Lube for HR hitch

Submitted: Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 09:41

ThreadID: 51947 Views:4789 Replies:7 FollowUps:3

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Member - Leave_enough_space

We tow a 2.5 ton van using a HR weight distribution hitch. When we picked it up from the van dealer it was clunking and banging. We got some waterproof grease, unhitched and smeared the grease liberally over the towball and the bearing faces for the weight distribution arms.

In general this fixed the banging and clunking, but the problem is that this grease gets everywhere. Each time we hitch up we use disposable gloves to grease everything up.

Each time we unhitch we have to put the greasy end of the arms into plastic bags before we stow them, and the ball has its protective 'helmet' put on before it goes into its own plastic container. We also wear gloves whilst we are doing this, and despite all the precautions we end up with greasy hands, skin, clothes etc.

Is there a better lubricant we can use, or is there a better way of dealing with the whole 'banging and clunking' issue?

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Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 09:52

Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 09:52

Hi L.E.S.

Excuse my ignorance, but I have never heard of any one putting
grease on weight distribution hitch arms, just a slight smear on the
tow ball, and that is it, grease is a dust catcher and it can do the
opposite some times. may be some one can enlighten me.

Cheers
Daza

AnswerID: 273565

Reply By: Member Boroma 604 - Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 10:56

Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 10:56

Gooday,
Dri Lube is a good alternative on the trunions of the WDH .
When you have towed and unhitch, you will see you only need a smear of grease where the coupling bears on the balll so don't put lots on there, it wiillll only end up on your clothes.
Also be aware if you go on gravel, not to have too much grease on WDH as the dust will form abrasive.
We find that usually if we don't unhitch for a couple of days it starts to scream agin , so you may wish to disconnect bars & just wipe existing surplius onto bearing surfaces rather than shove a new lot on every time.
Cheers,
jayway90.

AnswerID: 273578

Reply By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 11:37

Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 11:37

All of our towing is more or less on the black top & we use just a tiny "smidgin" of dry lube on the trunions & ball every three days or so. I wipe all the surfaces clean before re applyng dry lube.

AnswerID: 273588

Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 12:14

Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 12:14

Hi All

I have learnt some thing to day, I will try the dry lube trick on our
set up, every now and again we hear the squeaking noise on the
trunions, especially when we travel on some rough stuff.

Cheers
Daza

FollowupID: 536989

Reply By: Member - Leave_enough_space - Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 12:26

Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 12:26

Hello all!

Many thanks for the feedback - for starters we are obviously using too much!

Secondly, and forgive my ignorance here, but what is 'dry lube'? I've never come across it before!

AnswerID: 273596

Follow Up By: disco driver - Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 14:38

Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 14:38

Hi All,
"Dri Lube" is a lubricating stick a bit like the old wax crayons we had in preschool. It's mainly used in places where contact with clothes, hands etc is common (door locks and striker plates, bonnet and boot catches) It's usually smeared thinly on these surfaces. It is supposedly non staining but is no where as bad as normal grease for stuffing up clothes or hands.

Well worth a try on the WDH.

If it doesn't work, crank the car sound system up a notch or two and you won't hear any thing other than the music.

Disco

FollowupID: 537006

Follow Up By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 16:37

Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 16:37

Its available from places like Auto Pro, Repco, Super cheap Autos etc & maybe hardware shops.

FollowupID: 537011

Reply By: Neil & Pauline - Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 15:26

Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 15:26

HR have a grease specially for using on the hitch and chain. I was advised by HR agent that it is the chain that makes most of the noise and he was right. I don't know what makes the grease do what it does but it will wipe off anything easily and leave it clean. It even cleaned off the old grease first time I used it. Actually it is more a thick oil than grease. best thing since sliced bread. I hate things that creak and groan as I drive.

Nel

AnswerID: 273612

Reply By: DesF - Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 17:30

Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 at 17:30

hi, I have found that by putting about 200mm of 1/2"or 3/4" plastic water pipe over the arms where they rest on the hooks and give the inside a squirt of silicone spray , also where it pivots in the block. it stops the noise etc for weeks , even if it has rained. doesn't collect dirt and is easy to do.
I just put 30mm of the hose on the can and then you can spray inside the tube easy.
I just put a ziptie on the rear end of the arm to stop the pipe slipping off when removing.
Cheers Des.

AnswerID: 273628