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Check your balls!!

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12907
Printed Date: 29 Mar 2024 at 1:45am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Check your balls!!
Posted By: Jholler
Subject: Check your balls!!
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 10:45am
after 1200 miles, I was getting a LOT of slack jerking. Fresh water full, everything else empty. Hubs were cool, brakes were fine....wait, what's this?? The coupler ball retaining nut was about three threads from falling off! 😱 Guess that big lock washer wasn't as effective as I hoped! Cranked it back down with a pipe wrench, and will remember to check more often now!

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2015 rpod 179
2014 Ram ecoDiesel HFE
2009-ish Chihuahua
https://ibb.co/S3qvZKG">



Replies:
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 12:52pm
If you have a 1 inch shank the torque spec is usually 250 ft lbs and 450 ft lbs for a 1 1/4 shank. 

You'll have a hard time getting that much torque with a pipe wrench. Either stop in at a shop which can do that or get the right size socket and a breaker bar, put the hitch in your receiver sideways, put the socket and bar on the nut so the bar is horizontal, and stand on the bar to tighten it.

if you take the torque requirement, divide by your weight and multiply by 12 that will be the distance in inches from the bolt where you need to stand.  


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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: Jholler
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 1:50pm
I'll look into that, for now it's torqued as hard as a 320lb power lifter can pull a 14" pipe wrench lol.

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2015 rpod 179
2014 Ram ecoDiesel HFE
2009-ish Chihuahua
https://ibb.co/S3qvZKG">


Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 2:13pm
Originally posted by Jholler

I'll look into that, for now it's torqued as hard as a 320lb power lifter can pull a 14" pipe wrench lol.

Ok, well it sounds like maybe you can get 300 ft lbs plus on it after all. I'm an old fart with a bad back. I don't even try to lift a sheet of drywall by myself any more.  I probably couldn't get more than 100 on it unless i stood on the bar. Embarrassed


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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 4:13pm
I use a 3' pipe on that pipe wrench, and the pipe wrench is probably 20". Very important it is tight. a 14" wrench is nothing.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."


Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 5:27pm
I used a 23" box head wrench to tighten mine. I stood on the wrench about 19 inches from the center axis of the ball after calculating it based on the torque needed and my weight.

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Alan
2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod"
2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4
Three cats


Posted By: Mirado
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2019 at 11:19am
I had a similar incident with a previous (and much larger) trailer I owned.  The nut loosened while towing, though not near so much as your case.  I used what tools I had with me to tighten it up, then bought a wrench just for that when I got back home.  Now I check for a loose ball before every trip.

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Miriam and Doug
2015 Rpod 181G
Silverado 1500


Posted By: crankster78
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2019 at 2:33pm
Greetings:
Always do a walk around when you start and every time you take a break.  Pro truckers are required to do this by law.  Check tire pressures before getting on the road.  You don't want to be the person at fault.  

Crankster78


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Crankster 78 R-179 2015


Posted By: codycountry
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2019 at 4:39pm
Mine came loose like that three times, even with a five foot cheater handle and two huge pipe wrenches involved.  
I have a friction sway bar and I think that added to the wiggling loose.  
Finally decided to dedicate the hitch and ball to one size and one use only, and welded the nut to the threads.  It is always tight now.  Problem solved.  


Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2019 at 6:03pm
I also double nutted mine.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."


Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2019 at 7:49pm
Originally posted by mcarter

I also double nutted mine.

Good idea


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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2019 at 11:29am
Balls: checked.

LOL


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rï½¥pod 171 gone but not forgotten!



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