Thread: Tow Balls - Why So Awkwardly Complex?

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Don't forget that everything has a tolerance specification and if its not written or measurable then you're free to make it up. So bolts, tighten them up until just before they go loose again. You won't get a tow bar that tight without putting the car in a vice.

Edit... I am joking.

“tighten them up until just before they go loose again” 🤣 I’m lovin’ the humour in this thread.

I'm reminded of many years ago reading the maintenance instructions for a mud pump (high pressure piston pump circulating drilling fluid on a mobile drilling rig used for drilling holes up to 300m). The torque specification for tightening the nut holding the piston on, from memory about 2" thread, "36inch pipe wrench with four foot cheater". Not too different from me loosening the wheel nuts on the County one time after the tyre place fitted a wheel!

I must be trying too hard.
Moved the daughter and SIL's camper trailer to Saratoga from Avalon so had to switch towballs from my Mchitch to normal.
He had a new towball.
Tightened it up with my shifter. Time came to undo and the lock washer had distorted so much it bit into the thread of the towball.

All I can think is that the lock washer was so crap and not sprung steel that it distorted. now he needs a new lock washer and maybe towball as the thread was damaged pretty severely.
So buy a quality lock washer from a nuts and bolts place.
Regards PhilipA

Don't forget the smear of grease on the ball each time it is used. Dry balls can apparently loosen up with movement friction. No kid.


Remember, grease your balls. Some may even find it a pleasant experience.

many an apprentice had the treatment.......I don't believe it was pleasant......especially when they used what we call "gotcha grease" those with a past in mining maintenance should know that one.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

many an apprentice had the treatment.......I don't believe it was pleasant......especially when they used what we call "gotcha grease" those with a past in mining maintenance should know that one.

At ED's shipyard in Brisbane it was the custom to "grease" new apprentices. A mixture of heavy grease, Stockholm tar, and machine shop swarf was the favoured treatment. Management put an instant stop to this when a highly aggrieved and influential mother of a 16 y.o. new apprentice went to court for damages and won a substantial award against the company. Sackings all around and warnings of instant dismissal and police charges of assault in future.

The apprentice's family were prominent in the Anglican Church and Freemasonry and wealthy.

With a background like that Brian, WTF was he doing wanting to be a Shipwright? Plumber, Sparky, Carpenter etc.

Originally Posted by 4bee

With a background like that Brian, WTF was he doing wanting to be a Shipwright? Plumber, Sparky, Carpenter etc.

He was a boilie and his family owned a specialist and prosperous engineering works. His father did not apprentice family at his works preferring they got a grounding in the outside world where they were not the bosses' son, nephew, etc.