Calling for assistance from towing gurus

[Graekynn]

I recently paid to have, amongst other things, a hayman reese towbar fitted to my 90. Everything looked fine in the afternoon light so I drove home. Fast forward to today, I decide to remove the receiver hitch just incase someone takes a liking to it and pinches it. Upon removal and closer inspection I noticed the mechanic used vice grips to hold the ball in place while tightening it up. This has left deep gouges in the ball on both sides:

https://i.imgur.com/XuKjeUC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/e8QqIBL.jpg

https://ibb.co/0tVnrGG
To say I'm disappointed is an understatement as you spend good money on professional labour to see a rookie move like this. My question to the brains trust is, can gouges like these damage the cup on the trailer or cause any issues while towing?

[Slunnie]

If it contacts anything in the coupling it will wear it. I'd be taking that one back for a change over, it is damaged. They've just tried to get away with it. If its not a problem, then I'm sure they can put it on the shelf for resale.

[W&KO]

Take it back.....one would wonder why they didn’t just use the big flats at the bottom.

[Graekynn]

Take it back.....one would wonder why they didn’t just use the big flats at the bottom.

Why take precious seconds to find the correct sized spanner when the vice grips are closer...

[Blknight.aus]

back she goes.

that doesnt even get to being unfit for purpose, it stops right at goods damaged by poor workmanship.

but, yes if that gets in contact with the reciever it will shred it in short order.

if you want to go unfit for purpose.

1. its damaged and will damaged the item its designed to couple to.
2. if its been damaged by holding it with the appropriate tooling during installation then the metal has not been correctly hardened


Just because I'm evil and nasty to shoddy spanner swingers I'd be going so far as to inspect every nut bolt washer, fitting, electrical connection, panel and structural member for any signs of stress, deformation, percussive installation, protective finish abrasions, cracking and undue removal. I'd find it and then be providing the old "rectify or remove at your cost and refund the purchase price" routine

[scarry]

I wouldn't cop that either,incorrectly fitted.Rough job.

It wouldn't have taken long to find a 15" shifter to fit the flat that is there to do the job properly, one would think.

Or the correctly sized spanner.

Particularly if these guys do that type of work all day.

Actually, looks like the marks are from stilsens.

[Graekynn]

This is actually one of 4 issues I found with the work done to my car, and I will see how the company responds to this before I name names.

Supplementary question, is there any way that the installation of a diff locker could cause an increase in fuel consumption i.e. increased drag?

[Slunnie]

This is actually one of 4 issues I found with the work done to my car, and I will see how the company responds to this before I name names.

Supplementary question, is there any way that the installation of a diff locker could cause an increase in fuel consumption i.e. increased drag?
What type of diff lock? It shouldn't affect consumption. I could see how an LSD might, but hardly. A locker shouldn't unless it is locked - you would feel it if it was locked.

[Graekynn]

What type of diff lock? It shouldn't affect consumption. I could see how an LSD might, but hardly. A locker shouldn't unless it is locked - you would feel it if it was locked.

Harrop e-locker. Car seems to corner fine and no strange noises or steering feedback, maybe its just my paranoia, but the needle just seemed to drop real fast on the return trip and I was wondering whether incorrect preloads or even just the fact that its a new 'tight' centre might be causing drag.

Again it may be nothing, but I swear whenever I get someone else to touch my car there is always some bull**** like that that happens....

[Pedro_The_Swift]

stillsons more likely...

actually-- those marks are wrong for both,, hmmm

bench vice?



and if the "highs' are removed,, it will work fine..

90% or wear is front and back,, normally no marks on the sides..

[Blknight.aus]

stillsons more likely...

actually-- those marks are wrong for both,, hmmm

bench vice?



and if the "highs' are removed,, it will work fine..

90% or wear is front and back,, normally no marks on the sides..

most likely and then give the big nut the berries with the rattle gun...

normally I just put the ball in place then with the split washer in grab the ball with a rubber glove or bit of inner tube then hit it with the 3/4 rattler from under neath then check for 400-500nm with the torque wrench.

[Slunnie]

Harrop e-locker. Car seems to corner fine and no strange noises or steering feedback, maybe its just my paranoia, but the needle just seemed to drop real fast on the return trip and I was wondering whether incorrect preloads or even just the fact that its a new 'tight' centre might be causing drag.

Again it may be nothing, but I swear whenever I get someone else to touch my car there is always some bull**** like that that happens....

I would expect it to have not affected the fuel consumption. If its absorbing energy while unlocked you will feel a big temp difference between the front and rear diffs after a run. The rear may be a little hotter because its a hypoid diff, but if its dragging enough to see it in the economy it will be significantly hotter. But the diff should be either locked or unlocked, if its locked you will notice it in the carpark pretty quickly.

[DiscoMick]

What he said.
If it was fitted correctly and its unlocked it should not make any difference.

[trout1105]

I have a Hayman Reece hitch on my D2a and it has a moulded face on it to hold the ball .[thumbsupbig]

159020159021

There is NO excuse for the Shoddy work done on your hitch whatsoever, Take it back and get it done correctly [thumbsupbig]

[200defenda]

Yea agree id be checking the rest of the install for other issues, looks like the ball would of been clamped in a vice then tightened onto the hitch. I wouldnt be surprised if They probably tighten them all like that.

[Tins]

I recently paid to have, amongst other things, a hayman reese towbar fitted to my 90. Everything looked fine in the afternoon light so I drove home. Fast forward to today, I decide to remove the receiver hitch just incase someone takes a liking to it and pinches it. Upon removal and closer inspection I noticed the mechanic used vice grips to hold the ball in place while tightening it up. This has left deep gouges in the ball on both sides:

https://i.imgur.com/XuKjeUC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/e8QqIBL.jpg

https://ibb.co/0tVnrGG
To say I'm disappointed is an understatement as you spend good money on professional labour to see a rookie move like this. My question to the brains trust is, can gouges like these damage the cup on the trailer or cause any issues while towing?

I guess nobody pointed out the flats below the ball put there for that very purpose? Sheesh.

[Blknight.aus]

I guess nobody pointed out the flats below the ball put there for that very purpose? Sheesh.


The ball is wider than the flats, its been put in a vice (most likely sideways) if you look clostly you can see a set of marks in one of the pics where the leading edge of a flat is marked up.

most likely they put it in the vice , put the torque on and its turned until the leading edge of the flat made contact.


Definately a 3 letter company job..

[DeeJay]

I guess nobody pointed out the flats below the ball put there for that very purpose? Sheesh.

What is not to understand about comment number 3 ?

[Slunnie]

What is not to understand about comment number 3 ?

I think he meant to the installer.

[Tins]

What is not to understand about comment number 3 ?

What's the problem with reinforcing the stupidity of the installer?

You don't like it, don't read it.

I'll rephrase that: you don't like it, ignore it. Not hard.

[DeeJay]

What's the problem with reinforcing the stupidity of the installer?

You don't like it, don't read it.

I'll rephrase that: you don't like it, ignore it. Not hard.


Slunnie, & I would think most readers, understood the misinterpretation on my behalf...

[p38arover]

This is actually one of 4 issues I found with the work done to my car, and I will see how the company responds to this before I name names.

Do not do that. We have a "no name and shame policy" on this forum. Naming and shaming will see your post edited or deleted.

[p38arover]

II decide to remove the receiver hitch just in case someone takes a liking to it and pinches it.

I have a locking hitch pin (given to me by Langy off this forum) on my hitch receiver, something like this:

159058

[Graekynn]

Do not do that. We have a "no name and shame policy" on this forum. Naming and shaming will see your post edited or deleted.

Ok if that's the policy I'll keep it to myself.

[Graekynn]

Ok if that's the policy I'll keep it to myself.

Just a little update, after an email response and a phonecall from the workshop, they were genuine in their apology and offered to transport my car free of charge a reasonable distance to rectify any and all issues. The boss has also offered to go over all the work that was carried out which restores some of my faith.

I had some further work scheduled with them after easter, and as long as its not unlawful to travel then for goods and services I'll give them an opportunity to resolve the issues and provide the level of service they have a reputation for.

Thanks again to all for your help :twobeers:

[David2ayo]

Every company / individual stuffs up once in a while, it is how they deal with it that is important. Looks like this is a good one - some are arrogant, some sprout meaningless BS excuses, but this one looks to be good.
David

[trout1105]

I have a locking hitch pin (given to me by Langy off this forum) on my hitch receiver, something like this:

159058

I had one of those but I turfed it because it was a royal PITA when I needed to swap over the tow hitch for the recovery hitch[thumbsupbig]

[p38arover]

I had one of those but I turfed it because it was a royal PITA when I needed to swap over the tow hitch for the recovery hitch[thumbsupbig]

Mine still uses the R-clip. If the R-clip is removed, the locking cap still stops the pin being removed. I don't find it a hassle to remove/refit.

[ausGeoff]

I recently paid to have, amongst other things, a hayman reese towbar fitted to my 90. Everything looked fine in the afternoon light so I drove home. Fast forward to today, I decide to remove the receiver hitch just incase someone takes a liking to it and pinches it. Upon removal and closer inspection I noticed the mechanic used vice grips to hold the ball in place while tightening it up. This has left deep gouges in the ball on both sides:
To say I'm disappointed is an understatement as you spend good money on professional labour to see a rookie move like this. My question to the brains trust is, can gouges like these damage the cup on the trailer or cause any issues while towing?

The ball and tongue have been held in a bench vice in order to swing on the nut. You can see the marks from
the vice's jaws on the corners of the flats. Personally, I couldn't be bothered going through the rigmarole of getting
it changed over. Two minutes with a file will fix the marks on the ball, which will be covered with rust in a month
anyway. And those marks won't affect the operation and/or longevity of the trailer coupling in any way.

[Blknight.aus]

Mine still uses the R-clip. If the R-clip is removed, the locking cap still stops the pin being removed. I don't find it a hassle to remove/refit.

and there ladies and gentle men is the most important thing i think we'll see in this place regardless of what other important stuff clears the interweb.


Ron has something that works.

[DiscoMick]

Another thing that can work is to get a locking bike chain and thread it through a pin hole in the towbar and through the front drawbars of the trailer.

[Tombie]

Ron has something that works.

Now you’ve gone and done it!!!

[Slunnie]

Ron has something that works.

Being the only one that works, it's probably still technically broken. :lol2: