Thread: Help getting tow hitch off!

Why not an angle grinder?

Originally Posted by Silvo

Why not an angle grinder?

I'd rather not destroy it if possible. I may need to tow something around town in the future and it'd be nice to have. I'd also like to avoid the risk of damaging something else, such as the spare.

Cheers

Dan

Originally Posted by Disco-tastic

I'd rather not destroy it if possible. I may need to tow something around town in the future and it'd be nice to have. I'd also like to avoid the risk of damaging something else, such as the spare.

Cheers

Dan

You cant/shouldnt tow with it in that condition....

Remove it asap and replace - look at a D4 unit - but check the housing in the Frame isnt damaged as they can then come loose and disconnect.. Or consider a Mitch Hitch as the ultimate upgrade.

Originally Posted by Tombie

You cant/shouldnt tow with it in that condition....

Remove it asap and replace - look at a D4 unit - but check the housing in the Frame isnt damaged as they can then come loose and disconnect.. Or consider a Mitch Hitch as the ultimate upgrade.

Thanks Tombie. A mitch hitch is the eventual upgrade.

It looks as though its just the security thing is buggered. Provided the rest is straight I wouldnt have thought it was totally ruined? I have never looked at one before so don't know.

Oh, and can I still get the spare off with it on?

Cheers

Dan

Seeing as the locking mechanism is damaged I would not risk towing with it whether you get it off or not. I would recommend you try to remove it what ever way you can and get either a D4 receiver or a Mitch Hitch.

If you can't remove it before you leave, then you could remove the spare by deflating it assuming you have a compressor to re-inflate of course.

Yeah ok. I didnt realise it locked it in place - I thought it was just an anti-theft device.

I don't have anything on this one. literally starting from scratch!

Thanks for the help!

Cheers

Dan

Lots of WD40 and a BFH, let the WD40 soak for a few hours and get it right into the lock and all around it, then with the key in, try turning it and holding pressure on the key, while tapping the hitch gently, this has worked for me with similar items.

I'm restoring an old Kawasaki Triple that has 42yrs of rust build up, so I'm kind of an expert at this proceedure now

The key/lock mechanism is on a shaft that rotates like a cam that withdraws an internal locking pin. If you attack the outside with an angle grinder you may make the removal task harder.

You could try removing the cover plate or even drill out the lock (the whole mechanism is buggered anyway) and see if you can pull the green handle and rotate which withdraws the pin. Otherwise I would try taking it to a dealer or specialist repairer who may have a trick to solve the problem.

As mentioned above, if you do replace the tow hitch get a D4 one (they are closer in to the chassis) and lubricate the tapers and pin with grease before inserting the mechanism. That way you shouldn't have the same problem again.