Equalizer Sway Hitch Issue

[Airabel-2]

Has anyone else had a problem with the L-Brackets and their mounting plates rotation on the trailer A-frame? Noticed mine today had rotated about 1/2" so the spring bars were only bearing on an edge.

[kscherzi]

Put them straight again and tighten the nuts good and firm. You can also purchase a pair of Equalizer sway jacket brackets that attach to the rubbing part of the L bracket. Two benefits, (1) substantial reduction in noise, and (2) they will eventually wear to compensate for any uneven mating surface between the L bracket and WD arm.

https://www.amazon.com/Equal-i-zer-9...48054702&psc=1

[majorairhead]

Take the L bracket off, re-set the link plate to proper position, and tighten to specified torque. If the link plate is bowed, turn it around. When tightening link plate nuts, go back and forth between top and bottom nut/bolt so to avoid bowing the link plate.

Then re-attach the L bracket and torque those nuts to spec.

For what it's worth, I check the torque on my link plates annually, and check the L brackets a couple times a year.

https://www.equalizerhitch.com/docum...al_2016-06.pdf

[Airabel-2]

Anyone notice in the photo what National Monument is in the background ( see the big rock )?
Anyway, I re-positioned the link plates and L-brackets. My Equalizer is a 400/4000, the lightest duty they make and bolts are smaller than the other hitches. The OM however has 30 ft-lbs torque for link plates in one place and 45 ft-lbs torque in another place, so I have to wait for Techincal Services to clarify which is correct. In the mean time I think I'll order those rubber pads.
Thanks

[majorairhead]

Looks like you were hanging out at Devil's Tower.

Make sure your link plates are flat, not bowed.

The manual for the 400/4k, see page 14 and 15 for torque. It says 25 to 30 ft lbs for link plates, 45 ft lbs for L brackets.

https://www.equalizerhitch.com/docum...6-06_PRINT.pdf

[Airabel-2]

Originally Posted by majorairhead

Looks like you were hanging out at Devil's Tower.

Make sure your link plates are flat, not bowed.

The manual for the 400/4k, see page 14 and 15 for torque. It says 25 to 30 ft lbs for link plates, 45 ft lbs for L brackets.

https://www.equalizerhitch.com/docum...6-06_PRINT.pdf

My page 15 says 20-30 ft-lbs for the L-bracket and 40-45 ft-lbs for the link plates.

[kpfate]

Originally Posted by Airabel-2

Anyone notice in the photo what National Monument is in the background ( see the big rock )?
Anyway, I re-positioned the link plates and L-brackets. My Equalizer is a 400/4000, the lightest duty they make and bolts are smaller than the other hitches. The OM however has 30 ft-lbs torque for link plates in one place and 45 ft-lbs torque in another place, so I have to wait for Techincal Services to clarify which is correct. In the mean time I think I'll order those rubber pads.
Thanks

Any Wyomingite would know....Devil's Tower of course!

[Airabel-2]

Equalizer tech support got back to me. They have since corrected the OM for the 400/4000 sway hitch and 30 ft-lbs is the correct torque for my link plates. They also suggest, if the link plates still rotate, to install wood shims in the gap between the bottom bolts ( about 1/8" on mine ) of the link plate and bottom of the trailer frame.
Also Equalizer does not recommend the jackets on the 400/4000 because it needs all the friction it can get for sway resistance.

[Mollysdad]

Just an observation, but the two bolts holding the "L" bracket seem too close together. Is it possible to move them to different holes so you have more 'leverage' from the bolts?
My "L" brackets get loose sometimes but not that extreme.