Ball Lube ??

[Mike2593]

Does anyone use lube on the 2 5/16 ball when using a WDH? Mine is showing wear after three trips. Chrome stripped from top of ball.

I have some Reese lube now but think it may lead to more of a problem/mess

[rhagfo]

I always used lube (bearing grease) when pulling a TT, had a cap for the ball when not in use.
I have a Teflon plate for my 5er, but still use a little grease on the king pin where it contacts the hitch jaws.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

I found that a small amount of White Lithum grease (spray can), worked find when I had my TT. Actually helps improve your electrical ground between the TV & TT

hankaye

[Jorme]

Originally Posted by Mike2593

Does anyone use lube on the 2 5/16 ball when using a WDH? Mine is showing wear after three trips. Chrome stripped from top of ball.

I have some Reese lube now but think it may lead to more of a problem/mess

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whenever you have metal on metal use some sort of grease. I either use white lith or wheel bearing grease. You will destroy your hitch setup if you dont!

[f6bits]

I use bearing grease. It helps keep the noise down, too.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by hankaye

Howdy All;

I found that a small amount of White Lithum grease (spray can), worked find when I had my TT. Actually helps improve your electrical ground between the TV & TT

hankaye

You should NOT be depending on the hitch for a TV ground, This should be a solid wired connection through the electrical connection!

[SteveC7010]

Originally Posted by hankaye

I found that a small amount of White Lithum grease (spray can), worked find when I had my TT.

I liked white lithium grease when we had the TT as well. I bought a small tube of it and it lasted quite a few years.

But, any decent grease is fine on the ball.

Note that on the Reese ball platforms, there is a small hole on each side of the ball right above where the upper pin of the weight arms sits. Reese recommends a few drops of oil in there, and also where the bottom pin rests in the ball platform. If those contact points are left dry, they will wear over time.

[SAABDOCTOR]

TO Rhagfo You never rented a trailer from U-Haul they do depend on the ball to hitch for ground the u haul flat 4 conecter is left/right tail /tail go figure! but before i get munched on yes normal trailer wires should have a good ground in the plug and lube the hitch!!!!!

[Jay D]

right about the ball being the ground on some trailers (landscape,utility). Lucas oil makes a good lube for the ball/5 wheel.

[EcoboostKev]

Originally Posted by Jorme

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whenever you have metal on metal use some sort of grease. I either use white lith or wheel bearing grease. You will destroy your hitch setup if you dont!

Someone should have told my surgeon this when he gave me two metal on metal hip replacements!!!!!! I now have to have them both replaced due to metal particles and debris getting into my blood stream from wear! A little white lithium would have done the trick!

[Jorme]

Originally Posted by EcoboostKev

Someone should have told my surgeon this when he gave me two metal on metal hip replacements!!!!!! I now have to have them both replaced due to metal particles and debris getting into my blood stream from wear! A little white lithium would have done the trick!

Now thats funny!


The white lith to help part,,,,,not the fact that you need them both replaced again cause of wear and debris in the blood. That's definitely not good for you!

[golfpro]

if you are not into putting grease or some lube on the ball because of the mess it makes, then use wax paper, but use something

[hankaye]

rhagfo, Howdy;

Originally Posted by rhagfo

You should NOT be depending on the hitch for a TV ground, This should be a solid wired connection through the electrical connection!

I said it HELPS with grounding one to the other, not that it is or should be the only ground.

hankaye

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by hankaye

rhagfo, Howdy;



I said it HELPS with grounding one to the other, not that it is or should be the only ground.

hankaye

Sorry, read as the grease helped the grounding through the hitch.

That said i have never depended on a hitch for a ground, many do! Even when renting a U-Haul I have a solid ground.

[hankaye]

rhagfo, Howdy;

Fair enough .......

hankaye

[bartletts]

I use white lithium in a spray can too. You also need to grease the pivot points of a WDH and if you use a friction sway control you need to grease its pivot points (but not the bar itself). It's also handy for greasing the stabilizer jack screws, door hinges, and your tongue jack.

[Mike2593]

I just dropped the trailer off at the dealer for warranty repairs and thought I would grease my ball and bars this time.

What a difference it made in sound. now it is quiet when I turn corners. Before there was a creaking sound everytime i turned, especially slow turns though the campground.

Now I will grease my bars and ball before every use.

I have a new ball so I was going to change it since it does have wear on the top. But just the chrome plating.

It tried to replace it myself with 3/4 drive sockets but ball is on there tight. The torque is supposed to be 450 ft/lbs. There is a local trailer shop that charges to replace the ball so I may takr there.

What does everyone thing about replacing the ball or just leave it with a little wear.

[gepaine]

I have greased my hitch ball since it was new, and I still got wear similar to what you described. So I would expect that your new ball will also wear somewhat even if you grease it. So maybe just stay with the old ball and start greasing it. Keep the new one as a spare.

[Mike2593]

That sounds like a plan. The trailer shop wants about $25 to replace it. I will just wait a year and see the wear is then.

[bartletts]

The grease is to protect the coupler more than the ball- you want the ball to be able to wear out sooner than the coupler, which is welded on.