Torque Specs

[Gobirds38]

What does the receiver ball need to be torqued to?
I have a Blue Ox Pro hitch. BXW0750
750 lbs. maximum tongue weight capacity
I found the specs for the bolts. ( Torque the 3/4”-10 bolts to 257 ft/lbs.)

[Northofu1]

If it's the 1 1/4" shank it's 450 ft lbs

[Gobirds38]

If it's the 1 1/4" shank it's 450 ft lbs

WOW and I was worried about 257 ft/lbs.
How do I get it to 450 ft/lbs?

[chuckster57]

WOW and I was worried about 257 ft/lbs.
How do I get it to 450 ft/lbs?

I use a pneumatic impact gun. 1/2” drive label says it can develop 700+ ft/lbs. I just hold the trigger until the socket quits turning.

[QCMan]

Or maybe the old school way if you do not have power tools. 1/2" or 3/4" breaker bar with a stout pipe over it. Divide 450 by your weight and that is how many feet out on the pipe you need to sit. Bounce up and down a few times and you have the torque. Works best if you put the hitch in the receiver sideways.

[travelin texans]

WOW and I was worried about 257 ft/lbs.
How do I get it to 450 ft/lbs?

Never have I torqued a hitch ball & never lost one yet. Always used a breaker bar with a cheater pipe (or as we had to call it at work for safety reasons, torque extension) to get it as tight as possible.
Up until the last few years I didn't torque the lug nuts, didn't have a torque wrench, on any vehicle or trailer, used the arm strong method, never lost a wheel either.
Nowadays everything that gets tightened someone wants to know the torque specs. Someone posted the torque for the castle nut on the spindle when packing bearings, never knew it had to be torqued & again never had an issue by not doing so.

[travelin texans]

WOW and I was worried about 257 ft/lbs.
How do I get it to 450 ft/lbs?

Never have I torqued a hitch ball & never lost one yet. Always used a breaker bar or pipe wrench with a cheater pipe (or as we had to call it at work for safety reasons, torque extension) placed sideways in the receiver, placed my size 11 down as hard as I can to get it as tight as possible.
Up until the last 10-15 years I didn't torque the lug nuts, didn't have a torque wrench, on any vehicle or trailer, used the arm strong method, never lost a wheel either.
Nowadays everything that gets tightened someone wants to know the torque specs. Someone posted the torque for the castle nut on the spindle when packing bearings, never knew it had to be torqued & again never had an issue by not doing so.
Long story to say, I don't know what that torque should be, but as tight as you can possibly get it is probably good.

[flybouy]

Never have I torqued a hitch ball & never lost one yet. Always used a breaker bar or pipe wrench with a cheater pipe (or as we had to call it at work for safety reasons, torque extension) placed sideways in the receiver, placed my size 11 down as hard as I can to get it as tight as possible.
Up until the last 10-15 years I didn't torque the lug nuts, didn't have a torque wrench, on any vehicle or trailer, used the arm strong method, never lost a wheel either.
Nowadays everything that gets tightened someone wants to know the torque specs. Someone posted the torque for the castle nut on the spindle when packing bearings, never knew it had to be torqued & again never had an issue by not doing so.
Long story to say, I don't know what that torque should be, but as tight as you can possibly get it is probably good.

You mean "snug it up tight tight then back off a 1/4 turn" isn't a torque spec?

[travelin texans]

You mean "snug it up tight tight then back off a 1/4 turn" isn't a torque spec?

It is if I'm doing it!!!

[MarkEHansen]

I try to follow torque specs. I purchased a torque wrench which can handle the 450 needed by my hitch. If you want to torque it properly but don't have a wrench, you can probably hit a trailer shop and see if they will do it.

Note, however, that most shops probably will just do it the way the others here are mentioning. You may have to ask if they have a capable torque wrench and if they would use it if you ask them to :)

[flybouy]

I try to follow torque specs. I purchased a torque wrench which can handle the 450 needed by my hitch. If you want to torque it properly but don't have a wrench, you can probably hit a trailer shop and see if they will do it.

Note, however, that most shops probably will just do it the way the others here are mentioning. You may have to ask if they have a capable torque wrench and if they would use it if you ask them to :)

That's quite an expensive investment for a tool that might be used once, twice, in a typical lifetime? Unless an RV shop is working on large diesel pushers I doubt anyone in the shop will have a torque wrench with that high a rating. Just my guess, but I'll bet they do what I have done, crank up the pneumatic impact gun and lean on it. :whistling:

[travelin texans]

At that kind of torque you'll never get loose if the need ever arises without torque extension.

[MarkEHansen]

My wrench will take it off :)

[travelin texans]

My wrench will take it off :)

There's a great job opportunity, installing, torquing & removing hitch balls, must furnish your own balls!

[Northofu1]

LMAO :lol: :lol:

[notanlines]

If I said "I suppose that business would take off" I'd get boo'd out of here, so I wont.

[gearhead]

As my Dad would say...tighter than a bear dogs arse.

A 3/4" drive torque wrench from Harbor Freight isn't that expensive. I've got one and used it twice...trailer balls.

[chuckster57]

As my Dad would say...tighter than a bear dogs arse.

A 3/4" drive torque wrench from Harbor Freight isn't that expensive. I've got one and used it twice...trailer balls.

I have one also, but if memory is engaged it only goes to 250 ft/lbs. I use it for Honda crankshaft pulley bolts when I do timing belt/water pumps.

[flybouy]

As my Dad would say...tighter than a bear dogs arse.

A 3/4" drive torque wrench from Harbor Freight isn't that expensive. I've got one and used it twice...trailer balls.

Haven't seen on at HF that would handle 450 ft. Lbs. The one's I've seen on line were about $275 and up.

[MarkEHansen]

Yeah, mine goes to 600 ft. lbs and cost about $280. It's a beast!

[Northofu1]

Yeah, mine goes to 600 ft. lbs and cost about $280. It's a beast!

Sounds like a "ball" breaker :whistling:

[Gobirds38]

Anybody know what size the nut is for the ball size 2 5/16?
The largest I have is 1 1/2 inch and the nut laughed at it...

[MarkEHansen]

On my hitch head (with the same size ball), the nut is 1 7/8". You'll need pretty good torque wrench to pull that too - I think it's 450 ft. lb. Best to take it to a shop and have them torque it for you.

[Salty25]

I try to follow torque specs. I purchased a torque wrench which can handle the 450 needed by my hitch. If you want to torque it properly but don't have a wrench, you can probably hit a trailer shop and see if they will do it.

Note, however, that most shops probably will just do it the way the others here are mentioning. You may have to ask if they have a capable torque wrench and if they would use it if you ask them to :)

When I had to redo my hitch I just stopped by a local shop and they torqued it for me for free. Just ask nice if they can do it for ya.

[gearhead]

I have one also, but if memory is engaged it only goes to 250 ft/lbs. I use it for Honda crankshaft pulley bolts when I do timing belt/water pumps.
I'm thinking that is what mine is. I need to shop for a torque multiplier.

[MarkEHansen]

Or, just come over to the dark side: https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200627236_200627236 :)

[chuckster57]

Ok. Before I get to drunk to walk, I went out to the garage. Looks like 50-300 on the HF 3/4” drive

[gearhead]

Or as old Merle (aka: Buffalo Butt) at work once said when asked how he was going to torque a nut to 200# with a 100# torque wrench: I'll just click it twice.

[sourdough]

Or as old Merle (aka: Buffalo Butt) at work once said when asked how he was going to torque a nut to 200# with a 100# torque wrench: I'll just click it twice.


Sometimes we miss the "Old Merles" don't we? Sometimes those folks can cut right through an issue and get right to the simple answer....:D