Grease or not?

[blumob]

Should the ball hitch be greased?

[vintagemotor]

Yes! Only a thin film of grease is needed. If the ball is dry, the hitch will act like a wrench and every time you turn due to the friction caused by lack of grease, the ball will become loose-not safe!

[thewarden]

Absolutely! Bare metal on metal contact will wear parts out prematurely, sometimes with costly results.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

You don't *need* a lot of grease on the ball. Slobbering it on does not hurt anything ( = no need to be careful). Driving around with a "bare" greased hitch ( no matter how much is on it) is likely to build up dirt and grit in the grease. Wiping the ball off from time to time (and re-greasing) *is* a good idea.

Also most WD hitches need various bits and pieces ( but maybe not all bits and pieces) lubed. The same issues often apply (dirt and crud in the grease). Best to dig into the instructions for your specific hitch.

Bob

[blumob]

Thank you,what type of grease?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Any thick / clear-ish grease will doy If it comes in a tub that's a good sign. I like to find something that has a big enough opening on the container to apply it directly to the ball from the container. One example:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Unscrew the top, rotate the "tub" on the ball, put the top back on.

AFIK there's nothing special about that brand.

Bob

[rmkrum]

One of the other things that come in handy working on an Airstream is appropriately-sized nitrile (not latex) gloves that come in a bulk dispenser box.

Great for keeping hands clean when dumping tanks, changing tires, or greasing things...

If you buy the food service ones from one of the big box discount stores (Smart and Final, Costco, Sam's, etc) they are also nice for food prep use.

[Adventure.AS]

I find a tube of white lithium grease works well for me. My tow ball is flat on the top and doesn't come in to contact with the coupler, so I just need to squeeze a bit onto the shoulders of the ball from time to time.



I also cut off the bottom 1/3 of a 12 oz plastic coke bottle and it snaps over the 2-5/16" tow ball perfectly to keep the grease of my clothes.

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by blumob

Thank you,what type of grease?

I use a spray bottle of white lithium. Some of the hitch manufacturers sell their own brand of hitch ball lubricant (google search to find brands). But, any grease will work, wheel bearing grease, multi-purpose grease, Vaseline, etc. In a pinch, I've heard of people using a plastic disc cut out of a milk jug placed on top of the ball.

I put a slide lock sandwich bag on the ball when it's not attached to the trailer, to keep grease off of me.

[rmkrum]

Some have drilled and tapped an appropriate set of threads into the top of the AS hitch socket and installed a grease fitting so it is easy to give it a shot with your favorite grease gun...

My ProPride is a bit of a pain to drop to lube the ball, and I have to use a grease gun on the WD bars anyway, so a grease fitting is a logical modification.

Just use a short plug tap, and get the fitting installed shallow so it does not stick out inside the coupler.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Some have drilled and tapped an appropriate set of threads into the top of the AS hitch socket and installed a grease fitting so it is easy to give it a shot with your favorite grease gun...

My ProPride is a bit of a pain to drop to lube the ball, and I have to use a grease gun on the WD bars anyway, so a grease fitting is a logical modification.

Just use a short plug tap, and get the fitting installed shallow so it does not stick out inside the coupler.

Hi

Indeed one of the reasons for "slobbering on the grease" is to lube the innards of the hitch as well. Regardless of manufacturer, getting heavy duty grease up in there is a bit of a pain.

Bob

[NWRVR]

I use a moly-graph high pressure grease for the ball hitch. As previously stated, any lube will do in a pinch, but it will not hold up to the 800+ lbs rotating on the ball.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by blumob

Should the ball hitch be greased?

Yes. White lithium grease.

[KK4YZ]

Wheel Bearing Grease 👍

[rmkrum]

White lithium grease will not take the pressure. A quality EP grease with graphite and molybdenum additives would be better. You want it to stay in there under heavy loads. Post #12 is correct.

[Adventure.AS]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

White lithium grease will not take the pressure. A quality EP grease with graphite and molybdenum additives would be better. You want it to stay in there under heavy loads. Post #12 is correct.

Sorry to disagree, however, although Wikipedia is not always correct, however the entry there says "... ("lithium grease") adheres particularly well to metal, is non-corrosive, may be used under heavy loads, and exhibits good temperature tolerance." Further in the article it says that it is used in automotive CV joints. Looks like it is holding up well on my hitch ball.

[Acheron2010]

https://smile.amazon.com/WD-40-Speci...lithium+grease

[Nesty19]

Thank you!

Is this the EP grease you are referring to?
Also, if you’re on the road for an extended time, say, a month, how often would you apply?

[TG Twinkie]

Applying grease is OK. But keep in mind. When it collects dust and dirt it acts like a grinding compound.
Keeping the surfaces clean is more important.
So clean and grease is the proper method. IMHO

[GCinSC2]

And from the Reese corner in a two tone blue and white container http://www.reeseprod.com/mobile/prod...8OaGHduyxF9FGH

I use wheel bearing grease, handy but taking a major hitch companies recommendation for using grease on the hitch ball.