Detectable tow bar seat.

[DaveA1]

Have looked and can find no instructions on how to clean the tow bar seat/fitting to motor How do you do it???

I usually give it a good wash with brake cleaner, when fitting the tow ball, as I think to oil it is a NO NO.

 

[Woodentop]

Brake cleaner is correct.

 

[otherclive]

Have looked and can find no instructions on how to clean the tow bar seat/fitting to motor How do you do it???

I usually give it a good wash with brake cleaner, when fitting the tow ball, as I think to oil it is a NO NO.

That’s what my Witter OM said, avoid lubrication.

 

[Jcloughie]

I feel the OP is referring to the mechanics of the locking mechanism when the bar is inserted into the aperture. Clearly brake cleaner for the ball. But I would have thought that the only problem with lubricating the other end is cross contamination. I have found no need to do anything with this car. But sometimes it lockes easily, and others it's a right €$§^?!!

John

 

[Woodentop]

If we are talking the peg of the bar mount - whether horizontal, vertical, or sloping - a very thin smear of Silicone grease is the best option as it doesn't wash away.
WAS YOUR HANDS thoroughly after applying the grease as it will leave deposits everywhere and if it gets on your windscreen...............

 

[Gralay]

I feel the OP is referring to the mechanics of the locking mechanism when the bar is inserted into the aperture. Clearly brake cleaner for the ball. But I would have thought that the only problem with lubricating the other end is cross contamination. I have found no need to do anything with this car. But sometimes it lockes easily, and others it's a right €$§^?!!

John

I also think the OP is asking about the towball to towbar aperture, I fitted our towbar in 2017 which is a horizontal fitting and the instructions said the aperture should be greased,I would think that different manufacturers have their own maintenance instructions

Gra

 

[Paullus1959]

Over the years I have had Witter, Westfalia and currently a TowTrust removable tow bar fitted. A rub with fine grit paper to remove any surface rust and brake cleaner to remove any oily contamination from the tow ball itself.
I have never seen anything about how to maintain the tow bar plug and socket parts so, I always clean the plug thoroughly with WD40 and a cloth and squirt the same into the socket and the lock.
My current TowTrust Towbars comes with clear instructions that it should not be left attached for longer than 10 days. I suppose that’s to reduce the risk of it seizing in the socket.
I have found this article online which may be of help too.

Towbars and towbar maintenance gear guide

Caravan and motorhome insurance specialists, Caravan Guard, presents the ulitmate guide to towbars; including tips on where to buy & maintenance checks.

www.caravanguard.co.uk

 

[Jcloughie]

And Witter advice says no grease in the aperture as it attracts grit.

How to Look After Your Towbar | Witter Towbars

How to Look After Your Towbar | Witter Towbars

www.witter-towbars.co.uk

John

 

[Hutch]

And Witter advice says no grease in the aperture as it attracts grit.

How to Look After Your Towbar | Witter Towbars

How to Look After Your Towbar | Witter Towbars

www.witter-towbars.co.uk

John

In Witters write up it states. Under the don't do these things.
If you have a detachable towbar, do not grease the tow ball- only the receiver end.
When I had a detachable on my Vectra, I used Coppa slip grease, in the reciever.

 

[Jcloughie]

In Witters write up it states. Under the don't do these things.
If you have a detachable towbar, do not grease the tow ball- only the receiver end.
When I had a detachable on my Vectra, I used Coppa slip grease, in the reciever.

You are correct. I was looking at the earlier statement in the article. Odd they feel the need to tell you what to do, in the section entitled “Don’t do these things”.

Threw me clearly.


John

 

[DaveA1]

Thanks all, Will keep mine clean, with a smear of grease. The receiver that is.

 

[JTQ]

Thanks all, Will keep mine clean, with a smear of grease. The receiver that is.

If it is a type like our Thule/Brinks that is dependent on a tapered fit, I prefer to use a light oil, rather than the more viscous greases.
Just want it to go fully seated home, when I install it.

 

[otherclive]

Mine stays on the car as a proximity parking deterrent for other drivers. But I tend to remove it about once a month to ensure it locks into the socket and the key lock works.

 

[Beachball]

Detachable towbar always keep the ball bar and the receiver clean to ensure proper operation,
Treat lock only with graphite
Lubricate the bearing points friction surfaces and balls with resin -free grease or oil we always use protection cap .
like what someone says when not in use take it off the check the socket key lock works as it should

 

[otherclive]

In Witters write up it states. Under the don't do these things.
If you have a detachable towbar, do not grease the tow ball- only the receiver end.
When I had a detachable on my Vectra, I used Coppa slip grease, in the reciever.

Ive just been into my files to read my OM for the Witter lowball assembly. It just says no grease on the towball, and just to keep the towball and socket clean. But it does say to remove it when not in use, and to fit the plastic socket cover. My OM is a 2008 copyright for a towball fitted in 2020. So I guess someone has been remiss in providing updated OMs, as the OM is generic to all Witter detachable tow balls. But over the years Ive never greased anything on the assembly, but have occasionally smeared a light coating of ACF in the socket for winter when the caravan was not being used, but cleaned it to when next fitting the towball.

 

[Jcloughie]

Ive just been into my files to read my OM for the Witter lowball assembly. It just says no grease on the towball, and just to keep the towball and socket clean. But it does say to remove it when not in use, and to fit the plastic socket cover. My OM is a 2008 copyright for a towball fitted in 2020. So I guess someone has been remiss in providing updated OMs, as the OM is generic to all Witter detachable tow balls. But over the years Ive never greased anything on the assembly, but have occasionally smeared a light coating of ACF in the socket for winter when the caravan was not being used, but cleaned it to when next fitting the towball.

That's how I read their instructions in my link. But as Hutch pointed out. If you read down to the “don’t do” section. It is there that it says to use grease on the mechanism.

Perhaps that is a revision.

John

 

[Buckman]

Ive just been into my files to read my OM for the Witter lowball assembly. It just says no grease on the towball, and just to keep the towball and socket clean. But it does say to remove it when not in use, and to fit the plastic socket cover. My OM is a 2008 copyright for a towball fitted in 2020. So I guess someone has been remiss in providing updated OMs, as the OM is generic to all Witter detachable tow balls. But over the years Ive never greased anything on the assembly, but have occasionally smeared a light coating of ACF in the socket for winter when the caravan was not being used, but cleaned it to when next fitting the towball.

Our Trust tow bar has the same instruction about fitting the socket cover. I am wondering if it is better to use graphite powder to lubricate. I have used it in sticky door latches etc.

 

[JTQ]

Our latest Thule/Brink tow bar [2016] comes with instructions to remove it when not in use, and the spate of wear issues LR had with these was largely blamed on them not being removed when not in use.

I was one of those early users [from 2004] when such an instruction was not given, and I left ours too frequently in place, and suffered the locking pin's cam face fretting wear that led to the in-use clanking. Not in itself an immediate danger but both an irritant and in the longer term does become damaging.

I was covered many years down the line by the recall fix, but unfortunately then ended up with their monstrosity of the fixed tow ball/plough unit.

So, with the vehicle's 2016 replacement, the tow ball, religiously is removed when not required; seems to be the cure, along with their very subtle design change.

 

[otherclive]

That's how I read their instructions in my link. But as Hutch pointed out. If you read down to the “don’t do” section. It is there that it says to use grease on the mechanism.

Perhaps that is a revision.

John

My owner’s instructions do not have a Do/DontDo section. The only advice given is as I posted above. So as you suggest there’s probably been an update for the on line readers. Wonder what the paper instructions say now.

 

[otherclive]

Our Trust tow bar has the same instruction about fitting the socket cover. I am wondering if it is better to use graphite powder to lubricate. I have used it in sticky door latches etc.

Where are you thinking of using the graphite powder? As per the paperwork supplied with my towbar I don’t use anything but as I did see signs of rust appearing in the socket I smeared a light coat of ACF in the socket, which is removed before using the towbar.

 

[Buckman]

Where are you thinking of using the graphite powder? As per the paperwork supplied with my towbar I don’t use anything but as I did see signs of rust appearing in the socket I smeared a light coat of ACF in the socket, which is removed before using the towbar.

I have no idea what ACF is?

 

[otherclive]

acf-50.co.uk

Diese Domain steht zum Verkauf!

www.acf-50.co.uk

But where do you plan to use graphite powder then.

 

[Jcloughie]

My owner’s instructions do not have a Do/DontDo section. The only advice given is as I posted above. So as you suggest there’s probably been an update for the on line readers. Wonder what the paper instructions say now.

I don't have a corosion problem, just fine surface discolouration. But I intend to use copper ease in future as sometimes it doesn't locate easily.

John

 

[JTQ]

I don't have a corosion problem, just fine surface discolouration. But I intend to use copper ease in future as sometimes it doesn't locate easily.

John

I would not with our detachable, with in our case the specific design of our Thule/Brinks unit, the tightness of the taper fit being important in its load carrying, thus I would avoid adding anything compliant.

Other designs might not be similarly affected with introducing compliant products.

 

[Buckman]

acf-50.co.uk

Diese Domain steht zum Verkauf!

www.acf-50.co.uk

But where do you plan to use graphite powder then.

On the locking mechanism on the detachable part. I never used a key in it so maybe stiff. No need to use it anywhere else.