Damaged Ball

[jeremy_283]

Will this knick cause premature wear of the coupler?

[GordonThree]

I think we scared the OP off 3 pages ago

[Sport45]

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.

[steve-n-vicki]

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

[Hammerhead]

Aren't all solid metals made of crystals?

[Me_Again]

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/

[GordonThree]

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

LOL thumbs up

[Oaklevel]

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 ..... 🙂

[RedRocket204]

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

[rhagfo]

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

[wa8yxm]

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.

[Trackrig]

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

[GordonThree]

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.

[allen8106]

Me Again wrote:
Is that ball crystallized from lack of grease? Chris

No such phenomenom.

[rhagfo]

Looking at the picture the ball looks to be blue near the bottom of the ball, personally I would just replace the ball.
I just don't understand those that feel it is fine to run without :S