B&W Companion

d-mac1 wrote:

sdetweil wrote:

d-mac1 wrote:
Theres a zerk? Where? Had mine 3 years, never seen a zerk and the instructions don't say anything about it.

I too use a lube plate, but for the kingpin and jaws, I've got a dry graphite (if I remember correctly) spray lube and I don't end up with a greasy, dirty mess. I'll hafta look at the can cuz I forget exactly what the brand is.

see page 2, right side,
companion installation & maint doc

Thanks! Will hafta take a look under there tonight! I swear my maintenance instructions don't say anything about it...perhaps I missed it tho cuz its just in the pic and not the written instructions.

The lube I use on the kingpin and jaws is called Slip Plate. Its in a green and yellow spray can and the can says heavy duty dry film graphite coating that won't attract dirt or water.

As mentioned previously, I use a teflon disk on top of the hitch plate.

The only issue I've had with mine has been that the drawdown and/or U bolts strip after repeated installation and removal of the hitch. And yes, I torque them to spec 40 and 80 lbs respectively. I've taken to going a little light on the torque to see if it helps. Anybody else with this issue?

The u-bolts are almost "normal wear" items, like brake shoes. It's inevitable that nylock nuts will eventually do this as the nylon wears with repeated use. It tears off and jams up the threads. It usually only happens 1 at a time, but B&W will replace the set for free, and usually with o/n shipping. I have a couple of the old ones in my FW as "just in case" insurance if I have to remove the hitch and one strips. I simply use a breaker bar and cheater to simply twist the nuts off.

Never had an issue with the drawdown bolt.

Lyle