Results 1 to 16 of 16
  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    LewistonME
    Posts
    384

    Grease coupler instead of ball

    Does anyone just grease the inside of the coupler rather than the trailer ball? Just curious and if it’s not recommended? My boat is the only trailer I haul around.

  2. #2
    I use a dryer sheet over the ball and hook up. No mess.
    2018 G3 Sportsman 17
    2018 Yamaha F90
    Garmin Ultra 106sv bow/console
    Ionic lithium batteries

  3. Member Rick H's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Northern Cincinnati Ohio
    Posts
    3,356
    #3
    As much as I hate the mess I put a little on the ball. It will help keep the wear down.


    just have to watch it if you leave it in place or remove it when not in use.

    Steve McQueen "Le Mans"
    Own the Champ! Life Long Petty Fan!

    2003 ChampioN 2006 250 Merc. XB, Prop By Mark C.
    2002 Ranger Okeechobee Special EvinRude Ficht 90 / 9.9 4-Stroke GLAD to have a Get me to the Dock motor maybe!

  4. Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Kelseyville Ca
    Posts
    5,465
    #4
    Whats the difference? Ball still gets grease on it.

  5. Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    LewistonME
    Posts
    384
    #5
    I figured if I greased the inside of the coupler most of the grease would stay on there. Just curious to see if anyone did it that way

  6. Member electritek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Osage Beach, Mo. Lake of the Ozarks
    Posts
    1,051
    #6
    I don't grease coupler or ball. Don't want grease all over. Would rather replace ball or coupler from long term wear than fight grease issues.


    2020 Ranger 521L Tour, 300 Mercury, 112 Minn Kota Ultrex
    3 12" Helix Units, Mega Si, Mega Di, Mega 360, Garmin 8412 W LiveScope mounted on Rite Hite Turret.

  7. Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Mohawk, New York
    Posts
    9,553
    #7
    Quote Originally Posted by electritek View Post
    I don't grease coupler or ball. Don't want grease all over. Would rather replace ball or coupler from long term wear than fight grease issues.
    same here. I’ve never greased the ball or coupler and have never had any issues. Might be a bit more noisy without grease than with, but never have to worry about the mess. The amount I take my boat out (15-20 times a year) is just rather replace the ball or coupler.
    1995 Ranger 481v
    1995 Johnson Fast Strike 175hp

  8. Member Bassman Ia.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Co.Bluffs
    Posts
    33,238
    #8
    I use a teflon coating instead of grease. Might be a starbrite product

  9. Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    KALKASKA MICHIGAN
    Posts
    4,065
    #9
    spray graphite. cj
    2002 X19 200HP OX66 HO Vmax,HPDI lower, it lives, thanks Hydro Tec.

  10. Member
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Roaming…..
    Posts
    2,182
    #10
    Its pretty hard/costly to replace a welded on coupler that some trailers have. I myself have one on an enclosed snowmobile trailer and an RV trailer, both welded. I would prefer not to wear them out so yea grease it is.

    Using a good sticky grease like Lucas red and tacky keeps the grease in place and one of these mitigates any mess when the trailer is off.

  11. Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Wisconsin Dells, WI
    Posts
    436
    #11
    Has anyone actually worn one out? I would think you would need to go hundreds of thousands of miles to put any wear on one. They are mostly back there pulling, even corners they dont rotate much, and then back. There would be no heat buildup to accelerate the wear. Just curious, never even thought about greasing one.

  12. Member electritek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Osage Beach, Mo. Lake of the Ozarks
    Posts
    1,051
    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by Fishingfarmer View Post
    Has anyone actually worn one out? I would think you would need to go hundreds of thousands of miles to put any wear on one. They are mostly back there pulling, even corners they dont rotate much, and then back. There would be no heat buildup to accelerate the wear. Just curious, never even thought about greasing one.
    Never heard of a Ball or Coupler worn out. I replace my ball occasionally if it looks a little rough, maybe every 5 years.


    2020 Ranger 521L Tour, 300 Mercury, 112 Minn Kota Ultrex
    3 12" Helix Units, Mega Si, Mega Di, Mega 360, Garmin 8412 W LiveScope mounted on Rite Hite Turret.

  13. Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    lexington nc
    Posts
    1,166
    #13
    Quote Originally Posted by Fishingfarmer View Post
    Has anyone actually worn one out? I would think you would need to go hundreds of thousands of miles to put any wear on one. They are mostly back there pulling, even corners they dont rotate much, and then back. There would be no heat buildup to accelerate the wear. Just curious, never even thought about greasing one.
    Never,,even heard of anyone wearing one out,,Just like a hogs nose and a Pus---- you will never see either one in a junkyard

  14. Member
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Roaming…..
    Posts
    2,182
    #14
    I have seen a few that got real loose over time. I have welded some new ones on for a buddy that owns a local landscape company and he has worn a few to the point they were banging away and loose on his mower trailers. You could literally feel the slop in them if you grabbed the trailer and gave it a tug, a new ball did not help. They were loose up and down and side to side. It was the socket that was badly worn. These trailers see maybe 15k miles a year in use and he would wear one out in a couple years. He greases them now and has learned his lesson, he does them weekly since they generally never come off the ball when the trucks are parked for the day. Has had zero worn out couplers in 10 gears since he started greasing them.

  15. Member Texas Larry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Irving, TX
    Posts
    3,426
    #15
    I always just put a very little grease on the front of the ball and around the bottom of the ball where the coupler grabs it. It only takes a little dab, and there's no mess. If you are concerned about getting grease on something, a quick wipe with a paper towel will remove it when you disconnect the trailer. That's the way my Dad did it, and I guess just passed it on to me!

  16. Member 06 SB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    West Point Lake, GA
    Posts
    10,984
    #16
    My Dad was a truck driver and required everything to be greased like the fifth wheel coupler on his rigs. He always had covers for the ball though. Being the obedient son, I never greased anything until I started having trailer light issues. The hitch ball had gotten so corroded that it was not a ground any longer. I now just lightly grease the ball or the coupler...either works.

    USN Retired
    2020 Basscat Caracal
    2020 Mercury 225 ProXS 4s