Towbar doesn't click in properly

Towbar doesn't click in properly

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Discussion

ColinM50

Original Poster:

2,630 posts

174 months

Saturday 13th February 2016
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I've got a Witter detachable towbar fitted on my 12 Sportage which I've not used so far but am planning to tow the 'van with it next week.

Just checking how it all works and tried to fit the towball on but it doesn't seem right. I can get the ball unit to click into the bar, but the knob is then supposed to move out and show a green indicator so you know it's fitted correctly and is safe. Mine will click in and the handle moves a little, but it won't pull out and show the green indicator. I've GENTLY tried to prise it out with a screwdriver and have given the mechanism (not the ball itself) a good spray with Lithium grease but to no avail. When it's off the car it works perfectly but won't click green on the car.

I tried to call Witter this morning but they're not open till Monday. Does anyone know what they're like for "lifetime warranty" type issues? It's not still under guarantee but if I make the drive from Cambridge to Chester, will they fix it for me? Free or at reasonable price or is everything full retail plus fitting etc?

Don't really want to buy a new towball and receptor, from what I can see they run out at c£150, this MUST be an easy fix for an expert.

muckymotor

2,279 posts

220 months

Saturday 13th February 2016
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The grease might not be able to penetrate far enough. We had a similar thing on a removable tow bar on our Jeep after it hadn't had any use for a while. Copious amounts of WD40 and giving the tow bar a good ram in and out numerous times sorted it.

speedyman

1,523 posts

233 months

Saturday 13th February 2016
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Do you have a mate who has a car with a towbar. You could try hooking up your trailer to their towbar. At least you could find out if it was the trailer or tow bar with the problem.

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

130 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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Sounds to me that you jake an Alko hitch on your trailer, but you don't have an Alko suitable towbar on your car. Alike towbars have a slightly longer neck to that the ball stands proud and locates into the Alko hitch correctly.

JeremyH5

1,569 posts

134 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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If I've read the OP correctly, forget the trailer hitch. The problem is getting the removable tow ball to lock onto the tow bar; it's detachable.

ColinM50

Original Poster:

2,630 posts

174 months

Friday 26th February 2016
quotequote all
No it wasn't that at all. The towbar was a bit rusty around the detachable ball fitting area so I gave it a good going over with a wire brush on my electric drill and even a light touch up yikes with a dremel and grindstone and the towball fits with a resounding positive click and the handle pops out and shows a reassuring green indicator so all perfect now.

And for those of you not sure what a detachable towbar is, have a look here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOwJ0HvPmnM

But thanks everyone for your ideas.

Another problem solved.smokin

PRTVR

7,072 posts

220 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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Just refitted mine, to get it to lock(given that the pin is not showing above the tow ball connection) oh yes I struggled in the rain trying to connect it for ages before I realised the problem once hehe
I hold the ball braket in place with one hand and pull push from the ball, this releases the locking mechanism I new to caravaning so I really do not know what I am talking about, but might be worth a try if you understand my instructions.

FallenDefender

2 posts

58 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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ColinM50 said:
I've got a Witter detachable towbar fitted on my 12 Sportage which I've not used so far but am planning to tow the 'van with it next week.

Just checking how it all works and tried to fit the towball on but it doesn't seem right. I can get the ball unit to click into the bar, but the knob is then supposed to move out and show a green indicator so you know it's fitted correctly and is safe. Mine will click in and the handle moves a little, but it won't pull out and show the green indicator. I've GENTLY tried to prise it out with a screwdriver and have given the mechanism (not the ball itself) a good spray with Lithium grease but to no avail. When it's off the car it works perfectly but won't click green on the car.

I tried to call Witter this morning but they're not open till Monday. Does anyone know what they're like for "lifetime warranty" type issues? It's not still under guarantee but if I make the drive from Cambridge to Chester, will they fix it for me? Free or at reasonable price or is everything full retail plus fitting etc?

Don't really want to buy a new towball and receptor, from what I can see they run out at c£150, this MUST be an easy fix for an expert.
Exact same problem. Have had the Witter detachable towbar hitch since 2015, and its on the second car. It began locking in unreliably last year. The removable assembly seemed to be working all right, but I soaked it with 3-in-1 oil and it operates smoothly, shows the green every time when testing in a vise using hose pliers to depress the pin.

Into the receiver it twisted and clicked just fine. And appeared to be locked in place. But the blue dial didn't twist and pop out showing the green - couldn't lock it with the key so didn't trust it. I used a toothbrush and WD-40, paying particular attention to the place where there is a detent where the pin is supposed to open up. Also pushed a 3/8 socket handle up the other side a little bit. Only a very bit of crud came out so I was dubious, but the next time inserted it locked in with green.

grahamw2

1 posts

44 months

Monday 27th July 2020
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Had exactly this issue .. towbar clicked in but blue handle not turning far enough to pop out so could not lock with key.

When not in the car the handle turned all the way and popped out so i knew the mechanism was ok. Also I could press the small metal button and see the silver vertical cylinder was not getting far out of the black body its in judging by the position the blue handle was stopping at when I trying fitting to the car.

After an hour I think what fixed it was
1. Squirt wd40 inside blue handle and pop it in and out a lot manually.. didn't work straight away but might have helped.
2. Added grease to vertical silver bolt and corresponding part . Again may have contributed.

But the main thing was I think that when I felt inside the box fitted to the car, and felt where I thought the silver bar was going up into, I could feel a metal burr sticking down which might have been stopping the silver bar moving fully up. So I took a flathead screwdriver held vertically and scratched away at the burr. It was less than a millimeter i suspect. Spent about 5 mins doing that. Could feel the burr was reduced and then immediately the towbar worked when I tried it. Blue handle turned far enough to pop out and show the green section next to the pointer windows on it.


pitboard

512 posts

109 months

Saturday 15th August 2020
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ColinM50 said:
No it wasn't that at all. The towbar was a bit rusty around the detachable ball fitting area so I gave it a good going over with a wire brush on my electric drill and even a light touch up yikes with a dremel and grindstone and the towball fits with a resounding positive click and the handle pops out and shows a reassuring green indicator so all perfect now.

And for those of you not sure what a detachable towbar is, have a look here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOwJ0HvPmnM

But thanks everyone for your ideas.

Another problem solved.smokin
This is a marvellous video. Especially for people who, like me, love the word "flange"

ColinM50

Original Poster:

2,630 posts

174 months

Monday 17th August 2020
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Crikey, I posted this thread in Feb 2016 and it's still going strong, Fiour and a half years later. Fame eh? cool

MumblesEdgarley

1 posts

32 months

Thursday 1st July 2021
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I had exactly the same problem inserting the removable Witter towing bar into its socket. WD40 everywhere. Finally got the blue wheel to turn round fully to show “green” in the window by hitting the tow bar up with heavy hammer as was clicking it in. Can’t get it off but at least can tow caravan for now!