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best stuff for balls

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Old Jul 14, 2007 | 09:34 PM
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best stuff for *****

First off I know the title is a little weird,and yall probably think Im one weird SOB but sometime all you need to gat answers is to grab attention.Enough of the bs.I wanted to know what is the best hitch lube to use when the trailer that your towing has a very rusty coupler.The coupler is sound,but it was pulled off a cattle trailer that hasent been pulled in about 10 yrs,to replace a worn coupler on another tralier.

Thanks
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 12:23 AM
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I have a 1968 Home made trailer that was built out of the frame of a mobile home, its rusty as well. Anyway, have used several types of grease on it, including high temperature brake grease, lithium grease, HD Lithium with 3% Molybdenum, and SD Polyurea (John Deere) They all seem to work fine as far as I have been able to tell, only problem is they seems to evaporate after awhile, however the last 2 I mentioned last longer because they are Heavy Duty and Super Duty respectively. Hope this helps.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 01:03 AM
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Anything is better than nothing. It needs to stay where you put it, not run down, so that leaves out oil--but any oil is better than no oil. Reese puts out a liquid ball oil, and a white ball grease.

But....if you study ***** (a little wierd) very little lube is needed to perform the function they are designed for.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 06:01 AM
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I use motorcycle chain lube. Seems to work well.

I use it on my garage doors rollers and opener drive.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 06:23 AM
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I use a little anti-seize on the ball. It seems to last awhile and works great.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 05:37 PM
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Doesn't greasing the ball break the ground connection between the truck and the trailer?

I've never wore out a hitch ball, but even if I did they only cost a few bucks.

I just can't see greasing the ball, but maybe I'm missing something.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 07:26 PM
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Do NOT use icy hot
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by jake00
Do NOT use icy hot
Speaking from personal experience?

Now for the ***** of steel; how about going to the truck stop and getting some 5th wheel grease?
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Xyzzy
Doesn't greasing the ball break the ground connection between the truck and the trailer?

I've never wore out a hitch ball, but even if I did they only cost a few bucks.

I just can't see greasing the ball, but maybe I'm missing something.
Well I don't know about that, but I remember back when I was 17 or 18 when I heard grinding noises whenever I would turn with the trailer hooked up. Disconnected the trailer and found a big wear mark on the ball where the coupler had wore off the rust on the ball. Ever since then I've greased it and never had a grinding or electrical problem.

I also use a tri ball hitch, the 3 ***** are on 1 piece of solid steel, so I'd rather not pay 150 dollars to replace the whole thing. Grease for me
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Xyzzy
Doesn't greasing the ball break the ground connection between the truck and the trailer?
So what if it does? Look at your trailer wiring. There is a ground there. Even if you have the hitch off, you can still run your lights, etc, etc because there is already a ground wire that grounds the frame to the plug.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 10:32 PM
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i just use wheel bearing grease cuzz it comes in a handy can that stows nicely under the seat or tool box. still pull dads old 6x10 trailer built in 54 and the 7x20 i built a couple years ago with no problems even tho i over load them allmost every time i use'm
 
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Old Jul 15, 2007 | 11:25 PM
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I use plain old white lithium grease. As far as I can see, that's all that the hitch ball grease they have from folks like Reese is.

You shouldn't be relying on the hitch gear to ground your trailer anyway. It's not going to be a good electrical connection even if the hitch ball is prefectly clean. It's even more of a problem if your trailer has electric brakes.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2007 | 12:46 PM
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XYZZY,
Like others have said... The ground should be seperate. The lack of lube on the ball is not a matter of wearing out the ball so much as wearing out the coupler. The coupler has way less material than the ball.

BTW i use Open gear lube (chain lube) and axle grease.
It really does not matter what you use as long as you use something, espcially with a WDH
 
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Old Jul 16, 2007 | 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by MARTYSTOWRIG
XYZZY,
BTW i use Open gear lube (chain lube)
Chain lube just doesn't make a big mess.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2007 | 10:52 PM
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A tongue might be the best stuff for *****?
 
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