Help with No. 5 Lunette Un-modification

**squizzyhunter** · 23rd July 2016, 08:16 AM

I have an old engineers trailer that I have been fixing up and am heading away up north with it in the next few days. I need to unlock the Lunette as i have a non rotating pintle. I went to do the unmod late last night (pushing it for time) but it had a home made milled lock washer so couldnt just turn it to unlock. It is a Saturday now and need to drive 6 hours with it tomorrow. So does anyone know of a source of said washers or equivalence spec on a weekend??
If I just take it out the Lunette has about 10mm of freeplay so im assuming this would chew it out from knocking back and forth.
Or would a locked/locked pintle/Lunette combo be ok to drive on sealed road as there shouldnt be drastic amounts of roll/rotation.

Also one of the Lunette flange threads has given out(one of the 6 bolts with the 14mm nuts on them that are directly welded to the drawbar. Went to torque them up and the bottom ones thread gave way without being too heavy handed.
What is the best approach to repair, would it be strong enough to use a smaller die to rethread or am I looking at needing to grind and weld a new one on (really dont want to try doing that)

Sorry if these are stupid questions as I have limited experience with this sort of thing and have scoured through REMLR and could not find things directly needed.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Cheers

**squizzyhunter** · 23rd July 2016, 08:18 AM

ImageUploadedByAULRO1469229483.112872.jpg ImageUploadedByAULRO1469229503.045399.jpg

**Aaron IIA** · 23rd July 2016, 09:19 AM

Under no circumstances drive with both hook and ring locked. It is much safer to have a fixed ring and turning hook. If absolutely necessary, you can have a fixed hook and rotating ring, but you need to be very careful when driving other than straight ahead. Sharp corners can be quite dangerous. With regards to the stripped thread, the best option would be to grind it off and weld on a new one.

Aaron.

**squizzyhunter** · 23rd July 2016, 11:56 AM

Thanks mate

With regards to unsafe with lunette swivel and pintle locked wasnt that standard up till series 3? Was it phased out for that reason? Bugger as thats the set up Ill have to use for a while. I will be nervous all the way up the cape now

**Wallaby Ted** · 23rd July 2016, 02:29 PM

I don't know if you can get the washer still as I tried to get one for my trailer as the washer had split. I ended up getting it welded back up and ground flat again to allow about 30 deg rotation each way. I had this done whilst they were putting on new flange threads as the originals had seen better days.

If you get really desperate I can lend you a rotating hook for the back of your vehicle. It is currently on a Hayman Reese adapter to fit straight into where the normal trailer connection goes.

Richard

**squizzyhunter** · 23rd July 2016, 03:24 PM

Thank you very much Richard!
I would have taken you up on that but made it to the bolt shop before they closed and got some washers that I just ground out the tab. Here is said ghetto washer ImageUploadedByAULRO1469255026.601236.jpg

Thanks guys I was stressing out this morning trying to figure out what to do with it

**DieselLSE** · 23rd July 2016, 04:43 PM

Squizzy, I had some keyed restricted movement washers machined up a few years ago on the basis that if I needed a new one now, I'll need more in the future! I can mail one up to you if you are happy to do field repairs. I'm currently in Sydney and will be back in Melbourne late next week. PM me if interested.

**Aaron IIA** · 23rd July 2016, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by squizzyhunter

Thanks mate

With regards to unsafe with lunette swivel and pintle locked wasnt that standard up till series 3? Was it phased out for that reason? Bugger as thats the set up Ill have to use for a while. I will be nervous all the way up the cape now

Rotating ring and fixed hook was standard on WWII Jeeps and trailers. From SIIa Land Rovers onwards, rotating hook is standard. Fixed ring is standard for No.5 trailers and their variants. The danger from fixed hook and rotating ring comes if you jackknife the trailer. The ring can rotate down, and not come back level when you straighten up. This can then bend or break either the hook or the ring, bend the rear chassis, or flip the trailer.

Originally Posted by Wallaby Ted

If you get really desperate I can lend you a rotating hook for the back of your vehicle. It is currently on a Hayman Reese adapter to fit straight into where the normal trailer connection goes.

Richard

This would be a good idea.

Aaron

**squizzyhunter** · 23rd July 2016, 06:52 PM

hmmm thanks Aaron this is definitely food for thought...

I would take you up on that offer Richard if we were going for a short time but we are off for 12 months up the Cape and then wandering the top end.

So if anyone wants to sell a rotating Pintle please let me know

**cactus** · 23rd July 2016, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by squizzyhunter

hmmm thanks Aaron this is definitely food for thought...

I would take you up on that offer Richard if we were going for a short time but we are off for 12 months up the Cape and then wandering the top end.

So if anyone wants to sell a rotating Pintle please let me know

not to discredit any previous posts as im sure each has had their own experiences re fixed or rotating hook. through curcumstance, ive ended up with a fixed hook and rotating pintle and done a few thousand ks over various terrain from bitumen to moderate off road and have yet to have an issue. mind you i may just have been lucky.i would prefer the rotating hook set up.. my trailer would be carrying around 500kg i guess so not overloaded.. ive been chasing a rotating pintle for ages and while there have been a few for sale they have always been interstate or overpriced. so ive just settled with what i have. as to the washer, i did the same as you . hasnt been a problem.

good luck with your trip. sounds great.

ps . also looking for a rotating hook.

regards cactus

cheers cactus

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