Do you grease your ball?

[Monsta]

Can I grease the ball? Do I need to keep it clean to provide a grounding source for the trailer or does the 4-way flat do that?

[Squidley]

You dont need to grease the ball, the 4 flat has the white wire that is the dedicated ground for the system.

[friesman]

whew! I thought it was going to be a personal hygiene question. :rotfl:

 

Brian

[greg_in_london]

I can't say that you HAVE to, but it is a moving part and grease cuts down wear and ensures that turning moments are reduced.

 

I remember reading people's reasons for not greasing, but didn't find them convincing, so have forgotten them.

 

In Europe the wiring includes an earth, don't know about your systems over there.

[cmiles3]

Main reason for not greasing is the grease builds up in your coupler. It's easy to clean of the hitch ball, but when did you look inside your coupler last? Dirt, rust, old grease packed in there will keep it from latching and unlatching.

[krome rose]

I'll be good. I'll be good. I'll be good.

[V7Goose]

You dont need to grease the ball, the 4 flat has the white wire that is the dedicated ground for the system.

Grease on the ball is mostly a matter of personal choice - it is a moving part, but the fit is very loose, so little chance of it actually binding up. If the ball is chrome and in good shape, I probably would leave it dry, but if old, nasty and rust (like mine), I'd lube it.

 

Now on to the wires - First, NEVER rely on the ball to create the ground circuit. Unfortunately, that means your bike either needs a 5-way plug (tail, brake, LT, RT, ground), or you need an adapter to convert the separate turn signal wires to a 4-way circuit that causes one of the brake lights to flash instead of a separate turn signal bulb.

Goose

[dynodon]

As mentioned, if you have to rely on the ball for a ground, you have a problem.

 

But I have been trailering big and little for over 40 years, and helped my dad before that. Never took off anywhere without a little grease on the ball.

 

In all that time, I have NEVER had a hitch coupler get clogged or messed up. the grease helps prevent rust on both components, and you should clean up both of them a few times a year depending on how much you trailer.

 

Only if you have a stainless steel ball will rust NOT be a problem, and I don't know of any stainless couplers, but maybe they exist. I have also seen parts on the coupler worn to the point of failure by not enough (or no) grease. I hAVe seen balls worn and rusted to the point of failure. Admitted this usually happens with large heavy trailers that see a LOT of miles, but nobody here really knows how many miles you or anyone else plans on using, and thus, you should get good advice and GREASE that thing!

 

If you are worried about getting grease on your clothing, then carry a ball cover, or wipe it off every time. OR use one that is on a removable mount.

 

Just a bit of other advice:

1. EVERY time you trailer and get off the bike, go around and touch the tire tread and the bearings. (good reason not to have wheels with hubcaps) if they are HOT then you could have a problem. Fix it.

2. Check the rig over every time you stop for loose ball, or coupling, or wires/chains dragging or a load shifting etc.

 

Safe trailering not only may save your life, but MINE!

[SilvrT]

whew! I thought it was going to be a personal hygiene question. :rotfl:

 

Brian

 

 

 

HUH?????? whatever could you mean???? ......

 

:rotf: