Hitch Receiver disassembly, and questions...

[toddjb122]

I've never really thought about what was inside that ridiculous hitch receiver assembly we have. I just always considered it an annoyance that worked <barely> like magic! I had assumed it was, at least, a sealed assembly so that I didn't have to worry about corrosion and rust inside something that is going to get salt water and sand splashed on it...but no such luck. Mine seized up.

When you take off the green handle, you see a shaft that you can turn with a bit of force and a pair of vice grips. That shaft is part of a gear which turns a second gear attached to the stainless tab that locks your hitch receiver into place. It is really pretty simple, actually.

The problem is, after 135,000 miles and several trips on the beach. That thing was pretty well locked up. At least no little plastic handle was going to turn it.

It is easy enough to take out the shaft which attaches to the green handle, all you need are some allen wrenches, but I don't know if it is possible to get the 2nd gear out. THAT is the one connected to the tongue and that is the one that has rust on it. Any idea how to remove that? I can turn it far enough to see the edge of a little ball bearing which I think locks it in place, but I can't figure out how to get it out any further.

If I could take that out, clean it, & grease it... I think it would work just about as awfully as it did when it was brand new!
Any thoughts?

Also, there is that little stainless steel "button" on the top of the hitch receiver. Any idea what that does? It probably has rust in it also, but mine seems to move around fine. I am guessing that it the mechanism that helps the receiver to lock into place when you shove it up there. ?

Close-up of internal gear poking through...

That little white circle is, I guess, a grease point. Or else just sort of way to let air in and out. It probably let's in salt water also!

Showing what I called the "2nd gear" which appears to be a straight piece running from a geared end (you can see poking out inside) to the tongue end.

2nd question I have is I think I bent the rear frame member that the hitch receiver goes into. Nothing major, just a little bow in the rear from probably dragging the hitch on a low driveway on the way out. You may be able to see the bow in this picture....this picture is looking UP to the rearmost part of the frame piece behind the hitch receiver mount. The next picture is me panning a little bit the the left to show the difference between a FLAT portion of frame and a bowed portion of frame.
Whattya think?
http://images45.fotki.com/v148/photos/6/666681/6912527/photo1-vi.jpg
http://images108.fotki.com/v613/photos/6/666681/6912527/photo4-vi.jpg

Anyway, I was mainly just sharing photos for the interested, but I also have some questions on if I can repair this or need to shop for a replacement!

-todd

 

[toddjb122]

So how do I get that tongue gear out. Anyone?

And do you think my rear hitch bar/frame thing is bent? Tough to tell from those pics, I know...

 

[crtfour]

I have a question about the hitch. I recently bought an LR3 with the hitch locked in place and it does not have the lock/handle or the shaft. It appears to have all been removed with the receiver locked in place.

I see that you can buy a lock assembly, but how would I get the shaft? Do you know if that is sold separately or would I have to buy a new hitch? The only problem I see is that I don't know how to remove the current receiver without having the shaft first.

 

[crtfour]

This is what I have.....hitch locked into place with lock mechanism and shaft gone. Not sure how to remove it now.



http://mail.aol.com/37130-112/aol-6...hment.aspx?uid=29481360&folder=Inbox&partId=3

 

[Mack73]

OK guys to release the locking pin you actually need the shaft with the gear on it.

The idea is, pop out the roll pin to remove the green handle. Undo the bolts that hold the cover/spring in place. This then gives you access to the shaft so you can rotate it manually with a wrench.

So slide the shaft back in, line it up with the teeth, then get a wrench on the shaft and rotate it so it pulls the pin back in.



EDIT: oh and crtfour - I don't know of a way without the shaft of getting the gears to rotate. So I'd say your SOL without having someone else disassemble their hitch so you can use the shaft

 

[bbyer]

Purchase a new lock mechanism from LR.

LR sells a new key lock mechanism.

I think that will be the solution to the problem. Owners lose the key so all has to be drilled out; hence the kit.

It is preferable to have it hard to remove than it just falling out on its own.

The link below has some material related to the hitch.

http://www.**************/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=4497

Replace the **** with disco3 co uk and insert a . in each of the two spaces.

 

[Mack73]

LR sells a new key lock mechanism.

I think that will be the solution to the problem. Owners lose the key so all has to be drilled out; hence the kit.

It is preferable to have it hard to remove than it just falling out on its own.

The link below has some material related to the hitch.

http://www.**************/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=4497

Replace the **** with disco3 co uk and insert a . in each of the two spaces.

bbyer the LR lock replacement is meant to re-use your existing shaft.

You slip this over the end of the shaft, then push the roll pin in to hold it on. So if he's missing the shaft, I don't think you can buy it separate.

 

[crtfour]

bbyer the LR lock replacement is meant to re-use your existing shaft.

You slip this over the end of the shaft, then push the roll pin in to hold it on. So if he's missing the shaft, I don't think you can buy it separate.

Well I found a lock and key mechanism on ebay and ordered it. Yes, I think I'm SOL until I find a shaft.