Tow Bar Tow Hitch Stuck

[veom]

Since I bought my Triton, I've been trying to get that damn tow hitch out! Just after I brought it I decided I wanted to take it out so I would stop bashing my shin on the thing.

I started out by trying to take the pin out, it was rusted in fairly solid but some hammering got it out. Now left with just the pin out the hitch wouldn't budge an inch. No play at all in it. I tried hitting the hitch over and over again with a sledge hammer with no luck, all I managed to do was hit it in about 20 mm so I could no longer get the pin in.

Tonight I decided to give it another go with the bottle jack and a hammer. Here are the results.



I was able to move the jack to certain point, then I would bash the hitch with the hammer. It would free the jack a bit and I would repeat the process.





Finally!

[coughy]

nice japanese saftey boots lol
good work on the jack idea

[snowman]

that sigh of relief when it finally comes out

[Spar]

I was trying to do the same job this arvo on my MN with no success. Wondering if there was anything other than the pin holding it in, like any set screws or anything as there is a mutilated blob of metal under the hitch that looks like it *may* be a sheared off bolt https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/111 ... towbar.jpg

I love the bottle jack idea. Will give that a go tomorrow.

[seanyboyrulz]

sure looks like a sheared off bolt. Best to drill it out and re-tap thread and replace. Although the placement isn't the best as I bet the last one probably broke when the towbar bottomed out there.

[coughy]

yes that is a broken bolt that they use to stop the rattling tow hitch
drill it out if you know how
but the bottle jack will get it past that for you easy

[Spar]

I have all the gear for getting sheared bolts left over from when I had the same issue with the butter like ones they used on the factory bash plates. Hopefully that'll make it a touch easier.