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Post Info TOPIC: Hayman Hitch jamming on tow ball
Marken


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Hayman Hitch jamming on tow ball
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Hello and a HNY to all.

Having a prob with the Hayman hitch on caravan. Purchased (2nd hand) nearly a year ago and the caravan yard mechs had a problem attaching it to my Prado. (Ball to socket). They replaced the ball with another one and all seemed OK. For the first few times I had a huge prob in separating the tug from the tow and resorted to using a crow bar to prise them apart. It appears that the hitch sank down over the shoulder on the ball and tightened around the shoulder. Though I left it that way it got easier to connect and disconnect so thought all was OK. I recently noticed some wear marks on the tongue from the hitch riding so low on the ball that there was contact between the hitch and the tongue.

I adjusted the top screw to raise the hitch on the top of the ball  but could not get he ball lock to engage so I had to back that adjustment off untill it would lock. At this point the hitch and the tongue are in contact again.

Questions I have are:-

Do different balls have different shoulder heights so do I need to shop around for a higher shoulder?

Should I leave it as it is and just grease the tongue around the shoulder to eliminate wear?

Would another size ball (mine is standard 50mm) be required to make it all work properly?

What else should I do?

 

Cheers

Marken



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Marken
brian


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It is obviously a very close fit to be able to actually jam on the shoulder, so take a whisker off the diameter of the shoulder to provide adequate clearance.

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Olley46


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Hi Ken

           From what you have explained in your post , the Hayman Reese has nothing to do with your problem,it seems to me that either the tow ball is to big  or your van coupling has got a problem,I am not an expert but,I would be trying another tow ball,see if you can get a Hayman Reese tow ball or a Trojan tow ball,some of those Chinese ones may be oversize.

lance C



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woolman


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You can get a tow ball with a longer shank. Raises the ball higher. Not much different but enough. When I got my hayman reece hitch a tow ball came with it to suit.

 

Neil



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Marken


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RE: Hayman Hitch jamming on tow ball (Repost correction)
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Hi Guys What an idiot I am!!

I wrote "Hayman" in my original post but intended to write "Hyland".

Thanks to those people who offered advice but I am not sure how relevant your replies were considering I am an idiot!!

Thanks again

Regards

Marken



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Marken
oldbobsbus


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RE: Hayman Hitch jamming on tow ball
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I had the same problem with a new ball I bought when we were away and had all sorts of problems getting the trailer off the ball..

I tried the adjustment thing without success....

Then as a last resort I grabbed another ball from the shed and hey presto no more problems so as it was a new ball I think as someone else said it was slightly oversize..



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ozjohn


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"Hyland" couplings require a ball with an extended throat otherwise the coupling will come into contact with the ball flange and jam.
Try this site. www.trailerwarehouse.com.au

TOW BALL ADJUSTMENT

The coupling handle and ball clamp require lubrication from time to time. Something like WD40 will suffice.
To adjust coupling/ball clearance:
1. Remove ball from tow bar.
2. Release coupling adjustment screw lock-nut.
3. Place ball in coupling and release handle to clamp ball in place.
4. hold shank (Thread)of tow ball and move the ball around in the coupling while slowing tightening (Clockwise) the adjusting screw with a large screwdriver until the ball stops moving.
5. Back off (Anti-clockwise) the adjustment screw half a turn. Then while holding the screw so it can't move, tighten the lock-nut.
6. re-assemble ball back on to tow bar at least 140Nm (Very, Very, tight) and lubricate ball with a light coating of grease or drylube.
Note: If coupling still to tight on the ball, back off screw another quarter turn.
best of luck,

Cheers, Ozjohn.



-- Edited by ozjohn on Thursday 9th of January 2014 09:14:03 AM

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Baz421


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woolman wrote:

You can get a tow ball with a longer shank. Raises the ball higher. Not much different but enough. When I got my hayman reece hitch a tow ball came with it to suit.

 

Neil

 100% right here woolman,,,,, Marken mine is hard to get off sometimes if there is still a horizontal load on the coupling,,, ie we have the wheel chocks in place and the load is on one side or forward/aft,,, I just try to unload the coupling by relasing tug handbrake and engaging clutch.

 



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Marken


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Thanks to all for their views on the matter.

I have a couple of balls (????) so will give another one a try to see what difference it makes.

I might also consider seeing if I can get some sort of "washer" to raise the ball shank a few mils above the tongue.

Does anyone know if such a washer exists?

Cheers

Marken



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Marken
oldbobsbus


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How many 1000 would you like...lol..
Goto your local nut and bolt supplier and they will have as many as you want.. :)


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ozjohn


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Placing a spacer/washer under the flange won't rectify the problem as the throat height (distance between the bottom of ball and the flange) will remain the same. 
Purchase the correct ball with extended throat to suite the Hyland.
Ozjohn.



-- Edited by ozjohn on Saturday 11th of January 2014 08:32:21 AM

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Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. 
Holden 2.8 Colorado - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top.
Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic. 
rentamate


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Hi marken , I have just joined this forum I tried to post the other day maybe it didn't work , the problem is the hitch it self it has been turned around and back to front so to speak , it happened to a friend last year, give it a go

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Cruising Cruze


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the bit on the inside I presume @ Rentamate
so the strait edge faces the towbal instead of the rounded part ??


Cheers John

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