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Old 08-12-2014, 02:14 PM   #1
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Greasing/lubricating the tow assembly (?)

I don't even recall where I was reading it, but whatever I was reading was recommending that the ball/hitch assembly be lubricated now and then.

I have the Reese dual cam with sway control system, so in addition to the metal-to-metal contact between the ball and coupler, I have the metal-to-metal contact with the sway arms.

Any recommendations for lubricating any of these parts (i.e. the type of lubricant / the frequency) would be much appreciated.
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Old 08-12-2014, 04:03 PM   #2
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Use the same grease you use to pack wheel bearings. Any lithium complex grease will be just fine.
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Old 08-12-2014, 05:43 PM   #3
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Reese manual says to use petroleum jelly on the cams of the dual sway control. You should not use grease on that part.
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Old 08-12-2014, 06:09 PM   #4
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Petroleum jelly is a fancy name for grease minus the anti-wear additives.

The raw material for petroleum jelly was discovered in 1859 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, United States, on some of the country's first oil rigs. Workers disliked the paraffin-like material forming on rigs because it caused them to malfunction, but they used it on cuts and burns because it hastened healing.[citation needed]

Robert Chesebrough, a young chemist whose previous work of distilling fuel from the oil of sperm whales had been rendered obsolete by petroleum, went to Titusville to see what new materials had commercial potential. Chesebrough took the unrefined black "rod wax", as the drillers called it, back to his laboratory to refine it and explore potential uses. Chesebrough discovered that by distilling the lighter, thinner oil products from the rod wax, he could create a light-colored gel. Chesebrough patented the process of making petroleum jelly by U.S. Patent 127,568 in 1872. The process involved vacuum distillation of the crude material followed by filtration of the still residue through bone char.

Chesebrough traveled around New York demonstrating the product to encourage sales by burning his skin with acid or an open flame, then spreading the ointment on his injuries and showing his past injuries healed, he claimed, by his miracle product.

He opened his first factory in 1870 in Brooklyn using the name Vaseline.[citation needed]

Source: wikipedia
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Old 08-12-2014, 06:13 PM   #5
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LOL... That might be the best post I've read on this site yet!
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Old 08-12-2014, 06:17 PM   #6
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The manual (http://www.reeseprod.com/content/dow...ion/N26002.pdf) spells out very clearly at the bottom of page 8:

"DO NOT - use grease on the cams or cam arms"

The next line says "a very light coating of lubricant such as Vaseline may be used on the portion of the cam where the spring bar rides on the cam".

I expect that there is a reason why the manufacturer specifically warned not to use grease, and I tend to heed those warnings. YMMV
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Old 08-12-2014, 06:40 PM   #7
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I forgot to answer the OP as to frequency.

Personally, I like to wipe off the old grease on the ball and apply fresh grease every time I hook up to the camper. I wipe off the cams (and spring bars) and apply a light coat of Vaseline to the cams every time I hookup as well.

My grease gun is strapped into the bed of my truck, and I keep the rag for cleaning next to it, so the whole process only takes a minute. This is what I use to keep my grease gun in place:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P6UNKQ
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Old 08-12-2014, 06:41 PM   #8
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Jezz, just slap some grease on it and you will never know the difference.
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Old 08-14-2014, 09:50 PM   #9
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I use motorcycle chain spray on the ball and there is a grease zerk for each spring bar.
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Old 08-15-2014, 12:35 AM   #10
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I use Reese Hitch Ball Lube from Wal-Mart:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Reese-5811...-inch/35531024
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Old 08-15-2014, 12:48 AM   #11
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You know what they say about reading the manual, when in doubt look at the pictures
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Old 08-15-2014, 05:31 AM   #12
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I found that grease just collected dirt which adds to wear. From looking at my hitch head I don't think it looks like it has any wear and that with a alot of miles on it. ON my personal trailer with the Reese Dual cam i did use petroleum jelly on the bars but that was it.
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Old 08-15-2014, 07:13 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjlaupp View Post
I use Reese Hitch Ball Lube from Wal-Mart...
I used to buy the Reese Hitch Ball Lube all the time in Walmart, but have not been able to find it in any their stores for some time now. Per the link to Walmart in your posting, Walmart no longer carries it and drop ships the product from some other vendor. The price quoted, $26.50, is outrageous for the "four ounce impact resistant jar" that appears in the description. On that same webpage, it showed two other vendors where it can be purchased for under eight dollars.
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Old 08-15-2014, 07:49 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjlaupp View Post
I use Reese Hitch Ball Lube from Wal-Mart:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Reese-5811...-inch/35531024

HA! dont even worry about greasing that sucker lol, if anything happend just get a new one right?
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Old 08-15-2014, 06:37 PM   #15
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HA! dont even worry about greasing that sucker lol, if anything happend just get a new one right?
For the hitch ball, maybe, but what about the hitch itself on the trailer? I've never known anyone that's ever had to replace the trailer's hitch, but I'm no expert in that department. Perhaps someone who has can chime in.
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