2030 MF 165 MF 35 Fordson major x 3 CAT 416 b Backhoe Case 580 b backhoe MF
I believe it is illegal here . Tickets for it are common , Saying that ...when i sold my 1999 F150 i had to pull it out with the backhoe
Markcuda
Veteran Member
Here is what I use, indestructible.
If you haven't already, try blowing out some of the crud from the cylinder with compressed air, soak with your favourite metal juice, and repeat - for as long as you have patience..... works sometimes..... at least well enough to release the lock once.
Yet another good example of the "fun" we get to have in salt country......
For light duty security (kids w. no tools) I use a pin with a tiny hasp, takes a small padlock, which seems to stand up OK for occasional use. I think it was a Reese part (?).
Good luck, grind safe if it comes to that....
Rgds, D.
I did try picking some crud out of the lock, it's pretty solid. I may have caused it. I tried packing the mechanism with never seize before putting the pin in and cap back on. That stuff hardened up so bad I might as well have packed it with JB Weld..
I'm thinking if I smack the lock side with a sledge enough I may just shatter the locking cylinder and pull the pin from the other side. Won't hurt to try anyway.
A penetrating oil may do a good job of softening up the NeverSz - easy enough to try.
Rgds, D.
Well, got my pin out. Kinda disappointing though, only took about 30sec. All I did was smack the lock towards the front of the truck with a ball-peen hammer. Spun the pin 180* and hit it again. Took a total of about 4 hits to snap the lock side of the pin right off. Doesn't really reassure me on the security of these things. Needless to say, if someone wants your hitch, they're gonna have it. Only thing these locks do is keep honest people honest.
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 52,424
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
that's all any locks or chains or doors and gates do.. keep honest people honest.. and keeps the opportunists out.
the determined guy with a roll off truck and a bag of tools will take what he wants..
the determined guy with a roll off truck and a bag of tools will take what he wants..
newbury
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2009
- Messages
- 14,850
- Location
- From Vt, in Va, retiring to MS
- Tractor
- Kubota's - B7610, M4700
I've started using a lock on the hitch pin also, but mainly for stopping some joker at a rest area pulling my hitch pin while I'm in the restroom. After further thought it may be better to just carry spare hitch pins and make sure I always check the pin before pulling off.
Here are some similar links:
