21
A Product of Progress Mfg. Inc.
Step 10 - Regular Maintenance
The contact points of the head and spring bars, as well as the hitch ball, should be
kept clean and well lubricated with a good quality bearing grease. See Figure 27.
They should be cleaned and lubricated before each trip. Check for damage or
abnormal wear at the beginning of each tow and replace parts if necessary. Use a rag
to clean dirt and road grit from all contact points
regularly.
All nuts and bolts should be checked before each
tow and tightened or replaced if necessary.
Pay special attention to the angle set bolt. There
is a break-in period unique to each hitch and
towing configuration. With use, the spacer
washers and rivet may compact slightly, leaving
a small gap between the angle set bolt and the
shank. The bolt should be checked frequently
After you have made proper adjustments to the
hitch to give your setup good weight distribution
and trailer pitch, tighten all of the nuts and bolts
completely.
Unhitch the trailer and pull the tow vehicle
forward a few feet to give yourself working room.
Remove the spring bars from the hitch head.
Remove the hitch head from the receiver, turn the assembly upside down, and place
it back into the receiver tube. Replace the hitch pin to secure it temporarily.
Use the torque wrench to tighten both 3/4” shank bolts to 250 ft-lb.
Snug the angle set bolt to the shank again if needed. Tighten it 1/4 to 1/2 turn after
it comes into contact with the shank. It should be tight enough to wedge the head
against the shank, but do not overtighten the angle set bolt.
Torque the link plate mounting bolts to 65 ft-lb. Torque the L-bracket mounting
nuts to 75 ft-lb.
Return the hitch head assembly to the upright position, and pin it into the receiver.
Replace the spring bars. Couple the trailer again to the tow vehicle, and engage the
hitch, securing the spring bars with the L-pins and clips.
You are now ready to take the trailer out for a tow. Remember to connect the
breakaway cable, safety chains, and electrical cables. Make sure your trailer brake
control is correctly adjusted. Retract the jack completely. Tow carefully at first and
pay attention to how it feels. Follow the
Troubleshooting Guide in Appendix A
which suggests ways that can help improve your towing experience if needed.
Torque Spec Summary
Shank bolts
250 ft-lb
Link plate bolts
65 ft-lb
L-bracket nuts
75 ft-lb
Angle set bolt
Tight + 1/2 turn
Figure 27
Grease
here