How to Remove Ball Mount Rusted Into Hitch Receiver Tube

Updated 11/13/2020 | Published 11/12/2020

Question:

This is an odd question. My hitch is stuck in my receiver with out a pin. The hitch can move in and out about an 1/8 but will not be pulled out. I tried pulling with a truck and drug the vehicle with e brake on. Do you know what is going on and how to get it out? It is not welded in and the pin hole has nothing in it.

asked by: Terry

Expert Reply:

What's likely occurred is that rust has formed in the receiver tube, making the ball mount fit more tightly than it ordinarily would. I'd recommend obtaining a spray lubricant like PB Blaster and flooding the gap between the ball mount and the receiver tube. If the receiver tube is open at the rear (some are, some aren't) spray some in the back as well. After letting the lubricant soak for awhile, give the ball mount several sharp raps with a heavy hammer. You may need to repeat this several times over a period of days, but between the lubricant and the hammer induced shocks, the ball mount should eventually come loose.

To prevent this from happening in the future, it's a good ideal to apply a thin coating of grease on the shank of the ball mount. You'll also want to remove the ball mount when it isn't being used. A hitch cover like the # 22282 would work well to keep much of the road grime and moisture out of the receiver tube.

expert reply by: Mike L