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Topic: Rough Or Smooth?

Jason Neville

19/6/2011 at 2:57pm
Location: None Entered
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I have been towing now for 3 years. When I picked up my van the tow ball on my car was new and the dealer used emery paper to rough up and take the paint off the ball itself. After 3 years where the stabilzer has sat its now gone very shinny.

Should I rough up again with emery cloth? I assume you get better grip with it being slightly rough or should it be shinny?

nands

19/6/2011 at 3:09pm
Location: Wirral
Outfit: Rimor New Polaris 530-6 & Volvo V70

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I would imagine he was removing the paint on your new towball. This contaminates the stabiliser of the caravan if it is left on. Once removed you should not need to do anything further to the towball.

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D S B

19/6/2011 at 3:39pm
Location: Polesworth Warwickshire
Outfit: Bailey Unicorn III Valencia (LR Disco)

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I agree with nands, but would give it a clean every so often.

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David

AndrewK

19/6/2011 at 3:49pm
Location: Oldham
Outfit: Burstner S500TS Nissan Patrol 3.0 SVE

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Quote: Originally posted by Jason Neville on 19/6/2011
Should I rough up again with emery cloth? I assume you get better grip with it being slightly rough or should it be shinny?

You will need to use 180 or 220 grade abrasive at the start of each year to clean the ball and remove any rust that has formed over wnter. Each time you tow, cleaning the ball with kitchen roll dampened with isopropyl alcohol (or meths) is a good idea too.

If the tow-hitch starts to groan when you tow, cleaning the friction surfaces inside the hitch might be needed too.

Andrew

steveiem

19/6/2011 at 4:59pm
Location: Clacton on Sea . Sunshine Coast
Outfit: Compass Navigator 1200 TDi swb

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shiny balls are best , and lightly lubricated ,,

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LegsDownKettleOn

19/6/2011 at 5:04pm
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Quote: Originally posted by steveiem on 19/6/2011

shiny balls are best , and lightly lubricated ,,

I know what you mean, but not for an AlKo towball. Lubricated balls are definately a bad thing with an AlKo hitch

oldham

19/6/2011 at 5:55pm
Location: OLDHAM
Outfit: KYHAM XXL Sterling Eccles Emerald

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Legs down is right, ALKO no paint, no grease keep the ball and pads clean.

So it would help if we knew which system Jason has

Yes the first was to remove the paint, and some do need grease.

So do tell Jason

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Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

millermicm

19/6/2011 at 5:55pm
Location: west country
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As above,if you have an alko stabiliser lightly lubricated is definitely counter productive to an effective stabilisation of your habitation unit. In other words don't oil it!

The only maintenance needed for your ball is rust removal with emery, wet n dry, whatever. The dealer just removed the paint.

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Steve

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