Torquing hitch ball - how critical?

[JohninCT]

This linkin an earlier post shows a cotter pin at the bottom of the ball stud to keep the nun from completely unscrewing. That looks like something anybody could do.

That's a great idea! Just about everybody can drill a small hole to install a cotter pin,

 

[JohninCT]

This linkin an earlier post shows a cotter pin at the bottom of the ball stud to keep the nun from completely unscrewing. That looks like something anybody could do.

That's a great idea! Just about everybody can drill a small hole to install a cotter pin,

 

[Redbug]

That's a great idea! Just about everybody can drill a small hole to install a cotter pin,

That's what I do, too. I use my drill press to drill the hole.

 

[oosik]

HUH. I use BLUE locktite and pull on the cheater bar till stars appear. Never had a ball come loose. That includes our "coming out of Alaska" adventure also.

 

[slowzuki]

I have the opposite problem up here, due to the salt they generally won't come off ever. Pretty much have to buy a new ball mount to change sizes as removing the nuts removes all the threads. Even anti-seize is no match for the salt.

 

[oldyellr]

There's no need to keep the towbar and ball in the receiver year 'round, only when towing.

 

[compact]

Torque to 150 ft lbs with 1/2" torque wrench and then add another 1/4 turn with the 42" breaker bar should give 450-500 ft lbs.

 

[sld]

Using a castellated nut along with a cotter pin thru the shank would guarantee the nut would never come off.

But, like others, I tighten as tight as I can and have never had a problem.

 

[slowzuki]

If you're talking to me, we don't leave the ball mount in. If you leave it in for a winter here it doesn't come out again without torching it out. I'm just talking one trip in the salty time of year.

My brother in law thought he was smart and greased the shank all up and thought it would be fine for the winter lol. I asked to borrow the ball mount a couple of months into winter. We tried heating it and using a 10 lb slide hammer / sledge in alternating turns. Nope.

There's no need to keep the towbar and ball in the receiver year 'round, only when towing.

 

[3930dave]

If you're talking to me, we don't leave the ball mount in. If you leave it in for a winter here it doesn't come out again without torching it out. I'm just talking one trip in the salty time of year.

My brother in law thought he was smart and greased the shank all up and thought it would be fine for the winter lol. I asked to borrow the ball mount a couple of months into winter. We tried heating it and using a 10 lb slide hammer / sledge in alternating turns. Nope.

Yeah.... people who've never been "blessed" with living in the salt-belt might find it hard to believe.

I've seen 3 trucks chained together (2 as anchors), torches going full blast, and the biggest guy in the shop pounding away with their biggest sledge to get a drawbar to move. Yes, that's with the problem truck pulling in 4wd on dry pavement.

Reminds me.... I gotta move !

Rgds, D.