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Topic: Copper Grease

Le Boon

02/8/2018 at 12:09pm
Location: castle Cary
Outfit: Swift Classic Duette 1997

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Hello,

Just got a new tow ball, been told to use copper grease as the lubricant on the ball?

anyone had experience with this?

thanks

Rob and Tina

02/8/2018 at 12:47pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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Do you have an Alko stabiliser hitch on the trailer/caravan? If so the ball needs to be free of grease, paint, dirt etc to avoid clogging the pads.

Rob

Le Boon

02/8/2018 at 2:15pm
Location: castle Cary
Outfit: Swift Classic Duette 1997

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Hi Rob,

no mine is a standard hitch and stabilizer bar.

so metal on metal.

thanks

DaveS1

02/8/2018 at 5:26pm
Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
Outfit: Ace Supreme Twinstar Disco 3

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Any general purpose grease will do. Use the one that you can get off your trousers the easiest!
DaveS1

Ray Clayton

02/8/2018 at 6:02pm
Location: Ilkeston. Derbyshire
Outfit: Disco 4 Unicorn Barcelona 4

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Not copper then Dave !!!
But is a good grease.

-------------
Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4

scrumble

02/8/2018 at 6:38pm
Location: Cambridgeshire
Outfit: Moslty in a Pennine Pathfinder nowaday

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I wouldn't use copper grease. It's moslty used where you want anti corrosion/sieze properties (nuts and bolts) or where thyere might be higher temps (brakes) I think it isn't such a useful general lubricant.

I just smear on some genral purpose grease. (froma tub I bought yonks ago :-) )

Ray Clayton

02/8/2018 at 6:58pm
Location: Ilkeston. Derbyshire
Outfit: Disco 4 Unicorn Barcelona 4

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Agreed
we use in on the bolts in high temp ovens.
Works a treat, and we do use food safe version.

-------------
Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4

tango55

02/8/2018 at 7:28pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450

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Copper is a metal which is an excellent conductor of heat that's why they use it for lightning conductors on buildings because it's a cheaper alternative to lead which often gets stolen for it's value therefore Copper grease only needs to be used in certain applications where heat is generated to avoid melting such as brake pads and brake shoes etc. In fact, the application you need lubrication for ie. the towball, you don't require any type of high melting point grease so a general all purpose grease will be sufficient for towball hitch movement.
Sorry for the long post but it pays to explain in detail the reasons for not needing Copper grease for the towball.

malkeiron

02/8/2018 at 7:46pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Swift Challenger 570 Hyundai ix35

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Previous trailers and caravans with standard hitch I used vaseline.

tango55

02/8/2018 at 7:54pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450

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Quote: Originally posted by malkeiron on 02/8/2018
Previous trailers and caravans with standard hitch I used vaseline.

Vaseline is a petroleum based gel which doesn't have the the same composites as that of an oil based grease. I suppose it would work for a short while but wouldn't prevent any wear between the two metal contacts I wouldn't have thought.

Leeroy1982

02/8/2018 at 8:17pm
Location: Bridgwater Somerset
Outfit: outwell newgate 6

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General purpose grease here for me to, bought a tub from some where ages ago lasts forever and only a couple of quid!!

We use cooper grease in work, on stainless steel nuts and bolts to stop them seizing up when done up, just one of a number of uses for it!!

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May 2020 - tbc
7tth August -15th August 2020 trevornick Cornwall

malkeiron

03/8/2018 at 3:28pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Swift Challenger 570 Hyundai ix35

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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 02/8/2018

Quote: Originally posted by malkeiron on 02/8/2018
Previous trailers and caravans with standard hitch I used vaseline.

Vaseline is a petroleum based gel which doesn't have the the same composites as that of an oil based grease. I suppose it would work for a short while but wouldn't prevent any wear between the two metal contacts I wouldn't have thought.

Your probably correct but it stopped any rusting, squeaking,etc and was a handy little size tub to tuck away. 😁

DarrenElbrow

03/8/2018 at 4:51pm
Location: Poole Dorset
Outfit: Conway Challenger 1997

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I use motorcycle chain wax. Works well on my bike chain, pretty good on the tow bar and camper

The 2 Tops

05/8/2018 at 11:43am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift Challenger Sport 524 VW Carave

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When we had a conventional hitch where grease was required, I used L10 lithium based grease - that similar to which is used to pack wheel bearings.
Bertie.

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The 2 Tops

HighSlayer

07/8/2018 at 10:35am
Location: Durham
Outfit: Caravan and tents

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Lithium grease here too - I bought a small can of it about 20 years ago, still half of it left. Also gets used for battery terminals, bonnet catches and anything else I can think of when I'm wandering around the car with the can in my hand.

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A slightly younger Victor Meldrew

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