Grease or not to
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Grease or not to
I've got a 26' Travel Trailer made the mistake of putting grease on the ball
to help it (actually had to retighten the nut to the ball because it backed off). Now the problem is intermiten brakes. Tried cleaning the ball works better but not 100%. Seems uphill better than downhill. I think part of the problem is the grease in the hitch lock. I thought maybe dielectric grease.
Any ideas Thanks in advance
to help it (actually had to retighten the nut to the ball because it backed off). Now the problem is intermiten brakes. Tried cleaning the ball works better but not 100%. Seems uphill better than downhill. I think part of the problem is the grease in the hitch lock. I thought maybe dielectric grease.
Any ideas Thanks in advance
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
I didn't believe in greasing my *****, until at the end of a 1,200 mile trip I found my ball had loosened. Now I'm a believer.
But you have a ground problem. Your trailer should not require a ground connection through the ball. It needs to be grounded through the electrical cord. Fix that, and use the grease.
But you have a ground problem. Your trailer should not require a ground connection through the ball. It needs to be grounded through the electrical cord. Fix that, and use the grease.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 568
Likes: 38
From: Henniker
I second that, fix the ground connection and keep the ball greased.
You should have a 7 pin connector, there will be a ground wire in there, make sure the connections are clean and find where the ground wire terminates and make sure that is clean also.
Brian
You should have a 7 pin connector, there will be a ground wire in there, make sure the connections are clean and find where the ground wire terminates and make sure that is clean also.
Brian
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,433
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From: Apex, N.C.
Back the tow vehicle to the trailer without hooking up the coupler. Then plug in the connector, that way you are dependent upon the ground wire in the harness instead of the coupler. Test and repair if needed. Yes I am also a ball greezer... 
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Yes, it is best to grease the *****. If you use a molly-graphite grease, that is somewhat electrically conductive.
Are you having lighting issues when you apply the brakes as well, or is it just a brake issue? If it's a ground problem, then the lights should go dim or even out when you apply the brakes.
Are you having lighting issues when you apply the brakes as well, or is it just a brake issue? If it's a ground problem, then the lights should go dim or even out when you apply the brakes.
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Ford_Six
The lights work fine when I step on the brake when it is acting up it throws a code
meaning it goes to the number ( digital) and keeps cycling through brakes go on then off
but the lights don't flicker or dim
The lights work fine when I step on the brake when it is acting up it throws a code
meaning it goes to the number ( digital) and keeps cycling through brakes go on then off
but the lights don't flicker or dim
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,938
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From: BC Canada
I grease my *****, but not with any old grease.
I prefer the water prrof types, like many of the white greases are....but not all white, are water proof.
But I am picky, and generally any old grease will do on your *****.
I prefer the water prrof types, like many of the white greases are....but not all white, are water proof.
But I am picky, and generally any old grease will do on your *****.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
I've had a ball get severely gouged on a long towing trip. After two years, my ball looks like new. Well, once I wipe the grease off anyway.
If the lights aren't fluctuating, then the problem isn't the ground. The lights use the same ground, and if the ground couldn't handle the brakes, then the lights would dim when you hit the brakes. What codes is it throwing?
If the lights aren't fluctuating, then the problem isn't the ground. The lights use the same ground, and if the ground couldn't handle the brakes, then the lights would dim when you hit the brakes. What codes is it throwing?
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Ford_Six
I've a digital read out on the controller. When I hit the brakes it should go to 3.5 which is what I set it at it goes to O/L which means overload and starts cycleing through the numbers and the brakes pulse. but it is not all the time it all started when I greased the ball but i didn't get chance to check the ground on the truck. The one on the camper seems fine. My next step is to check the ground on the truck after that I was thinking on changing controllers
I've a digital read out on the controller. When I hit the brakes it should go to 3.5 which is what I set it at it goes to O/L which means overload and starts cycleing through the numbers and the brakes pulse. but it is not all the time it all started when I greased the ball but i didn't get chance to check the ground on the truck. The one on the camper seems fine. My next step is to check the ground on the truck after that I was thinking on changing controllers