Departure day is fast approaching and maintainance (Preventative) is planned. Unfortunately, nowhere can I find a definative answer on greasing towballs.
To grease or not to grease? Which is best.
Regards GOF and GOG
brickies said
09:11 PM Nov 18, 2009
I was told by the firm i brought my van not to but would like hear other point of view
justcruisin01 said
09:11 PM Nov 18, 2009
GREASE!!!!!!
A dry ball will wear both ball & coupling. Guarenteed .
justcruisin01 said
09:14 PM Nov 18, 2009
brickies wrote:
I was told by the firm i brought my van not to but would like hear other point of view
Would you run other moving parts without grease?????
Bit like running tyres without air .
Disco Duck said
09:14 PM Nov 18, 2009
I have always put a light coating of grease on the towball. No matter what I tow. Can't be good to have it rubbing dry metal to metal surely but nowadays I use the Treg hitch on the Camper Trailer. So I don't have the problem.
Disco Duck said
09:17 PM Nov 18, 2009
Have you had a problem Brickies................any wear showing?? How long have you been doing that or more precisely, how many K's ?? I am with Justcruisin. You never see a turn-table on a semi not greased.
justcruisin01 said
09:24 PM Nov 18, 2009
Disco Duck wrote:
I have always put a light coating of grease on the towball. No matter what I tow. Can't be good to have it rubbing dry metal to metal surely but nowadays I use the Treg hitch on the Camper Trailer. So I don't have the problem.
Gues what !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the treg needs grease as well , the pins & bushes wear .
same deal . sorry.
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Wednesday 18th of November 2009 08:26:01 PM
brickies said
09:30 PM Nov 18, 2009
No Disco i took no notice and use grease very lite on so it dosent get to messy , had a gut feeling best to grease.thank to Wombat for raising the subject
DeBe said
09:30 PM Nov 18, 2009
Hi Wombat Just a bit of grease on mine when van off use plastic cover on ball. cheers Daryl
Disco Duck said
09:40 PM Nov 18, 2009
Hehe justcruisin............yes I do grease the pin on the Treg.............I meant I don't have to worry about wether or not to grease the tow ball. I grease everything!! No rude comments either you guys!!
Well done Brickies.................I can't see why someone would say that unless they were trying to sell more towballs :)
Rolly said
09:51 PM Nov 18, 2009
I'm another who believes that a light coat of lubricant is appropriate.
It doesn't seem to matter much what particular kind as long as it is cleaned off and reapplied each time in order to eliminate any accumulation of grit and dirt.
Cruising Granny said
09:55 PM Nov 18, 2009
I grease ball, and cover when parked up to avoid spreading the grease around.
I believe any metal exposed to the elements of dust, mud or water should be coated with some lubricant to reduce friction and wear .. and rust of course.
Wombat said
10:48 PM Nov 18, 2009
To grease has it by a mile. I had decided to grease however, I thought i'd get the general feeling. I know one yard that says no.
Regards GOF and GOG
Terro said
11:06 PM Nov 18, 2009
On the tow ball I used to use grease but now I use grease. In between using grease I tried Lanotec spray which wasn't too bad but seemed to dry out quite quickly. The grease I use is marine grade, with just the slightest smear, put it on the rubbing parts of the WDH as well.
Terro
-- Edited by Terro on Wednesday 18th of November 2009 10:06:37 PM
Palebushman said
11:10 PM Nov 18, 2009
Wombat wrote:
Departure day is fast approaching and maintainance (Preventative) is planned. Unfortunately, nowhere can I find a definative answer on greasing towballs.
To grease or not to grease? Which is best.
Regards GOF and GOG
The only place in the world where grease could become a serious problem, is maybe on a railway track? Ooh-Err
-- Edited by Palebushman on Thursday 19th of November 2009 08:04:46 PM
jimricho said
06:59 AM Nov 19, 2009
Disco Duck wrote:
Hehe justcruisin............yes I do grease the pin on the Treg.............I meant I don't have to worry about wether or not to grease the tow ball. I grease everything!! No rude comments either you guys!!
Well done Brickies.................I can't see why someone would say that unless they were trying to sell more towballs :)
Thanks DD for the info...I was wondering about greasing the Treg pin too. I guess the main thing is to regularly clean the pin and bush before the combination of grease and dust turns into grinding paste.
Smokeydk said
09:08 AM Nov 19, 2009
I lightly greased the black towball....after few trips....shinny areas appeared..on the ball...I was told by the trailer maker of my CT not to grease it .....the coupling grip is comprimised..wheather it is or not....it sure shined a patch on the towball....that wasnt there the previous 2 years of use...
Dave
dave06 said
11:12 AM Nov 19, 2009
a very light coating on a towball is fine but wipe it off as soon as you get anywhere near the dirt, grease when placed unrestrained under pressure will invariably just be pushed away from where it is needed most, where the pressure is
the grease will only serve to hold particulates in position so as to "grind" all components away thus the "shiny ball" have a look up in the socket and you will find the same
if you feel you must use grease then put it on before a BITUMAN trip and wipe it off at the first oppurtunity and reapply a THIN film, to say it will take up any gaps is a very silly statement, grease unrestrained under pressure will simply flow to an area of less pressure
dont use it on the treg pin either, all these components are case hardened to withstand abuse such as metal to metal contact with no intropduced abrasives
jandas fun said
11:56 AM Nov 19, 2009
I assume the replies would be the same for Automotive silicone spray ?
which is what i use.
Johnw
dave06 said
12:01 PM Nov 19, 2009
if you can use some spray that would lubricate without attracting dust or dirt, maybe a graphite based spray then I would use that, or just leave it dry, they are after all built and designed to run "dry"
we have done many thousands of miles over the roughest country imagineable and yet to wear out a towball or receiver, I honestly think nothing is best!
Popeye said
01:27 PM Nov 19, 2009
I have been using strips of plastic that covers the ball. When I say plastic strips I mean strips I have cut out of plastic bags. Works for me.
Basil Faulty said
01:40 PM Nov 19, 2009
Palebushman wrote:
The only place in the world where grease becomes a serious problem, is on a railway track.
Really?? but do you know why? & it's not the reason we would all think of.... It's because the grease from the points and curves where the flanges work hard eventually gets onto the brake shoes and they don't stop the train.....
Basil Faulty said
01:47 PM Nov 19, 2009
Interesting discussion. I have an aerosol can of lithium grease that you can get from the $2 shops that I give a quick spray with. The problem is that if you don't use grease then you will find that the soft part would lap the hard part so a little grease would be OK.
Disco Duck said
03:48 PM Nov 19, 2009
I would never have given that a thought about not having grease on train line Basil. You just naturally think that it is because it will slip. Thanks. Gotta think outside the square. I'm changing my signature to that!
JRH said
03:52 PM Nov 19, 2009
I use a little Dry Lube on the towball, seems to work OK for me.
Basil Faulty said
03:57 PM Nov 19, 2009
Ha ha Murphy strikes again... I found a gadget which is basically a teflon washer that you sit on top of the towball and it lubricates and takes the weight of the Van. However Herr Murphy for some reason would not let me copy the site here....
I'll try again and again but I'll also make a teflon washer and try it all I have to do is find where I hid the 30mm teflon bar......
Therotically sounds a good idea as the teflon being softer than nylon would "mould" to the shape of the inside of the coupling....
More self funded research, I think it's about time you guys chipped in to help
dave06 said
04:48 PM Nov 19, 2009
I sent a query off to noels caravans, a caravan manufacturing company here in adelaide, the response surprised me so I thought I would post it in here, and I quote...........
"Afternoon Dave
That's a hard question to answer. Some say grease some say no. If you
decide to grease maybe a dry Lube Stick (Silicone) would be best. If you
use grease then use it lightly and use a cover when not in use. Good
Luck it is really your choice.
Regards
Rob" end quote
I also sent a query to a camper trailer manufacturing website and they said and I quote........
"Hi Dave
we would not reccomend applying grease under any circumstances to the ball or receiver this will increase wear and prematurely wear out both units, dry is best.
Frank" end quote
so there you be, grease or not, your choice!!!!!
I would have said no but even the experts cant agree!
Disco Duck said
05:04 PM Nov 19, 2009
Well DaveO.......if us lot can't agree then you can't expect the experts to any idea :)
I like the idea of the dry lube. That would probably work well on the Treg hitch and be a bit cleaner. Maybe I'll switch.
Basil......If I can't raise any money from this tight lot to help my poor sick goldfish......you'll have no hope raising money for something so insignificant as that. However I'm still sending the begging letters out and when some sucker..............errr I mean....... nice benevolent person sends some money.................I'll forward some on.
P.S I know I can trust you to keep it quiet, but the Goldfish died. Don't let on because Gary has promised some money and he would be heartbroken I'm sure.
Hmmm............maybe I should pm to you.??
brickies said
06:06 PM Nov 19, 2009
Maybe we should call CWH on abc TV to settle this one
Smokeydk said
06:39 PM Nov 19, 2009
thats what I been told.....its your choice I guess
Dave
To grease or not to grease? Which is best.
Regards
GOF and GOG
A dry ball will wear both ball & coupling. Guarenteed .
Bit like running tyres without air .
same deal . sorry.
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Wednesday 18th of November 2009 08:26:01 PM
Regards
GOF and GOG
Terro
-- Edited by Terro on Wednesday 18th of November 2009 10:06:37 PM
Ooh-Err
-- Edited by Palebushman on Thursday 19th of November 2009 08:04:46 PM
Really?? but do you know why? & it's not the reason we would all think of.... It's because the grease from the points and curves where the flanges work hard eventually gets onto the brake shoes and they don't stop the train.....
I have an aerosol can of lithium grease that you can get from the $2 shops that I give a quick spray with.
The problem is that if you don't use grease then you will find that the soft part would lap the hard part so a little grease would be OK.
I'll try again and again but I'll also make a teflon washer and try it all I have to do is find where I hid the 30mm teflon bar......
Therotically sounds a good idea as the teflon being softer than nylon would "mould" to the shape of the inside of the coupling....
More self funded research, I think it's about time you guys chipped in to help