DO35 Hitch sticking
Submitted: Thursday, Nov 03, 2016 at 15:46
ThreadID:
133711
Views:
10602
Replies:
3
FollowUps:
6
This Thread has been Archived
Member - Gary R M (VIC)
Hi all. Has anyone had any problems with the spring loaded locating plate in the DO 35 hitch sticking in both the open and closed positions when attached to the tow vehicle?
Many thanks, Gary M.
Reply By: Member - Andrew & Jen - Thursday, Nov 03, 2016 at 16:11
Thursday, Nov 03, 2016 at 16:11
Gary
Have you got the Mk 1 or Mk 2 version?
If the former, the answer is yes; if the latter no.
The Mk1 was fine until it was "bumped" with the towbar when reversing (5T meets 3.5T :-) ). It has fairly fine tolerances and even a slight bend with make it hard to move the slider. It would still work but just needed gentle (and I mean gentle) tapping with a hammer.
Cheers
Andrew
AnswerID:
605649
Follow Up By: Member - Gary R M (VIC) - Thursday, Nov 03, 2016 at 16:59
Thursday, Nov 03, 2016 at 16:59
Many thanks I think it is an earlier version and plead guilty to bumping it. Am currently addressing this issue with a few gentle taps with a medium size shifter.
FollowupID:
875402
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew & Jen - Thursday, Nov 03, 2016 at 18:19
Thursday, Nov 03, 2016 at 18:19
I did that (the hammer treatment) for a year or so with only a little inconvenience.
However, I was up at BTI having a ATM upgrade to 3500kg earlier in the year and decided that, given the hitch had done quite a bit of work over 14 years, it might be prudent to replace it with the Mk2.
I must say it is much easier to use
Cheers
Andrew
FollowupID:
875407
Follow Up By: Member - Keith P (NSW) - Thursday, Nov 03, 2016 at 20:35
Thursday, Nov 03, 2016 at 20:35
Ihave had this problem with the early version and here is my fix.....
First...spray the beejesus out of the section with brake cleaner till it clean.
And then get down
to eye level and
check to make sure the two sandwich plates are are equal distance apart.....if not ..lever them apart with a cold chisel or large scew driver....but only just is enough
Then lubricate the mating parts of pin and hitch with a wax stick.
Worked for me...and am abit extra carefull when hitching up now.
HTH
Cheers Keith
FollowupID:
875409
Follow Up By: Sigmund - Saturday, Nov 05, 2016 at 11:08
Saturday, Nov 05, 2016 at 11:08
I'm a fan of a dry lube spray rather than the stick - much less inclined to hold any dust.
FollowupID:
875436
Follow Up By: Member - Young Nomads - Saturday, Nov 12, 2016 at 19:46
Saturday, Nov 12, 2016 at 19:46
Like you Sigmund...we only use graphite spray on our hitch & pin...We also ..every couple of days..just open the slide and wind up the jockey wheel momentarily, give it a quick clean and re-apply the graphite spray... to keep it from binding up with dust and road grots..then wind it back down and re-lock it onto the hitch pin..works for us..
FollowupID:
875656