Rusty ball

[thehippie]

I Bought this ball hitch less than three months ago and it’s only sparingly used. But I wonder why this got Rusty here pretty quick. It’s even rated 30,000 pounds


Anyone experience this?

Is it still safe to use?


https://ibb.co/6ghfqwW

[SidecarFlip]

enblethen wrote:
Heat treated raw steel.
From website
"Fits 2-5/16" couplers and accepts up to 30,000 lbs. GTW
Constructed from high-strength raw steel
Heat-treated for optimum wear resistance
Zinc-plated hex nut and helical lock washer for secure mounting
Features fine threads for superior holding strength
Tested for safety to meet U.S. VESC V-19 specifications"

Heat treated is not hardened. Heat treated is stress relieved so it don't fracture under stress.

If the ball was hardened (and that would only be case hardened not through hardened), it would stress crack. Hardened steel is also brittle. The ball is normalized, not hardened.

[afidel]

I use Vaseline instead of grease, provides the same lubrication and anti-corrosion protection but if it gets on the clothes it's no big deal.

[enblethen]

Heat treated raw steel.
From website
"Fits 2-5/16" couplers and accepts up to 30,000 lbs. GTW
Constructed from high-strength raw steel
Heat-treated for optimum wear resistance
Zinc-plated hex nut and helical lock washer for secure mounting
Features fine threads for superior holding strength
Tested for safety to meet U.S. VESC V-19 specifications"

[SidecarFlip]

Grit dog wrote:

enblethen wrote:
Hardened steel may get some light surface rust, but will not pit as shown in photo. Curt website does not show any chrome plated 30,000 pound 2 5/16 balls.

Noticed the same.

Sure you don't mean forged, not hardened?

[SidecarFlip]

allen8106 wrote:
Don't sweat it. It's not worth worrying about and don't add grease to the ball, you'll regret it the first time you rub up against it with your nice jeans.

That seems counter productive to me. The coupler has to move on the ball when the trailer is turning so a dry ball imparts undue friction. Keep your balls greased, they slide easier.

I don't make it a habit of rubbing my pant leg against my balls so greasy pants legs not an issue and I wear gloves when handling the ball hitch too.

[SidecarFlip]

GDS-3950BH wrote:

cavie wrote:
Curt. Enough said. Chinese junk. Advanced auto Parts replaced Reese with Curt. What does that tell you.

And just when you thought Curt was Chinese junk, THIS seals the deal.

Making the slide for sure. if it's LCI, you know it's gonna be bad.

[Bobbo]

allen8106 wrote:
Don't sweat it. It's not worth worrying about and don't add grease to the ball, you'll regret it the first time you rub up against it with your nice jeans.

I always tow with grease on the tow ball and the WD pivot points. I am careful when I get around the grease, and don't wear good clothes while working the trailer.

[allen8106]

Don't sweat it. It's not worth worrying about and don't add grease to the ball, you'll regret it the first time you rub up against it with your nice jeans.

[philh]

as said above, hardened steel will get a light coating, not pit.

[Grit_dog]

enblethen wrote:
Hardened steel may get some light surface rust, but will not pit as shown in photo. Curt website does not show any chrome plated 30,000 pound 2 5/16 balls.

Noticed the same.

[enblethen]

Hardened steel may get some light surface rust, but will not pit as shown in photo. Curt website does not show any chrome plated 30,000 pound 2 5/16 balls.

[drsteve]

GDS-3950BH wrote:

cavie wrote:
Curt. Enough said. Chinese junk. Advanced auto Parts replaced Reese with Curt. What does that tell you.

And just when you thought Curt was Chinese junk, THIS seals the deal.

Everything LCI touches turns to garbage...

[TenOC]

enblethen wrote:
Only 30,000 Curt balls are not chrome plated but hardened raw steel.

Curt 30,000 balls

A hardened RAW STEEL will rust very quickly (less than a day) unless covered in grease. I think they sell a chrome plated version for more $.

[GDS-3950BH]

cavie wrote:
Curt. Enough said. Chinese junk. Advanced auto Parts replaced Reese with Curt. What does that tell you.

And just when you thought Curt was Chinese junk, THIS seals the deal.