Keeping lube plate on...

[BuckandTeresa]

While standing in line at my RV parts counter, I mentioned my lube plate falling off, and needing a new one. The old professional trucker in line behind me said he had used the same plate gor many years. I asked him if his fell off, and he said when he bought a new one, he cleaned the contact surfaces and put on a few drops of superglue. He said it never fell off. I asked him how that worked over the grease? (When I first bought my RV two years ago, an RV service tech told me to put grease on top of the disk to stick it to the trailer.) He said no, never put grease on it, it gets too dirty and grinds on the metal. My next project is to get the RV home and clean off the metal surface and try superglue on a new pad.

[c2itcliff]

Try using the small 8” friction disk. Had same problem with 12” friction plate before making the switch.

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by BuckandTeresa

While standing in line at my RV parts counter, I mentioned my lube plate falling off, and needing a new one. The old professional trucker in line behind me said he had used the same plate gor many years. I asked him if his fell off, and he said when he bought a new one, he cleaned the contact surfaces and put on a few drops of superglue. He said it never fell off. I asked him how that worked over the grease? (When I first bought my RV two years ago, an RV service tech told me to put grease on top of the disk to stick it to the trailer.) He said no, never put grease on it, it gets too dirty and grinds on the metal. My next project is to get the RV home and clean off the metal surface and try superglue on a new pad.

I'm not saying that this won't work, but there are some things that superglue does NOT stick to, and one of them is UHMW plastic. I don't know for sure if the slider plate that I have is made out of UHMW, but it feels like UHMW. We tried using UHMW parts and gluing them to a painted surface. Didn't end well, but never went into production that way either.

Originally Posted by c2itcliff

Try using the small 8” friction disk. Had same problem with 12” friction plate before making the switch.

This is the reason that I asked what size of disks people are using. I actually am wondering if the large disc does NOT TURN with the hitch, and is staying stationary. Then, the "teeth" rotate inside of the kingpin, and that's what is chewing up the teeth. I think I'm going to take my disc, take 1" off, see if I can get the fingers to hold it back on there, and try that. No sense in buying a 10" and it not solving the problem. That at least tells me whether my hypothesis is correct...

[Mark7]

I drilled 2 - 1/4” holes in the plate and the plastic 180° apart, countersunk them and then used 1/4” countersink machine screws to hold mine in place screw heads are just under the surface of the plate. Been on for years now.

Another thing that might help is not lifting the trailer when hooking up, adding stress to that disk. I try to have the trailer just above (1/8”) the hitch when I latch up.

Works for me.

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by Mark7

I drilled 2 - 1/4” holes in the plate and the plastic 180° apart, countersunk them and then used 1/4” countersink machine screws to hold mine in place screw heads are just under the surface of the plate. Been on for years now.

Another thing that might help is not lifting the trailer when hooking up, adding stress to that disk. I try to have the trailer just above (1/8”) the hitch when I latch up.

Works for me.

I've thought about the fastener idea too. Not a bad idea.

As for the hooking up, with the PullRite hitches, it's recommended that you actually raise the unit slightly when coupling. I've tried doing it without, and they are right, it doesn't work at all.

[Camp CA]

Originally Posted by CADman_KS

...........Is there some secret that others use to keep the lube plate on there, and is it normal for those fingers to get eaten by the hitch?

I have had lube plates last for 10+ years and my last one for 1 year.....so it depends. Replaced my last one from Curt (my hitch manufacturer) so will see how long it lasts.

[Hblick48]

I just checked mine as a result of reading this thread. Mine is 10" and has been on since 2016. Two cross country trips plus numerous others, lube plate looks good and is firmly held onto the king pin. Guess I'm lucky!

[Foldbak]

Resurrecting a dead thread. I had a lube plate from day 1 with no problems. Last trip out I came in at a bad angle and ripped it. Need to replace. Any recommendations?

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=teflon+fi...f=sr_nr_p_72_1

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

Resurrecting a dead thread. I had a lube plate from day 1 with no problems. Last trip out I came in at a bad angle and ripped it. Need to replace. Any recommendations?

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=teflon+fi...f=sr_nr_p_72_1

Any of the usual 10" will do. IIRC, mine was a Reese and only because my local guy had one whe I needed it TODAY.. The unknown name stuff I've tried to stay away from.

[MandK]

Mine is also a Reese 10” Teflon. Been on since the rig was new, only a year and a half and 8000 miles. Fingers still have a good hold of the pin.

[RMcNeal]

I opted to go 12" and Curt on mine, since Curt was the only one I could find locally in 12".
The 10" was smaller than the contact width between the flat part of the pin box and the B&W Companion hitch I have. The 12" is about 1/2" wider all the way around, but it has worked fine for over 3 years now.