Pintle hitches

[Happy Travellers]

Hi all

I've just joined this site and have a question already. I've recently purchased a #5 half ton army trailer. I understand the pintle hitch lunette ring on the trailer was modified by the army to stop it rotating. I have a non rotation pintle coupling on my tow vehicle and was wondering how I go about undoing the modification on the trailer to allow the ring to rotate.

Many thanks

Jon

[circlework]

It's a while ago since I did it, but if you take the lunette carrier off, you'll notice that there is probably a wheel bearing backing spacer jammed in there, under the lunette keeper nut. Remove that and you will probably see a cammed washer. Placed over the lunette shaft in the correct direction, this washer will give you around 30 degrees travel off center in each direction.


Cheers,
cw.


p.s. Welcome to the site! This should probably be in the technical forum.

[Happy Travellers]

Thank you for your reply, from your description do I have to remove the cammed washer. I have not yet pulled the Lunette ring assembly off the trailer and so cannot visualise it at this point.

Many thanks

Jon

[circlework]

From memory ... which isn't very good of late ... the camed washer fits in two directions, 180 degrees apart. One direction it will stop any rotation and 180 degrees from that, it will allow around 30 degrees each side of horozontal of the lunette.
If the washer is in situ, you'll figure it out.

Cheers.
cw.

[303gunner]

And the pack of washers are retained by a Nylock nut. If you want the lunette to rotate, even a Nylock will eventually undo itself. The lunette is cross drilled, and was originally fitted with a castle nut and split pin, much like a standard car trailer axle. Don't forget to regularly use the grease nipple, too.

[Happy Travellers]

Thank you both very much for your help. Hopefully I'll get time this weekend to pull it apart and have a look.

Jon

[Mick_Marsh]

Take photo's and post up what you do.
I'm sure it will help others in the future.

[andylandy]

Hi Guys,

not all lunette shafts are cross drilled, (mines not) so not always possible to fit a castleated nut and split pit. They modified the lunettes to stop them rotating due to excessive wear and the then large number of lunettes they were having to replace due to this wear. If you really want it to rotate would strongly suggest you make sure you grease it regularly as 303gunner suggested.

Cheers

Andy

[Lotz-A-Landies]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/73.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/74.jpg

[Happy Travellers]

Once again thank you all for your input to this thread especially Lotz-a-landies for the photos. I've now pulled mine out and it's the same as shown in Lotz's photos, in that the cammed washer cannot be turned 180 degrees as it doesn't have the larger cut out on the opposite side which would allow for the 30 degree swivel.
My question is, is it possible to obtain the washer with the larger cut out, are they available, or should I try cutting out a larger segment of the existing washer. What have others done.

Many Thanks

Jon

[circlework]

There are probably washers floating around out there, as I think the older dual cutout was phased out when the Army decided to make all lunettes on No 5 trailers, static. Around 1969? or maybe a little later. But if you're any good with metal, go for it ... saves waiting for a part that may take time to source.


Cheers,
cw.

[ajge]

Once again thank you all for your input to this thread especially Lotz-a-landies for the photos. I've now pulled mine out and it's the same as shown in Lotz's photos, in that the cammed washer cannot be turned 180 degrees as it doesn't have the larger cut out on the opposite side which would allow for the 30 degree swivel.
My question is, is it possible to obtain the washer with the larger cut out, are they available, or should I try cutting out a larger segment of the existing washer. What have others done.

Many Thanks

Jon


7351073511

I also installed a fixed tow hitch, so I modified the washer as suggested. I also replaced the lock nut. 1" unf 12TPI
Regards
Andrew

[Brooksy106]

I am also new to the site and have been reading a few of the posts re the three Amigo's (yes my 04 Disco has developed them all of a sudden and now has a whine in the transfer case as well - I may soon be an ex landrover owner even though I bought it new and it has hardly done any work:)) and this post re the pintle set up on a military trailer. Has anybody pulled the pintle ring set up apart on a Cooks 750kg trailer? I have a sneaking suspicion that the army has put a square 'washer' on the shaft so that it won't rotate - but thought I would see if anyone else has solved the problem before I get the tools out. Also can anyone suggest a place where I can get repacement hubs for it in Melbourne - I want to put a set of alloys on it so I don't have to carry two types of spares.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

[hot rover]

I have attached the emei for the mod to the ring it explains how to do the mod so you should be able to undo it from the instruction.
Cheers
Rod