Damaged Ball

I think we scared the OP off 3 pages ago

The OP's damage wasn't due to lack of lubrication. Looks like something struck the ball or a chain was wrapped around it for a recovery operation at some point (another no-no). The nicks at the bottom of the ball look liek someone used a pipe wrench to hold a back-up while torquing on the nut. This isn't a recommended practice either.

As mentioned early in the thread the ball will be serviceable once the high spots are filed down.

what kind of tow vehicle? what is the payload? You need a diesel dually to tow a new ball

Aren't all solid metals made of crystals?

http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Reese/58117.html

"Well all my internet buddies do not grease their balls, so why should I?"

http://wellscargo.com/support/index.php?page=safetytips

http://www.easternmarine.com/tech-info/couplers-hitch-balls/

RedRocket204 wrote:
And here I thought I was going to read an update on Lance Armstrong

LOL thumbs up

Dang I have been trying to get my hitch balls to crystallize for 40 years ......... no luck, no grease 5 trailers ..... How can I get it to do it, I must be doing something wrong.... I have never seen it happen........ My oldest trailer is a 1980 still has the original screw down coupler..... oops I leave my triball hitch on the truck the 1994 trailer went to TN then to Wilmington NC guess it should have self destructed........ I'm bad oh******I have all made in China ST tires too...... stay back ..... :)

And here I thought I was going to read an update on Lance Armstrong

Trackrig wrote:

GordonThree wrote:

Me Again wrote:
I guess some of you are to young to understand that a couple and/or ball can crystallize and fail without grease. Go forth and enjoy your bliss!

I love my ignorant bliss - so few things to worry about, I end up just having a good time.

If my hitch ball should turn to crystal some day, I'll come back here so the old-timers can tell me "I told you so!"

I couldn't find anything in the first few pages of google looking for papers regarding metallurgical failure of a hitch ball due to friction heating.

X2

Ignorance can be very peaceful. It's like before I got hearing aids and discovered how much noise of all types there is out there in the world that I don't need to or want to listen to.

Bill

:S

How much bandwith has this tread taken up? Anyone paying overage charges? How much would a new ball cost (less than dinner). End of questions and post.