Help with Removing Hayman Reece Towball

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:04

ThreadID: 44733 Views:9450 Replies:22 FollowUps:14

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Member - TonyG (Qld)

Hi All,

From the outset I will admit I am an idiot for letting my current problem occur.

But now I have this problem I am hoping for some advice (if possible)

I came back from a trip to Moreton Island, and thought I cleaned everything down thoroughly.

But 2 weeks later, I find out my slide in - slide out hayman reece towball seemed to be stuck in the hayman reece coupling.

I can remove the pin, but not the slide-out coupling

I assume this is from corrosion & sand build up.

I have applied heaps of WD40 but no good.

I can not get behind the coupling to hammer out because the fuel tank is in the way.

I am trying to avoid completely removing the tobar if poosible.

All advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

TonyG

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Reply By: Red Frog - Vic - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:11

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:11

Throw some rope around it, tie it to the fence and plant boot but don't pull the fence down.

AnswerID: 235885

Follow Up By: Leroy - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:15

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:15

I'd use a power pole. They're stong! Used one to pull the front end out on a car years ago. You should of seen how quick the car came to a stop when reversing away lol

Leroy

FollowupID: 497067

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:22

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:22

There was a tread a couple of days ago that had an coupling that fitted around a tow ball and then attached to a snatch strap.

Only Kidding we don't want to upset all those OH and S people do we.

Seriously it could be because the pin has burred the hole on the tongue, so get a lump hammer and sacrifice the tow ball and belt the bleep out of it.

Cheers Steve.

FollowupID: 497070

Reply By: Member - Matt Mu (Perth-WA) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:13

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:13

Tony. try hammering it in...there is usually a slight amount of movement back inwards before it bottoms out.

This from experience has been enough to free up the bar and it pulls out pretty easily.

Goodluck.
Matt.

AnswerID: 235886

Reply By: Pezza (Bris) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:15

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:15

Hi Tony,
Take your tow ball off then put a shackle through the hole and attach a short length of good size chain to the shackle, loop the chain around a tree trunk ( keep the chain level with the tow bar ) and give a couple of soft tugs in low range 1st, should pop straight out.
I'm not going to say if I know this from experience :-))

Cheers
Pezza

AnswerID: 235887

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:15

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:15

Tony,

Have you checked for the anti rattle bolt. It is a small bolt that is located on the underside of the square section where the receiver hitch goes.

Wayne

AnswerID: 235888

Reply By: Dave(NSW) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:15

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:15

Hi TonyG
Try removing tow ball then fit a rated shackle in its place Chain to telegraph pole and slowly drive off. Might need someone able to tap coupling with hammer as you put pressure on it.
Good luck Dave...

GU RULES!!

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AnswerID: 235889

Reply By: Member - Chris D (Newcastle) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:19

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:19

Tony,

Sorry to hear the news, I had the same problem with my H-R hitch. I did everything including sledge hammer, WD40, prayer and chaining it to a tree and driving forward slowly, nothing moved it even one mm!!!.

In the end I took the whole bar off the truck, tuned it upside down and cut a slot along the bottom of the outer channel of the hitch with a cutting disc. This allowed the centre to me removed. Then I welded up the channel and replaced the tounge, suitably cleaned and painted. It was a chore but now it works okay.

Chris

AnswerID: 235890

Follow Up By: Member - Chris D (Newcastle) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:21

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:21

In second para, read that as "turned it upside down"
sorry fat fingers.....

FollowupID: 497069

Reply By: Hairy - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:41

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:41

Remembering your dam close to your fuel tank but if your confident with an oxy and can shield your tank/ plastic bits and wiring etc., heat the outside of the tow bar and get stuck into it while its hot.

Cheers

AnswerID: 235892

Reply By: Member -Signman - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:45

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:45

I know the 'horse has bolted'... but I don't ever have the tongue assembly in the receiver- unless I'm towing..

AnswerID: 235895

Follow Up By: Penguin (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:50

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:50

Me neither - I value my shins too much!

FollowupID: 497075

Follow Up By: Member - Tonester (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 21:44

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 21:44

Having it in is like a bullbar for the rear of the vehicle. Invaluable for touch parking

FollowupID: 497170

Reply By: Member - Matt M (ACT) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:48

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 12:48

Tony,

Hook your trailer up and go for a drive. Sod's Law states that it will be gauranteed to come out.

Matt.

AnswerID: 235897

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 15:05

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 15:05

And with my luck lately, i'll be the one that runs over it. LOL!!! Michael

Patrol 4.2TDi 2003

Retired 2016 and now Out and About!

Somewhere you want to explore ? There is no time like the present.

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FollowupID: 497099

Reply By: Member - Duncs - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 15:19

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 15:19

Patience Tony patience.

A friend had one stuck as you describe. We were on a boys day out and it was getting in the way on one particular hill so it had to come out.

We sprayed it with WD40, pushed, pulled, sprayed, jiggled, bounced, sprayed and bashed it until the sun was nearly set. But it did come out.

We did not have trees, chains or heavy hammers, just a very small ball pein hammer and a shifter.

Patience and persistence.

Duncs

AnswerID: 235917

Reply By: Gramps (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 16:02

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 16:02

As per Matt M above. Hook your trailer up and go for a drive on the closest, roughest road you know of. Check for movement after you've hit the roughest bits a couple of times.

AnswerID: 235923

Follow Up By: robak (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 16:29

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 16:29

I'll second that. Take it for a drive.
It worked for me.

FollowupID: 497110

Reply By: Shaker - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 16:05

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 16:05

Slide hammer?

AnswerID: 235924

Reply By: rolande- Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 17:39

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 17:39

You could try Penetrene, (yellow bottle / red lid), and a lot of patience?

Rolande

AnswerID: 235951

Reply By: Ianw - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 19:06

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 19:06

As mentioned b4, slide hammer is best way, will move anything. Make one with pipe with a weight that slides back to the end and hits a stop welded on to the end of the pipe. Shackle to towbar and away you go. May have to tap fwd and backward a bit.
Ian

AnswerID: 235976

Reply By: On Patrol (Aust.) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 19:34

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 19:34

Mate you,ve got a Nissan
Just leave out the pin and snach a Toymotor with wots left. You kill two birds with one stone, you get the offending bug6er out of the tow bar and with luck you kill a Toymoter with the resulting missile. Viola.
Colin.

AnswerID: 235983

Follow Up By: Member - Matt M (ACT) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 19:55

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 19:55

What do stringed instruments have to do with it?

FollowupID: 497145

Follow Up By: On Patrol (Aust.) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:12

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:12

You philistine.
Thats (Viola) French for Jeeeesus.
Colin.

FollowupID: 497152

Follow Up By: Member -Signman - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:17

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:17

Voila ???

FollowupID: 497153

Follow Up By: On Patrol (Aust.) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:23

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:23

So I cant sepll French!! that makes me a philistine (ignorant, uncultured, and indifferent or hostile to artistic and intellectual achievement)
Colin.

FollowupID: 497154

Reply By: Muddy doe (SA) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:14

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:14

Geez!

After all that good advice..... is it OUT yet???????

Muddy

AnswerID: 235997

Reply By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:16

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:16

Try Inox instead of WD40..... I find it penetrates much better!

AnswerID: 236000

Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:24

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 20:24

Yep, either Innox or Lanotech spray.....much better than any of the other spray oils for something like what you want to do.

FollowupID: 497155

Follow Up By: Muzzgit [WA] - Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 00:32

Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 00:32

I'll vouch for lanotech, but your car will smell like a wet sheep for a week or two!

FollowupID: 497214

Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 04:16

Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 04:16

Just lock it up and keep stray Kiwis away :))))

FollowupID: 497222

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 23:48

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 23:48

Well,

As Wayne mentioned above, the anti-rattle bolt may be holding it in.
Mine is actually located on a corner of the coupling, (Not a HR) but will stop the coupling from sliding as well as rattling.

Failing that, don't fret it, why not just leave the coupling in place:-)

Bill

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AnswerID: 236060

Reply By: Neil & Pauline - Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 09:48

Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 09:48

give it a good wack with a hammer to knock it in. This will loosen any rust etc and then try pulling out. If it is still tight but moving bit then keep tension on and hit with a hammer the receiver tube.

AnswerID: 236121

Reply By: Member - TonyG (Qld) - Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 14:30

Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 14:30

Hi Guy's,

Thanks to all for the advice.

I will try tie to tree as recommended and see how I go on Saturday arvo

I will give all an update after it is finished.

Thanks

TonyG

AnswerID: 236181

Reply By: Bros 1 - Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 22:30

Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 22:30

TonyG,
Spray on "Chemsearch yield " for a few days.
Then slide hammer to move out and sledge to move in.
You might have to work at it for a while before it will move.
I did and eventually it came out.
Cheers,
Bros.