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Thread: Check your balls often

  1. 11-25-2005, 07:56 PM #1
    L8 APEX
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    Check your balls often

    I noticed my 2&5/16" ball on my WD hitch was about a 1/4 turn loose today. It had about 4000 heavy miles on it. Even with the lock washer it was able to back off a little over time. I use a 3' pipe wrench to tighten it back up to spec which is over 250ft lbs. I also keep an eye on the hitch platform bolts as well.
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  2. 11-25-2005, 08:02 PM #2
    PoorSvtman
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    They make hitch balls that have a cotter pin that goes in the shank of the ball so if the nut comes loose it wont come competly out. Maybe just drill a hole and get a huge cotter pin instead of buying one.

    I can probly still get them from my work if you want one.
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  3. 11-25-2005, 08:43 PM #3
    Logan
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    I check my balls nightly. For fear that the wife stole em...

    ...Nope...still there. Phew, there's another day...
    Logan
    '03 Mercury Marauder - Again.
    '02 Mercury True Blue Villager
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  4. 11-25-2005, 10:00 PM #4
    L8 APEX
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    I wasn't sure how hard the shank was for drilling. I rarely see the castle nut, cotter pin balls. I think lubing the ball may help it from loosening up. Maybe the coupling is gripping it and turning it? One of my customers that towed his L to Houston FFW had three threads left on his ball nut. It was laid back at a 45' angle and would have definately fallen off shortly.
    Last edited by L8 APEX; 11-25-2005 at 10:03 PM.
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  5. 11-25-2005, 10:49 PM #5
    Moonshine
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    Think I'd rather check my nuts occasionally before I risked weakening the shank by drilling a hole in it.
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  6. 11-25-2005, 10:55 PM #6
    L8 APEX
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    Quote Originally Posted by Moonshine
    Think I'd rather check my nuts occasionally before I risked weakening the shank by drilling a hole in it.
    Anything under the but is not under tension my thinking it beez.
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  7. 11-26-2005, 02:45 AM #7
    PoorSvtman
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    Terry i do recomend putting a dab of grease on the ball. Things just tend to go smoother. I towed some HUGE trailers to the dallas show before and always put a dab of grease on the ball.

    If you want one with a cotter pin let me know ill make a call and see what i can find for you, should be able to get it a tad cheaper than normal.. I dont think having a hole in the shank will weakend it. Its below the ball almost to the end. Just keeps the ball from comming off.
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  8. 11-27-2005, 04:14 AM #8
    dboat
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    Quote Originally Posted by Logan
    I check my balls nightly. For fear that the wife stole em...

    ...Nope...still there. Phew, there's another day...
    yep, me too... still got em..

    I hear that :ron: are soon to be on ebay for sale though..
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  9. 11-28-2005, 01:51 AM #9
    03LightningRocks
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    Quote Originally Posted by dboat
    yep, me too... still got em..

    I hear that :ron: are soon to be on ebay for sale though..
    That would be Elaines decision. They don't belong to him anymore.... .
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  10. 11-28-2005, 02:27 AM #10
    my2002lightning
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    Thumbs up

    Nope! I won't EVER give that up. They aren't in the garage freezer next to last-years' venison back-straps.

    I love Sweetie and Baby.

    Ronald


    Quote Originally Posted by 03LightningRocks
    That would be Elaines decision. They don't belong to him anymore.... .
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