I'm asking because its butt f'n ugly and i want it off!!! Its been on my truck since i bought it over a year and a half ago...its a bumper hitch. It looks like the bolt is rusted to the ball...so i was wondering if anyone knew a way to maybe cut it off or something...
I'm excited to hear some GOOD ideas and not just someone rambling on trying to get the "best answer".
2006-07-21 13:25:41 · 16 answers · asked by drQuiggles 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I used a few squirts of wd 40, and a 24" pipe wrench with another 3 or 4 feet of pipe on the handle for leverage. A cutting torch would be easier though...
2006-07-21 13:32:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
WD-40 is a good suggestion, but the way a hitch ball is usually positioned makes it hard to get it to penetrate properly. Still, give it a try. Whack the nut and ball with a hammer to shake things up. That sometimes helps.
Other things to try:
Get the biggest wrench you can and a length of pipe to go over the handle to give you plenty of leverage.
Heat the nut with a propane torch (keep a fire extinguisher nearby!) and then shock it with ice. Try a few cycles of this and see if it comes loose.
Whack it with a cold chisel and try to split the nut open. (I assume you don't care about keeping this thing). If that doesn't work, there's a device called a "nut splitter" that fits around the nut and has a screw to drive a blade into the nut and split it, but one big enough for a hitch bolt might be expensive.
The Sawzall (tm) may work. but be careful you don't scratch the heck out of your bumper.
If all else fails, the Flame Wrench is your last resort. If you don't have a cutting torch, any welding shop will cut the nut off for you for ten bucks or a sixpack or two.
2006-07-21 13:37:57 · answer #2 · answered by Berry K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Truck Hitch Ball
2016-10-16 07:47:40 · answer #3 · answered by isiah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some hitch balls have internal thread and the bolt goes up through the bracket in to the hitch. Some have the threaded shank welded or shrunk into the cast ball & pillar part of the hitch.
The local welder has a torch that will make quick work of dis-assembling the hitchball from its bracket.
2006-07-21 13:39:10 · answer #4 · answered by fata minerva 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the ball is badly rusted, then the assembly it is mounted on probably is also in bad shape. If it is bolted to the frame as mine was, it might be better to remove the whole thing and mount a new one. If you do want to remove only the ball, try soaking the joint with Liquid Wrench (I think it works better than WD 40)several days in a row. Then tap it in all directions with a heavy hammer to jar the rust in the threads loose. Then use a large pipe wrench to unscrew it.
2006-07-21 13:52:07 · answer #5 · answered by haroldpohl2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just find two large pipe wrenches and use one on the round part and one on the Nut. Place a round pipe onto the handle of the wrench attached to the nut and turn it till it twists off. Or rent a 7" inch grinder/cutter from a hardware store and cut it off.
2006-07-21 13:34:59 · answer #6 · answered by mister_e79 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try soaking it down with WD-40 and see if you can loosen the bolt that way. If that doesn't work try using a hack saw or a saws-all with a metal cutting blade. That should do the trick. Good Luck.
2006-07-21 13:29:42 · answer #7 · answered by Meg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't have anyway to borrow a torch, which is the easiest way, buy a spray can of PB Blaster at the auto parts store. Spray the rusty nut on the ball, and use two pipe wrenches. one on top, one on bottom. turn them in opposite directions.
2006-07-21 13:34:10 · answer #8 · answered by steve-o 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just put a cool looking ball cover over it and add class to the back of the bumper!
2006-07-21 13:40:29 · answer #9 · answered by sorrells316 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Break-Free does a much better job than wd-40.
If Break-Free doesn't work, you'll have to cut it off with a grinding/cutting wheel.
2006-07-21 13:30:58 · answer #10 · answered by Jolly1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋