If referring to the cracking and groaning of the bars, you can fit rollers onto the bars instead of chains connecting fixed to a point, usually by a u bolt.
McHitch sold these after market roller kits but they have recently closed down. I have the roller kits on my WDH, it is a McHitch WDH which comes with them, and its great. Hardly any noise at all, in fact, never really heard anything.
When I was using te HR type WDH I did the same as what the other guys have posted. I was using grease but I was told to be careful as it can pick up grit and work like grinding paste (thats why wheel bearings are sealed) so I started using a graphite type spray. Problem with the spray its probably only good in the short term so you basically need to do it every couple of days. I replaced our HR hitch with an Andersen Hitch when we got our new van, one of their supposed benefits was that they were quieter. After 10,000kms using it I cant say that I find it much different it still groans (maybe a little less) and the same lubrication is still required..
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Saturday 4th of March 2023 10:19:49 AM
At the tow tug end a non sticky grease is best, or use polyproylene (Gladwrap) as a lubricant. At the bar tip end rather than grease I changed the metal-to-metal contact type.
The hardened steel bar end rubbing on the softer galvanised (zinc coated) steel A-frame digs in and soon starts groaning at the slightest turn. Not good.
A thin piece of stainless steel sheet bent into an 'L' shape can be clamped under the chain lever plates and most of the noise goes away (and changes to a nicer 'tone'). Why does this work? It has to do with a charactoristic of the stainless steel; its 'R' value (work hardening rate). As the hardened end of the distribution bar rubs against the stainless steel the stainless gets harder and harder to scratch and then it begins to be polished. This is totally different to the bar gouging into soft zinc and soft steel and continually cutting into fresh metal.
You can see the polished arc at the bottom of the picture. This is after 3,000km.
bye.
-- Edited by bruceg on Saturday 18th of March 2023 04:02:54 PM