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03-12-2008, 02:07 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
2007 19' Safari SE
Seal Beach
, California
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 220
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Tightening hitch ball on Equalizer
The AS dealer prepared our Equalizer hitch (which I had to reverse to fit the lower receiver of our Dakota), and secured the hitch ball as part of the assembly. I've begun to notice that the hitch ball has loosened slightly, and I want to tighten the nut, which is recessed on the underside of the hitch, making it inaccessible to a closed or open end wrench. Is there such a thing as a socket that can fit the approx. 2" diameter hitch ball nut?
__________________
"I have found through trial and error that I work best under duress. In fact, I work only under duress." -Ed Abbey
Jerry & Susan
2007 19' Bambi SE; 2018 Ford F-350 5.4L SuperCrew 4x4
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03-12-2008, 02:13 PM
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#2
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Tom, the Uber Disney Fan
2006 30' Safari
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,693
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Yes there is:
Equal-i-zer Hitch Store: 1 7/8" Thin walled socket
and it cost $74.00!
I have one and have yet to use it. Oh, it takes an extra large socket wrench, too. I think it takes a 5/8" shank?
__________________
2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821
https://streaminacrossamerica.com/
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03-12-2008, 02:56 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2001 30' Excella
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 838
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There is most likely a lock washer on the ball shank before the nut. A Pipe Wrench or large adjustable wrench will work on the ball if there are flat spots on the bottom of the ball.
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Louis & Sergio
Air #22673
WBCCI# 2731
Four Corners Unit
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03-12-2008, 02:58 PM
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#4
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,411
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Not many people have these. I usually run up to the dealership every year and have them make sure it is tight. I think my dealer ground down a socket to fit in the tight clearance.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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03-12-2008, 03:18 PM
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#5
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Tom O
1966 17' Caravel
Altadena
, California
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 172
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Gosh, they are a little pricey. Any competent tool store should have a thin walled impact socket in the proper size. Not being a fan of Harbor Freight Tools I would look at Sears if you don't have a good parts store nearby.
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"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges!"
CA-7
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03-12-2008, 03:31 PM
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#6
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Tom, the Uber Disney Fan
2006 30' Safari
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,693
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BTW, the socket requires a 3/4" drive...my bad.
__________________
2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821
https://streaminacrossamerica.com/
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03-12-2008, 03:35 PM
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#7
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1 Rivet Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 11
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I found that a 1 13/16 socket from Sears worked ($24). It did require some grinding on the hitch and socket to make it work, and it is still a tight squeeze. The 3/4 inch breaker bar or ratchet is not cheap either. If you are close to the dealer, let them do it for you.
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03-12-2008, 03:50 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1978 31' Excella 500
Venice
, California
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,067
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Remember, always tighten enough to make the balls sweat!
__________________
"Not all who are laundering are washed" say Bill & Heidi
'78 Excella 500,"The Silver Pullit". vacuum over hydraulic disc brakes, center bath, rear twin. '67 Travelall 1200 B 4X4 WBCCI 3737
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03-13-2008, 01:17 PM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 334
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Although my application is not the same, what I do to tighten the ball when I can't get a socket or wrench on the nut is to jam a screwdriver between the nut and the hitch wall where it's too tight to get a socket in. Then, I use either a large fixed wrench or crescent if there are flats on the base of the ball, or a pipe wrench on the round base of the ball, and it tighten that way. It's a reverse of what's usually done, but a boy's gotta do what a boy's gotta do. Like asking directions, I just hate to go to someone else to tighten that thing.
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03-13-2008, 02:21 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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No room for any kind of socket or wrench on mine. I do what Airstreamer67 does.
Dave
__________________
AIR #15800
"Wimpy" 1/2 ton 2002 GMC Sierra 4X4 Z-71 Gasser
2000 Safari SS 25'
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03-13-2008, 04:09 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
2007 19' Safari SE
Seal Beach
, California
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 220
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Great solution!
Many thanks, Airstreamer '67 and Dave! A pipe wrench on the hitch ball just never entered my noggin. I'm picking up our Bambi tomorrow from the A/S maintenance guy (Rod, at C & G Trailer in Bellflower, CA); he also said he could tighten the ball when I show up. But I'm definitely going to get a decent pipe wrench anyway. Do either of you use any tape to protect the neck of the ball?
-Jerry
__________________
"I have found through trial and error that I work best under duress. In fact, I work only under duress." -Ed Abbey
Jerry & Susan
2007 19' Bambi SE; 2018 Ford F-350 5.4L SuperCrew 4x4
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03-13-2008, 04:33 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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I was able to keep the pipe wrench teeth down on the bottom flange. You don't want to chew up the ball or neck.
It may be worth while to watch Rod and see how he does it.
__________________
AIR #15800
"Wimpy" 1/2 ton 2002 GMC Sierra 4X4 Z-71 Gasser
2000 Safari SS 25'
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03-13-2008, 05:56 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Flying Cloud
Panama City Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 612
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I let the local dealer tighten mine. The RV Tech did it quickly using an impact wrench. I believe it was 430 lbs of torque. Dealer didn't charge me either.
__________________
Russ and Linda
2018 Flying Cloud 27'
2012 F250 Powerstroke 6.7
AIR#24440 WBCCI#11740
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03-13-2008, 06:26 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
2005 25' Safari
North East
, Texas
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 44
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Sears Has the socket!
This is the socket I used. My Equalizer is a 2006 vintage. I can't speak for the older ones. The Craftsman socket in the link below fit and worked perfectly. I borrowed, from a friend a Proto 3/4" drive torque wrench for the job. I noticed that my local Tractor Supply had the socket for $19. I prefer the Craftsman.
Craftsman 1-7/8 in. Socket, 12 pt. - Model 47787 at Sears.com
Regards,
Ty
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03-13-2008, 07:39 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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Some of the posts are obviously referencing a different type of hitch set-up than the original post.
The nut refered to is recessed, surrounded on 5 sides. You cannot get any type of socket that I've ever seen on the nut. That is why some of us have used a large screwdriver/prybar to jam the nut while tightening the ball. It's not that we don't know what a socket is.
Just for clarification....
Dave
__________________
AIR #15800
"Wimpy" 1/2 ton 2002 GMC Sierra 4X4 Z-71 Gasser
2000 Safari SS 25'
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03-14-2008, 04:27 AM
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#16
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More than one rivet loose
Currently Looking...
Los Alamos
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,756
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old_Town
This is the socket I used. My Equalizer is a 2006 vintage. I can't speak for the older ones. The Craftsman socket in the link below fit and worked perfectly. I borrowed, from a friend a Proto 3/4" drive torque wrench for the job. I noticed that my local Tractor Supply had the socket for $19. I prefer the Craftsman.
Craftsman 1-7/8 in. Socket, 12 pt. - Model 47787 at Sears.com
Regards,
Ty
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Get the six point!!! they are stronger.
__________________
Michelle TAC MT-0
Sarah, Snowball
Looking for a 1962 Flying Cloud
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03-14-2008, 05:32 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Flying Cloud
Panama City Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 612
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I just looked at mine and the nut is totally recessed as the original post mentions also. The nut I see is 1 7/8" as the Equalizer website states. As Minnie Mate mentioned earlier and in the link he provided, Equalizer sells the socket for that nut ($74). You need a 3/4" drive wrench too. And to get 430 lbs of torque on that nut is another subject. Check out the Equalizer Hitch website and specifically the installation instructions.
__________________
Russ and Linda
2018 Flying Cloud 27'
2012 F250 Powerstroke 6.7
AIR#24440 WBCCI#11740
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03-14-2008, 05:52 AM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
2005 25' Safari
North East
, Texas
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 44
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Strong?
Quote:
Originally Posted by thecatsandi
Get the six point!!! they are stronger.
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All 3/4'' drive sockets have the tendancy to be pretty stout. This 12 pt. socket would be impossible to break under normal conditions.
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03-14-2008, 06:18 PM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member
2007 19' Safari SE
Seal Beach
, California
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 220
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Using a pipe wrench
Well, as discussed above, I witnessed a truly effective tightening of the nut on my Equalizer, with the use of a pipe wrench on the ball flange, and a metal pipe approx. 4' in length slipped over the wrench handle to give some truly CRAZY leverage. The nut was jammed from below with a prybar. The ball will never need tightening again, that's for sure, although the wrench left some significant teeth marks on the flange at the base of the ball (but no marks on the ball or the neck). Since there is no contact between the hitch socket and the flange, I guess the teeth marks are just a cosmetic flaw(?).
__________________
"I have found through trial and error that I work best under duress. In fact, I work only under duress." -Ed Abbey
Jerry & Susan
2007 19' Bambi SE; 2018 Ford F-350 5.4L SuperCrew 4x4
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03-14-2008, 07:11 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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Yep, won't affect it at all.
So this was the dealer? That's the way I do it, but I wasn't sure if there was a better way. Nice to know.
Dave
__________________
AIR #15800
"Wimpy" 1/2 ton 2002 GMC Sierra 4X4 Z-71 Gasser
2000 Safari SS 25'
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