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Old 02-17-2020, 11:38 PM   #1
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Brand: DRV
Model: 38 RSB3
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THOR #1658
Arrow B&W hitch

I know that this is not about DRV, but a lot of us are towing with a B&W hitch. So when you are greasing the two pivot bushings with white lithium grease and greasing the zerk fitting with a grease gun, you should inspect the following every 6 months.
1. The bushings condition (see attached picture showing a damaged bushing). This bushing also had some play in it. The whole arm had to be replaced as it is molded on the arm.
2. Inspect the shock to make sure that there is no seepage.
3. Check the torque specs of the two arms. The head needs to be removed to expose the 4 bolts holding each arm on. This is VERY crucial the first year of use, as the bolts can stretch a little.
4. Check the torque on two bolts on each attachment leg (I have the 3600 model, so some may not apply)
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Old 02-18-2020, 01:29 PM   #2
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THOR #3221
Thanks for posting Ryan, how old is your hitch? I have the same hitch and mine is 5 years old now. I lube my hitch at least twice a year. I have NOT noticed any wear on my hitch like you have in your picture. I just lubed mine last week as we're about to take off for Florida for a while.

Dan

P.S. We don't full time.
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Old 02-18-2020, 01:43 PM   #3
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THOR #1661
Looks like the white lithium grease did not make it to the sides?

Maybe tell us what B&W did about it.

I have found using this amount of lithium grease it does lube the sides without dripping down into the bed. It pushes down to the sides when the head is attached.

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Old 02-18-2020, 04:45 PM   #4
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THOR #13932
I am not versed in the mechanics of this, but I'll add:

I have recently found out how inexpensive grease zerk are to buy and how easy it is to tap a drilled hole and put a zerk in(and sometimes use a rotary file to scarf in some grease channels).
I don't remember the first instance of me doing this two years ago after being mystified a part didn't have a way to grease it without disassembly.
I've put in about 10 of them so far.
My recently purchased torque multiplier wasn't adequately lubed and required a bearing puller to get it apart. A hole and tap later and it's easy to pump full of grease.

Just a thought if indeed grease isn't reaching someplace required.
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Old 02-18-2020, 06:17 PM   #5
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THOR #1658
Quote:
Originally Posted by dapperdan View Post
Thanks for posting Ryan, how old is your hitch? I have the same hitch and mine is 5 years old now. I lube my hitch at least twice a year. I have NOT noticed any wear on my hitch like you have in your picture. I just lubed mine last week as we're about to take off for Florida for a while.

Dan

P.S. We don't full time.
I got mine in late 2015.
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Old 02-18-2020, 06:20 PM   #6
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THOR #1658
Quote:
Originally Posted by ducksface View Post
I am not versed in the mechanics of this, but I'll add:

I have recently found out how inexpensive grease zerk are to buy and how easy it is to tap a drilled hole and put a zerk in(and sometimes use a rotary file to scarf in some grease channels).
I don't remember the first instance of me doing this two years ago after being mystified a part didn't have a way to grease it without disassembly.
I've put in about 10 of them so far.
My recently purchased torque multiplier wasn't adequately lubed and required a bearing puller to get it apart. A hole and tap later and it's easy to pump full of grease.

Just a thought if indeed grease isn't reaching someplace required.
The bushing has nothing to do with the zerk fitting. I just posted what should be done every 6 months and what to look for.
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Old 02-19-2020, 01:44 AM   #7
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"I got mine in late 2015."

Thanks Ryan, I bought mine in February of 2015. It's holding up GREAT! Hands down the best hitch I've ever owned (this is my third hitch, first B & W).

Did B & W replace that arm for ya? Just curious....

Dan
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Old 02-19-2020, 05:01 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dapperdan View Post
"I got mine in late 2015."

Thanks Ryan, I bought mine in February of 2015. It's holding up GREAT! Hands down the best hitch I've ever owned (this is my third hitch, first B & W).

Did B & W replace that arm for ya? Just curious....

Dan
Yes, and 2 years ago I replaced the shock.
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Old 02-19-2020, 06:38 PM   #9
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IMHO 6 mo is WAYYYYYY too long for grease zerk and head supports. If you occasionally tow sure but rynosback tows a lot and should be lubing much more often!
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Old 02-20-2020, 12:21 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cummins12V98 View Post
IMHO 6 mo is WAYYYYYY too long for grease zerk and head supports. If you occasionally tow sure but rynosback tows a lot and should be lubing much more often!
From B&W:
Grease the saddle through the grease zerk approximately every six months with multi−purpose grease. This allows the coupler to pivot freely, see Figure G1.
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Old 02-20-2020, 12:50 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rynosback View Post
From B&W:
Grease the saddle through the grease zerk approximately every six months with multi−purpose grease. This allows the coupler to pivot freely, see Figure G1.
I understand that but when you are towing a lot that is too long. They say "Approximately" I think that should be taken with a grain of salt.
Frequency of towing is more important.

You are not mentioning the head support pcs that require lithium grease.

To be clear the zerk is greasing a BOLT that rides inside a steel sleeve that has two small areas of support for the entire kingpin weight, as in steel to steel contact.

I had to pull my head apart to replace the B&W supplied replacement head shock. I sent them pics and they said it's normal. I have a heavy pin and I use AMZ/OIL Synthetic grease OFTEN. So if you want to go 6 mo have at it!

Hitch is one year old at time of pics.



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Old 02-20-2020, 01:27 AM   #12
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THOR #1658
My bolt did not look that bad when I replaced the shock. I always check the head ease of movement.

Read my first post about greasing the bushings.
“ So when you are greasing the two pivot bushings with white lithium grease”
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