How To Tighten A Hitch Ball Without A Torque Wrench
Tightening the hitch balls is a difficult task. So, be very gentle while performing it. People usually use a torque wrench to tighten a hitch ball, but what if a torque wrench is unavailable or you can’t afford it. Another method is available for tightening a hitch ball if you do not have a torque wrench.
Tightening a hitch ball without a torque wrench is possible, but comparatively, it requires a lot of time and effort. But still, people prefer a manual method like a valve grinding compound for tightening a hitch ball.
Maybe you are one of those and wonder how to tighten a hitch ball without a torque wrench. In this article, we will discuss other methods of tightening a hitch ball.
How Can You Tighten A Hitch Ball Without A Torque Wrench?
This topic is quite popular among people these days. They wonder if it is possible to tighten a hitch ball without a torque wrench; tightening a hitch ball without a proper torque wrench is possible, but it is not the best idea. According to our research, there is a manual way of tightening a hitch ball.
Easy Way To Tighten A Hitch Ball Without Spinning
You can tighten the hitch balls with the valve grinding compound. Put valve grinding on the flat surface of the hitch ball. The process will be smooth if you put the valve grinding on a flat surface.
It would be great to hold the hitch ball nut by hand while tightening it when the lock washer is crushed down; use a wrench on the ball hitch head. Usually, there is a section of the wrench on the bottom of the hitch ball. You can use any basic wrench, like an adjustable or pipe wrench. Sometimes, the hitch ball gets a little chewed up, which is fine because your hitch will still work properly.
But if you want to avoid this issue, you can use a torque wrench. The torque wrench has always been best for tightening any part, whether a spark plug or a hitch ball.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I Need A Torque Wrench For The Hitch Ball?
If you are tightening the hitch balls, you must use a torque wrench. According to the expert advice, it is necessary to use torque wrenches while installing the hitch balls to tighten the nuts and bolts according to recommended torque specs.
2. How Do You Tighten A Hitch Ball?
People use torque wrenches for tightening a hitch tow ball, but you can also tighten it manually by using an impact wrench. If you are using a torque wrench, it is recommended to use 250 ft-lbs of torque when tightening the ball hitch. The general rule is to tighten the ball shank according to the torque rate.
3. How Tight Does The Ball Need To Be On The Hitch?
A little bit of play is acceptable. Just make sure that the metal of the coupler isn’t crushed. As long as the coupler and trailer tongue are safe, its good to go. But, the coupler should be tight enough that the couple would not come off the ball.
Conclusion
Tightening the hitch balls is a major task. It is possible to tighten the ball without the torque wrench, but it is not a great idea. In case of emergency, you can manually tighten the hitch balls. You can tighten the balls by the aforementioned method, but it is not highly recommended.
Hopefully, you get the required information about tightening a hitch ball with or without a torque wrench. I tried to provide you with information about the consequences of not using a torque wrench.
Therefore, I strongly recommend you use a torque wrench to tighten a hitch ball and other nut bolts of your vehicle.
