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22 March 2007, 11:54
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#1
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Member
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: fife
Make: Humber / searider
Length: 5m +
MMSI: ... - - - ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 720
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Greasy Balls
Who puts grease on the tow ball? An old boy the other day told me to but some grease on my ball… but was pointing to the tow ball.
What is the reasoning for this, did not want of feel the need to start a debate with the gent in the petrol station.
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“The only difference between men and boys, is the price and size of their toys”
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22 March 2007, 12:26
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#2
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Member
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Uphall
Boat name: Iona
Make: Zodiac
Length: 5m +
Engine: Optimax 115
MMSI: 235053483
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 105
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a dry ball will generally mean that your towhitch creakes and judders every time it moves relative to the car ... get it greased
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22 March 2007, 12:44
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#3
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RIBnet supporter
Country: UK - England
Town: Over there ---->
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 240
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Yep. I always keep my ball greased. Get a cover for it though or else you'll make a mess everywhere when you're not using it...
At the end of the day it is a moving part - you wouldn't run your wheel bearings dry, so consider your tow ball the same. At the very least, running it dry will cause premature wear to both the tow ball and the trailer hitch. At worst the trailer might bind during towing, preventing it from articulating properly, causing instablilty and a very dangerous towing condition.
Also keeping it properly greased will help to prevent corrosion on both the tow ball and the trailer hitch - both should be plated but it soon wears through.
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I don't have an attitude, I have a personality you can't handle.
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22 March 2007, 12:46
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#4
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Member
Country: Other
Town: Principalite d'Chaos
Boat name: The Nashers Revenge!
Make: Windsor Brothers
Length: 6m +
Engine: Optimax 225
MMSI: "Mmmmm SI" she said!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,924
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All
I thought everyone greased their ball.
Only thing to watch out for is TTR or 'Towball Trouser Rash'.
Which if not treated quickly rapidly becomes a sore ear.
This occurs when you forget to put the cover back on your greasy towball, and then the grease rubs off on your trousers when you go in the boot.
The grief from the person in your life who does the washing gives you the sore ear.
Nasher
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22 March 2007, 12:54
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#5
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Salisbury
Boat name: Blue C
Make: XS 600
Length: 6m +
Engine: 125hp Opti
MMSI: 235082826/235909566
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,439
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Be careful greasing the Tow ball if it is also used for towing a trailer using ALKO AKS system hitch, these must ne coupled to a Dry Ball
See here for detail. http://www.al-ko.co.uk/edit/files/su...ubrication.pdf
Regards
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22 March 2007, 12:56
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#6
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Member
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: fife
Make: Humber / searider
Length: 5m +
MMSI: ... - - - ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 720
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have not noticed any creakes and judders on any of the cars I have towed with... mind you only normaly tow it 50 - 100 yards... and I was keeping it grease free to avoid the TTR, can get nasty up our way.
have a longer trip soon so greasy ball time it is then.
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“The only difference between men and boys, is the price and size of their toys”
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22 March 2007, 12:59
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#7
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Bristol
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 4,299
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I grease my Ball !!
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22 March 2007, 14:08
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#8
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Exmouth, Devon
Length: no boat
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 767
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nasher
Only thing to watch out for is TTR or 'Towball Trouser Rash'.
Which if not treated quickly rapidly becomes a sore ear.
This occurs when you forget to put the cover back on your greasy towball, and then the grease rubs off on your trousers when you go in the boot.
The grief from the person in your life who does the washing gives you the sore ear.
Nasher
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Or even worse, when that person is a victim of TTR! (I've still got the scars)
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22 March 2007, 14:30
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#9
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RIBnet supporter
Country: UK - England
Town: West Wittering
Length: no boat
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,447
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In the words of Swiss Tony
Greasing your ball.........
Well, greasing your ball is very much like making love to a beautiful woman. Take off the cover, clean all the relevant surfaces, smear on some grease, and hitch her up. Then you clean your tool, light your pipe, stand back and admire your handiwork.
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22 March 2007, 16:42
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#10
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Member
Country: USA
Town: Oakland CA
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sixy_the_red
At the end of the day it is a moving part - you wouldn't run your wheel bearings dry, so consider your tow ball the same. At the very least, running it dry will cause premature wear to both the tow ball and the trailer hitch. At worst the trailer might bind during towing, preventing it from articulating properly, causing instablilty and a very dangerous towing condition.
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In addition, you may get enough torque applied to the ball to loosen the nut. Not usually a good thing.
jky
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22 March 2007, 17:41
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#11
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: new milton
Length: 4m +
Engine: yamaha 40
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 22
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i put vaseline on my ball cos the guy in the shop told us 2
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22 March 2007, 18:03
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#12
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Over here
Boat name: S.S. Nobstick
Make: Three Wise Monkeys
Length: 3m +
Engine: 44lbs of thrust....
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,127
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jyasaki
In addition, you may get enough torque applied to the ball to loosen the nut. Not usually a good thing.
jky
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Not a big problem in the UK.. most of our hitches are NOT like yours... .... 'cept the two I have.. both on US motors....although they are 50mm....and they're well greased..
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22 March 2007, 18:47
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#13
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Member
Country: USA
Town: Seattle
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: twin 90HP TLDI
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 177
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The only hitch i have ever greased is on the fifth wheel. The bumper pulls i don't like the mess and every time you grab the trailer to pull it your hand comes back all greased up leading to TTR. In 15 years of towing trailers i have yet to see substantial wear on a ball or hitch so given those numbers i will replace the hitch every 20 years or so just not to have the mess. As for the ball well someone usually steals it every couple years any how so i don't need to wory about it wearing out.
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22 March 2007, 18:56
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#14
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Member
Country: Other
Town: San Carlos, Mexico
Boat name: INDE
Make: LOMAC 730
Length: 7m +
Engine: 200 Merc.
MMSI: Please press 1
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,688
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Step 1-- grease ball
Step 2-- add grounding wire bolted to trailer with a big croc. clip to clamp to tow hitch bracket with enough length to allow movement.
Step 3-- buy fancy chrome cover for ball
Step 4-- get fancy cover nicked ( takes about 2 days)
Step 5-- get tennis ball and cut slot to give tight fit over tow ball.
Hope this helps
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Running around like a head with it's chicken cut off.
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22 March 2007, 21:55
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#15
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Fareham
Length: 6m +
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,866
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__________________
Andy
Looks Slow but is Fast
Member of the ebay Blue RIB cover club.
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22 March 2007, 22:16
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#16
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Member
Country: USA
Town: Oakland CA
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donnie144
The only hitch i have ever greased is on the fifth wheel. The bumper pulls i don't like the mess and every time you grab the trailer to pull it your hand comes back all greased up leading to TTR. In 15 years of towing trailers i have yet to see substantial wear on a ball or hitch so given those numbers i will replace the hitch every 20 years or so just not to have the mess. As for the ball well someone usually steals it every couple years any how so i don't need to wory about it wearing out.
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LOL. If you greased it, I'd bet they'd leave it alone...
jky
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22 March 2007, 22:31
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#17
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Member
Country: USA
Town: Seattle
Make: Ballistic
Length: 6m +
Engine: twin 90HP TLDI
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 177
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jyasaki
LOL. If you greased it, I'd bet they'd leave it alone...
jky
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LOL now i never thought of that!!
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23 March 2007, 00:09
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#18
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Member
Country: UK - Wales
Town: swansea
Boat name: Too Blue
Make: BLANK
Length: 8m +
Engine: Suzuki DT225
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,791
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Beware of grit on your balls - grease acts like a magnet and sand makes a great grinding paste!!!
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23 March 2007, 00:43
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#19
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Member
Country: Other
Town: Principalite d'Chaos
Boat name: The Nashers Revenge!
Make: Windsor Brothers
Length: 6m +
Engine: Optimax 225
MMSI: "Mmmmm SI" she said!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,924
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Quote:
Originally Posted by codprawn
Beware of grit on your balls - grease acts like a magnet and sand makes a great grinding paste!!!
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Codprawn, you've just reminded me of some good old days.
During the summer years ago it wasn't uncommon for me to bugger off down to Devon on my motorbike for the weekend with a young lady on the pillion, and just build a shelter on the beach at night using the bike with a groundsheet thrown over the top and pegged down. I knew some nice girls back then who were not too fussed about the comforts in life
Anyway, the point of this is to confirm that, yes, sand/grit gets everywhere, and certainly feels like grinding paste
Nasher.
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23 March 2007, 00:48
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#20
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Member
Country: Other
Town: San Carlos, Mexico
Boat name: INDE
Make: LOMAC 730
Length: 7m +
Engine: 200 Merc.
MMSI: Please press 1
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,688
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nasher
Codprawn, you've just reminded me of some good old days.
During the summer years ago it wasn't uncommon for me to bugger off down to Devon on my motorbike for the weekend with a young lady on the pillion, and just build a shelter on the beach at night using the bike with a groundsheet thrown over the top and pegged down. I knew some nice girls back then who were not too fussed about the comforts in life
Anyway, the point of this is to confirm that, yes, sand/grit gets everywhere, and certainly feels like grinding paste
Nasher.
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Devon, beach, motorbike, yup, been there and done that. Perhaps that is why my first wife got worn out.
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Running around like a head with it's chicken cut off.
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