greasing my balls .......

[JHardwick]

I've greased my balls with a few types of grease, and they start squeaking after 2,000 miles or so. When I'm loaded, I'm afraid of overworking the jack to re grease ... ..... plus, the movement of live passengers, can't be good on the jack.



What do you guys grease your balls with?

 

[Simplysmn]

Sorry but I guess I am going to be the first to ask why you are greaseing your Ball's ? ROFLMAO

 

[jelag]

I assume your talking about the ball associated with a gooseneck hitch... .

We use an extreme pressure full synthetic grease..... we also use the same grease on our 5th wheel hitches... .

I hate it, you get it on your hands and no matter how much you wash it just won't come off. . it seems to do a great job.....

Share with me where you found the Palomar 400.....

 

[steved]

Have you considered drilling the hitch with a 1/16" bit into the ball socket, then overdrilling just deep enough for threading in a zerk???

You could grease as needed if you had a zerk...

steved

 

[JHardwick]

Sorry but I guess I am going to be the first to ask why you are greaseing your Ball's ? ROFLMAO

To keep them from squeaking in a high usage situation, LOL.

 

[JHardwick]

I assume your talking about the ball associated with a gooseneck hitch... .



We use an extreme pressure full synthetic grease..... we also use the same grease on our 5th wheel hitches... .



I hate it, you get it on your hands and no matter how much you wash it just won't come off. . it seems to do a great job.....

I'll look for that when I get home. I just stopped in Independence, IA and bought a 3oz gun and a tube of Extreme Pressure moly-graph ... ..... so we'll see.



I've tried a couple of different extreme pressure greases and I always end up buying a plastic pouch of 5th wheel plate grease from a truck stop before I get home. That stuff doesn't last as long as the grease I left home with. Or I'll jack it up enough the scrape the squished out grease back up on the ball.



Either way, I hate jacking it up and having the horses moving around on the jack.

Share with me where you found the Palomar 400.....

Found it at my local CB shop for $200. It is a 4x1446 and swings about 425w with my General Lee d/k @ 2w swinging 40W.



Interested? I've been thinking of either using it as a driver for a straight 8 or looking for a 2x6 or 2x8 and selling the straight 4 Palomar.



Or I could see what he has when I return home, he's very reputable and doesn't operate near a truck stop :-laf

 

[JHardwick]

Have you considered drilling the hitch with a 1/16" bit into the ball socket, then overdrilling just deep enough for threading in a zerk???



You could grease as needed if you had a zerk...



steved

I have considered this. I would have to drill a 3/8"-1/2" clearance hole through the stem, and then either drill and tap the ball crown with aircraft drills and pulley taps ..... extra length needed ... ... ..... Or, drilling clearance through the stem and then drilling through the crown for a press in grease fitting.



consideration is as far as I've gotten :-laf

 

[TFucili]

I'll go along with Jim. I have had great luck with full synthetic grease in tough applications. I am still using up a case of Drydene Purple synthetic that really hangs in there, even in wet conditions and extreme pressure.

 

[GAmes]

Sorry but I guess I am going to be the first to ask why you are greaseing your Ball's ?

I'm with Simplysmn. Why bother? With the popping, creaking, groaning noises of the springs, shackles and frame I'm not sure I could pick out a squeak from the ball. Besides, Murphies law dictates that if there is grease on the ball it will transfer to your clothes whenever passing within 12 inches of it. :-laf

 

[JOdell]

Something else to consider. Amsoil makes a 5th wheel grease in a spray can. It comes with a little tube to put on the can. I use it on all my Hitch balls. Works very well. -Jason

 

[ANicklas]

Has anyone ever used "Green Grease?" It's some synthetic stuff, seems like a new product, but they claim has been around forever.
Thinking about using it for my u-joint that is right next to my 90* for my stacks... seems like the grease I have in there (refill it about every 1000-1500 miles) melts and slings out everywhere... . they claim it's good for really high temps, I think... .
Green Grease... . The Best Grease Money Can Buy!... . Just ask anyone who has used it!.....

Sorry for the highjack, but it seemed like a good place to ask... .

 

[KSHall]

Have you considered using STP? That is the slickest stuff I've ever seen!

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

I don't understand all the hubbub over hitch ball grease. We rarely grease them and have NEVER had problems. They creak and groan a little going through mountains and all but it is only noticed when you are directly over the hitch trying to sleep! I figure that is just part of the whole experience of hauling multiple horses with metal on metal contact between the hitch and ball. Unless your ball is getting totally chewed up by the hitch, I wouldn't worry about it. If it is getting chewed up, you have bigger problems than grease can solve. The coupler connection is not the same as a normal wear part. There is not alot of movement in there compared to any other joint on your rig.

just my . 02

 

[JHardwick]

My rubber ride trailer is pretty quiet, and my new trailer is air-ride. When it squeaks and creaks, it makes the whole rig sound rickety and sounds like crap pulling into a barn to pick up a $30,000. 00 horse.

I don't think the chrome ball can "absorb" any grease and on a 6,000 mile trip I usually re grease twice.

So far this stuff I bought in Iowa seems to be holding up ... ... ..... I'm heading down I77 to NC now.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

I guess I have never paid attention to squeeks and creeks on trailers before. You can sure hear my old stock trailer makin noise, but it is a stock trailer... . noise is expected. I guess I have no idea what it feels like to be embarassed by the sound of a trailer. I can look at a rig and see if it is rickety or not. I have looked at yours Hardwick, I don't care what sounds it is making, I would never guess it was rickety.

Trying to cure the sound of a gooseneck hitch might be like chasing your tail... ...

 

[JHardwick]

I guess I have never paid attention to squeeks and creeks on trailers before. You can sure hear my old stock trailer makin noise, but it is a stock trailer... . noise is expected. I guess I have no idea what it feels like to be embarassed by the sound of a trailer. I can look at a rig and see if it is rickety or not. I have looked at yours Hardwick, I don't care what sounds it is making, I would never guess it was rickety.

Trying to cure the sound of a gooseneck hitch might be like chasing your tail... ...

Actually, the slant in my profile is just my weekend deal to camp in. I haul the high dollar horses in this stock trailer :-laf



I have thin teflon strips on all of the cut gate, slider gate and escape door metal/metal contact points. I also put dabs of silicone in the plexiglass track to keep them from rattling. So, when my ball starts squeeking and creaking, it's noticeable and irritating.



It may sound anal, but these woman pay big bucks to have their horses hauled in a box stall, and a stock trailer doesn't have to sound like one coming down the road.



In fact, I'll make 2, maybe 3 more trips this year, and should end up close to $150,000 gross -$25,000 for fuel -$25,000 for equipment maintenance and depreciation -$15,000 for taxes, insurance, broker site subscriptions, office supplies and equipment = ~$85,000 cash for what doesn't really even seem like a job.

 

[steved]

In fact, I'll make 2, maybe 3 more trips this year, and should end up close to $150,000 gross -$25,000 for fuel -$25,000 for equipment maintenance and depreciation -$15,000 for taxes, insurance, broker site subscriptions, office supplies and equipment = ~$85,000 cash for what doesn't really even seem like a job.

I want your job...



I see you have the start of a hole melted in your roof from that Palamar 400... :-laf



Nice looking rig you got...



steved

 

[Ragain]

I'd stay away from those goose style couplers if hauling commercial. I tried everything on a goose ball... nothing worked. A tight fitting ball & socket is impossible to keep lubed..... squishes the grease out no matter what. Get a quality commercial rated fifth-wheel like Hinkley/Holland and toss the goose tube for a king-pin. Just some graphite lube (Black Death- if it gets on ya, its there till death) on the jaws and fifth-wheel surface will rid you of those troublesome/lame goose coupler blues!

 

[JCasper]

Actually, the slant in my profile is just my weekend deal to camp in. I haul the high dollar horses in this stock trailer :-laf



I have thin teflon strips on all of the cut gate, slider gate and escape door metal/metal contact points. I also put dabs of silicone in the plexiglass track to keep them from rattling. So, when my ball starts squeeking and creaking, it's noticeable and irritating.



It may sound anal, but these woman pay big bucks to have their horses hauled in a box stall, and a stock trailer doesn't have to sound like one coming down the road.



In fact, I'll make 2, maybe 3 more trips this year, and should end up close to $150,000 gross -$25,000 for fuel -$25,000 for equipment maintenance and depreciation -$15,000 for taxes, insurance, broker site subscriptions, office supplies and equipment = ~$85,000 cash for what doesn't really even seem like a job.

Dang, I want your job too.

 

[steved]

A tight fitting ball & socket is impossible to keep lubed..... squishes the grease out no matter what.

This is the reason I suggested a method of adding grease without unhooking or jacking the trailer... I sorta thought the same thing.



And short buying another trailer, I'd have another hitch installed on the one I already had...



steved