Swing Away Hitch Pin maintenance...

[brucekgreen]

Soak pin in vineager it will take rust off them smear some grease on it

[BoatNoobie]

If your not going to swing the tongue replace the pin with a grade 8 bolt and locknut and add a coating of grease to the bolt body. Then tighten the crap out of it along with the swing side bolt and you'll have a solid no knock hitch.

Anybody have the size needed for this? I never use mine.

[78Staff]

Soak pin in vineager it will take rust off them smear some grease on it

Will do, have a new one coming but will try that on this one and keep as a spare.

[mikesxpress]

Anybody have the size needed for this? I never use mine.

You will need to measure what you have in order to get the correct hardware.

[BoatNoobie]

You will need to measure what you have in order to get the correct hardware.

Wouldn't it be better to use a SS bolt than a zinc coated grade 8 bolt?

[mikesxpress]

Wouldn't it be better to use a SS bolt than a zinc coated grade 8 bolt?

No. This is a towing life safety connection that requires the strength of a grade 8 steel fastener. Even hardened 316 stainless steel fasteners, normally used in aircraft applications, are < half the strength of a grade 8 steel fastener.

[Big dreams]

Thanks for posting this. I opened mine up yesterday and found a zerk so added some grease.

[willwork4fish]

I swing mine away a lot since I need to in order for it to fit. I hit mine with WD40 probably once a month and then a thin layer of grease.

[Meleagris1]

Grease it really well. I went from a steel B&W to an aluminum Weighsafe just for this reason.

[SteezMacQueen]

Just put it back and pretend you didn’t see it!

[Philly]

Just put it back and pretend you didn’t see it!

That is EXACTLY what I would do...lol

[swamprat]

WD40 and done

[Transom]

That does not look bad to me. Just wire brush it and grease it and stick it back in.

[rchavis]

No. This is a towing life safety connection that requires the strength of a grade 8 steel fastener. Even hardened 316 stainless steel fasteners, normally used in aircraft applications, are < half the strength of a grade 8 steel fastener.

I second with Mike said. Also if you order a new pin , make sure it will take the weight of the boat and load , all is the not the same as they look.

[78Staff]

To bring this back full circle - I cleaned up the original with vinegar as brucekgreen suggested, cleaned it right up. put some lube on it and keeping for spare. Have a new Fulton pin I am using after cleaning up the joint area.

[BoatNoobie]

No. This is a towing life safety connection that requires the strength of a grade 8 steel fastener. Even hardened 316 stainless steel fasteners, normally used in aircraft applications, are < half the strength of a grade 8 steel fastener.

Lol I forgot a couple years ago, I bought a Duralock SS tongue lock for my trailer. I noticed it the other day when I looked at it to see what bolt size I needed.

I don't know what the strength specs are but if they're good enough for hitch pins and the likes, it should be fine.

[Bassin Bob71]

No way I would use Anti-Sieze on that. Not that it won’t help. But you can paint the Earth with one loaded brush of anti-seize. You’ll end up with anti-seize on everything you own after 2 weeks.

[retiredmechanic]

You only use very little Anti-Seize. It's not if a little does good, a whole lot will do a lot of good.

[retiredmechanic]

deleted

[Twulf]

Another good option is replace the pin with a Dura safe lock. You can also buy coupler lock and receiver lock all keyed alike.