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I install a on the truck. I had a problem with the hitch locking pin. When you pull it out to change the ball and after release it the spring hangs up in the groove and will not stay seated. There should be a bushing between the rod and spring to prevent this. I couldn't find a nylon bushing but made one from a piece of 3/4 copper pipe. With this it does not hang up. I was lucky that I had the bed off to do this which made the whole thing easier. Bought the kit off ebay and it was missing some lock washers that I had to buy extra. I made sure to use thread lock on all the nuts. Used lock nuts on the chain u-bolts. This is a Draw-tite type hitch. Hope it helps someone.
Since you were already missing lock washers, I get the feeling there were other components missing/replaced as well. I have never seen a spring THAT loose on a shaft without some kind of guide to help keep it centered on the shaft. It is possible that there was supposed to be a bushing, or that you have an incorrect spring.
This is why I hesitate to buy ANYTHING off ebay unless I have no other choice - Yeah, stuff is usually cheaper, but it comes with the probability that something is broken, missing, or just plain wrong.
Nothing else was missing. Looking at the Draw-tite it is the same thing. Nether have a bushing. The spring could be made smaller in diameter but then any corrosion or junk could bind that up too. I have the same type of hitch on our 2008 F350 that I installed when bought new but haven't crawled under to look at to see what it looks like.
Fantastic solution, hadn't thought about that yet. I have the same problem and have had to crawl under the truck twice to get it unstuck.. My previous drawtite I installed on my past megacab never had this problem, and the hitch plate had the exact same setup. Thanks for the idea!
