Done about 20,000 km. It is greased, just starting to wear the chrome off to the copper coating. Just can't get my head around having steel to steel bearing surface without lubrication.
A very small amount of moly grease, cleaned off and replaced every few weeks when travelling..
ball replaced every year regardless of distance travelled
blaze said
09:24 AM Aug 4, 2019
no grease for me, maybe the odd spray with a silicon spray. my balls don't squeak
cheers
blaze
JayDee said
09:39 AM Aug 4, 2019
My Coromal dealer, told me that if I want the best results I have to replace my balls every year.
At the cost of approx $15 it is a low cost insurance against any issues.
Last year when replacing the ball, I decided to also screw the old ball nut on top of the new nut for extra security.
I do not use any grease etc.
Jay&Dee
rgren2 said
10:08 AM Aug 4, 2019
Dry lube or a candle rubbed over it works well. Previously, someone said they used disposable plastic shopping bags on the ball. I have a DO35 and give it a silicone spray when I remember.
dogbox said
10:23 AM Aug 4, 2019
rgren2 wrote:
Dry lube or a candle rubbed over it works well. Previously, someone said they used disposable plastic shopping bags on the ball. I have a DO35 and give it a silicone spray when I remember.
x2
Mariner30 said
10:27 AM Aug 4, 2019
Forty yrs ago l used to work in the Jolimont rail sheds, the fitters there all said putting grease on train bogies...metal to metal...was the fastest way to cause wear,
Dust would get in the grease and turn into 'emery paper'
KJB said
11:50 AM Aug 4, 2019
I used 50mm Balls on 2 trucks towing loaded Plant Trailers every work day for approx. 25 years and cannot remember ever having to replace one because of wear.
Hetho said
01:06 PM Aug 4, 2019
Ditto with Mariner30.
I`m an ex fitter and "No Grease".
Regards.
Hetho.
Aus-Kiwi said
02:02 PM Aug 4, 2019
If it squeaks or rattles ? Theres other issues .. I grease all the fittings, moving parts though .
Knight said
02:36 PM Aug 4, 2019
No lubricant on ALKO stability control system towball please.
However, it does pay to wipe the connections regularly with a dry rag to remove dust accumulated, and eliminate annoying squeaking noises when turning.
Cupie said
03:07 PM Aug 4, 2019
Knight wrote:
No lubricant on ALKO stability control system towball please.
However, it does pay to wipe the connections regularly with a dry rag to remove dust accumulated, and eliminate annoying squeaking noises when turning.
Just beat me to this remark.
I towed a van with a friction hitch for a friend recently & had to get a ball with a squared base & the corresponding base plate to stop it unwinding the ball. Also had to be certain that the ball was completely dry & free of any sort of lubrication. BTW, it was a pommy van, about 20ft long but light & had over ride breaks that worked extremely well.
Since getting caught with a 'screaming' hitch when coming down a range in northern NSW, fixed with a few smears of grease, I always ensure that all of my hitch rubbing surfaces are lubricated.
(I suppose it would be going off topic to ask if leaf springs should be lubricated or just left in their rusty condition .. so I won't ask)
Why do the balls need to be replaced frequently? I never have & still use the one that came with the van/hitch in 1999.
Mamil said
04:03 PM Aug 4, 2019
Cupie & Knight, yes I've got one of those Alko anti-sway hitches, and they need a special ball that isn't chromed, and a plate on the hitch tongue to stop it rotating and loosening itself. They also have to be kept totally grease free. Unfortunately, even the dealers don't seem to know this, and when I took it in for a check they moved it around with their usual tractor which has a towball dripping in grease, so I had to scrub the towball and the anti-friction pads in the hitch with brake cleaner afterwards!!
And I agree with your experience Cupie, the light Euro vans seem to tow very well with a combination of these anti-sway hitches, mechanical override brakes, and light ballweights (mine is only 100kg or a little over 6% of my ATM).
-- Edited by Mamil on Sunday 4th of August 2019 04:39:19 PM
No shiny grease for me, metal on metal needs grease between it. My shackle pins have grease nipples and my hitch pin gets grease to prevent wear
Greg 1 said
10:32 PM Aug 4, 2019
I'm in favour of a light smear of grease, but that is just personal preference. I know others that never grease their hitches and in all honesty, I don't think there is much in it.
Olive Oil said
09:46 AM Aug 5, 2019
We use Shell Nautilus marine grease on ours, it resists the elements as it does on our boat trailer as well.
Bagmaker said
11:26 AM Aug 5, 2019
heavy plastic shopping bag.
Place over ball, attach trailer, trim to personal preference.
Craig1 said
01:35 PM Aug 5, 2019
Alko also say no grease required for their standard 50mm Caravan Coupling. Just keep the ball and inside the hitch clean and correctly adjusted on the ' adjusting nut".
Mariner30 said
01:43 PM Aug 5, 2019
Mariner30 wrote:
Forty yrs ago l used to work in the Jolimont rail sheds, the fitters there all said putting grease on train bogies...metal to metal...was the fastest way to cause wear, Dust would get in the grease and turn into 'emery paper'
After posting this l sat down and had a think about the subject with a refreshing cordial
Then remembered the turntables on the semis l drove all had a good covering of grease on them,
So, who knows really,
I don't use grease on our vehicles towballs,
StewG said
03:15 PM Aug 5, 2019
We were advised by the caravan service man when picking up our DO35 hitch caravan that the pin should not be greased. It seemed odd to me but I see no sign of wear, squeaks, etc after 30,000 km. I just keep the hitch and pin clear of dust and dirt when I think of it. The hitch barrel has grease nipples and they get a top-up now and then.
Craig1 said
04:15 PM Aug 5, 2019
G'day Graham (mariner), Then in maybe 1980? they invented the teflon pad for turntables. That sure saved a lot of grease and dirty clothes back then. Don't know if they still are used today though.
Mariner30 said
07:58 PM Aug 5, 2019
Craig1,
I retired 6 yrs ago,
The large company l worked for didn't use them,
Can't say why,
Cheers
suengreg said
08:59 AM Aug 6, 2019
X2
iana said
09:33 AM Aug 6, 2019
I use a tennis ball over the ball when not in use, that prevents the grease picking up dirt and hence the grinding paste. That Shell Nautilus grease is good stuff, we used it in a winery for all bearings, we had a machine that had special high speed bearings, and I had to send off the specs of that grease to SKF before I could use it, the answer came back positive. As far as I know they stopped selling it in grease cartridges.
rgren2 said
10:11 AM Aug 6, 2019
How much movement is there on a towball? They are not getting nearly as much as a bearing, which is what they are being compared to. If you are getting a rattle, there is a problem with adjustment.
iana said
01:04 PM Aug 6, 2019
With 260kg weight on it, you betcha its a bearing, with vertical and horizontal thrust. Those bearing you are thinking of would also have a compatible bearing surface, e.g. bronze, white metal Teflon, etc. This bearing is steel against steel.
Craig1 said
01:59 PM Aug 6, 2019
Talking to my daughter this morning who works for a transport Co, depending on equipment age & design, they use grease, teflon plates and cooking oil. Biggest downside to teflon is if an unskilled or lazy operator doesnt line it all up correctly, there goes $200-300 just like that. And not much good for a bbq liner either. I will try to find out which oil as it seems a lot less messy than grease.
denmonkey said
10:48 AM Aug 8, 2019
Funnily enough, I just stuck a new ball on mine and didn't grease it. Unhitching at home in the same spot as usual, saw it almost get stuck, it just didn't want to let go. So much that it's lifted the rear of the car a little, when it finally let go, the van part stayed at the same level on the jockey, the car dropped back down onto its suspension bringing the rear spare wheel downward...... problem was, my thumb was still in there
it's a bit of a funny colour now but it's still working
Granted I've not ran a ungreased ball before and it's the only thing I can think which was different. I'll be going back to greasing again. just a smear.
chances are it had nothing to do with it, but it will make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
cheers Brett
Cupie said
02:26 PM Aug 8, 2019
denmonkey wrote:
Funnily enough, I just stuck a new ball on mine and didn't grease it. Unhitching at home in the same spot as usual, saw it almost get stuck, it just didn't want to let go. So much that it's lifted the rear of the car a little, when it finally let go, the van part stayed at the same level on the jockey, the car dropped back down onto its suspension bringing the rear spare wheel downward...... problem was, my thumb was still in there
it's a bit of a funny colour now but it's still working
Granted I've not ran a ungreased ball before and it's the only thing I can think which was different. I'll be going back to greasing again. just a smear.
chances are it had nothing to do with it, but it will make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
cheers Brett
Brett It is quite common for my greased ball to stick (especially when I have reversed it onto a ramp) & I have to stand/jump on the rear step of the Patrol to dislodge it.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 8th of August 2019 02:39:41 PM
Craig1 said
02:27 PM Aug 8, 2019
Transport Co have ditched the cooking oil and now use Lannox, a spray on lanolin based product. A maybe handy less messy tip, but take care as no scientific proof available.
Done about 20,000 km. It is greased, just starting to wear the chrome off to the copper coating. Just can't get my head around having steel to steel bearing surface without lubrication.
ball replaced every year regardless of distance travelled
cheers
blaze
My Coromal dealer, told me that if I want the best results I have to replace my balls every year.
At the cost of approx $15 it is a low cost insurance against any issues.
Last year when replacing the ball, I decided to also screw the old ball nut on top of the new nut for extra security.
I do not use any grease etc.
Jay&Dee
Dry lube or a candle rubbed over it works well. Previously, someone said they used disposable plastic shopping bags on the ball. I have a DO35 and give it a silicone spray when I remember.
x2
I used 50mm Balls on 2 trucks towing loaded Plant Trailers every work day for approx. 25 years and cannot remember ever having to replace one because of wear.
Ditto with Mariner30.
I`m an ex fitter and "No Grease".
Regards.
Hetho.
However, it does pay to wipe the connections regularly with a dry rag to remove dust accumulated, and eliminate annoying squeaking noises when turning.
Just beat me to this remark.
I towed a van with a friction hitch for a friend recently & had to get a ball with a squared base & the corresponding base plate to stop it unwinding the ball. Also had to be certain that the ball was completely dry & free of any sort of lubrication. BTW, it was a pommy van, about 20ft long but light & had over ride breaks that worked extremely well.
Since getting caught with a 'screaming' hitch when coming down a range in northern NSW, fixed with a few smears of grease, I always ensure that all of my hitch rubbing surfaces are lubricated.
(I suppose it would be going off topic to ask if leaf springs should be lubricated or just left in their rusty condition .. so I won't ask)
Why do the balls need to be replaced frequently? I never have & still use the one that came with the van/hitch in 1999.
Cupie & Knight, yes I've got one of those Alko anti-sway hitches, and they need a special ball that isn't chromed, and a plate on the hitch tongue to stop it rotating and loosening itself. They also have to be kept totally grease free. Unfortunately, even the dealers don't seem to know this, and when I took it in for a check they moved it around with their usual tractor which has a towball dripping in grease, so I had to scrub the towball and the anti-friction pads in the hitch with brake cleaner afterwards!!
And I agree with your experience Cupie, the light Euro vans seem to tow very well with a combination of these anti-sway hitches, mechanical override brakes, and light ballweights (mine is only 100kg or a little over 6% of my ATM).
-- Edited by Mamil on Sunday 4th of August 2019 04:39:19 PM
Place over ball, attach trailer, trim to personal preference.
After posting this l sat down and had a think about the subject with a refreshing cordial
Then remembered the turntables on the semis l drove all had a good covering of grease on them,
So, who knows really,
I don't use grease on our vehicles towballs,
X2
How much movement is there on a towball? They are not getting nearly as much as a bearing, which is what they are being compared to. If you are getting a rattle, there is a problem with adjustment.
Funnily enough, I just stuck a new ball on mine and didn't grease it. Unhitching at home in the same spot as usual, saw it almost get stuck, it just didn't want to let go.
So much that it's lifted the rear of the car a little, when it finally let go, the van part stayed at the same level on the jockey, the car dropped back down onto its suspension bringing the rear spare wheel downward...... problem was, my thumb was still in there
it's a bit of a funny colour now but it's still working
Granted I've not ran a ungreased ball before and it's the only thing I can think which was different. I'll be going back to greasing again. just a smear.
chances are it had nothing to do with it, but it will make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
cheers Brett
Brett It is quite common for my greased ball to stick (especially when I have reversed it onto a ramp) & I have to stand/jump on the rear step of the Patrol to dislodge it.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 8th of August 2019 02:39:41 PM