Forum Discussion

tonystx's avatar
tonystx
Explorer
Nov 04, 2013

Superglide Hitch

Hello. I just purchased an used superglide 3300 hitch. Looks like someone used white grease inside the hitch head. The locking jaw and gears are covered in it. Should I take it apart and clean all of it off? I only paid $400 for the hitch and frame brackets so a little elbow grease is worth the savings. The jaw mechanism works fine. I tripped it with a screwdriver.
  • Newer Superglides use wearable plastic shims and slip plate is no longer needed. Just WD40 on all moving parts including rails. Prior to that slip plate was used and before that white grease. Pullrites recommended lube thus depends on when your hitch was manufactured.
  • tonystx wrote:
    Hello. I just purchased an used superglide 3300 hitch. Looks like someone used white grease inside the hitch head. The locking jaw and gears are covered in it. Should I take it apart and clean all of it off? I only paid $400 for the hitch and frame brackets so a little elbow grease is worth the savings. The jaw mechanism works fine. I tripped it with a screwdriver.


    Disassembling is a good idea for cleaning and checking for wear.
    Don't forget to re-torque bolts when re-assembling.

    White Lithium grease was never intended to be used in the head.
    Only for the way tubes.
    The head and locking mechanism should be lubricated with WD-40.

    The 'upgrade' for the way tubes is/was SlipPlate - however, either one is fine.
    (SlipPlate is a dry lubricant - and an improvement over grease)

    BTW - you can access the owner's manual on-line.

    .
  • I use WD 40 on the jaws and springs, and locking mechanisms. No problems or significant wear for over 5 years. I use Slip Plate to lubricate the rails and the piece (I forget the name now) that rides on the rails.
  • Thanks for all the replies. Do I put slip plate on the jaws and locking mech as well as the tubes?

    Car wash is a great idea. I'll do that.
  • When I bought my 3300 Superglide about 7 years ago Pullrite said to use the white lithium grease. They have since changed their recommendations and they say go with the Slip plate. I could not agree more. Keeps that dirt off the moving parts. Slip plate is the only way to go on that hitch.
  • White grease will attract dirt and grit.

    I have always used Slip Plate on my 16K Superglide.

    It is a dry graphite film coating.


    C.B.