Servicing a SuperGlide Hitch - Montana Owners Club

mail2us · 08-02-2008, 08:08 AM

Please advise if dry or wet lubricant is better when cleaning and lubricating the rails on a Superglide hitch. I am using the white lithium grease currently. It is messy and it requires a thorough cleaning and re-lube effort. It seems to do well.

The other product is slip plate graphite spray. Where can this product be purchased other than internet? Tks. Dennis

Glenn and Lorraine · 08-02-2008, 12:26 PM

Slip Plate is now what PullRite recommends but the white lithium can still be used.

I have looked in every store I came accross and cannot find Slip plate but knowing I will be at the PullRite plant in September I can wait.

BTW-I also used up my original can of Slip Plate by using it on the Monty's slide rails. No more white greasy dirty rails BUT being Slip Plate is graphite you really don't want to touch it or brush against it.

sreigle · 08-02-2008, 02:46 PM

My superglide initially had slip plate applied by the installer, using, of course, the can of slip plate I purchased. I was not happy with the slip plate performance, though. It seemed to flake off, leaving bare metal exposed. Eventually I removed as much as I could and covered with white lithium grease. Messy, yes, but I'm a lot more comfortable that there is sufficient lubrication on the rails.

By the way, Pulliam (pullrite) told me in lieu of slip plate I can use any dry graphite spray lube. They said its available at hardware stores but I could never find it.

I use a dry teflon spray lube (TFE 101) on the mating surfaces of the hitch and capture plate. But I think I will use my remaining slip plate. Thanks, Glenn.

brenkco · 08-11-2008, 11:14 AM

Steve,
Interesting comments. Pullrite sent me to Granger to get the slip plate. They sent my wife home with CRC Industrial Dry Graphite Lube saying it's the same stuff. I called Pullrite and they told me the only thing they recommend is white lithium or slip plate.

He told me that the newer hitches were shipped with slip plate. To install it, I have to remove the rails & clean the white lithium off with mineral spirits. He did say it has a tendency to flake off. I had them ship me a few cans but now I'm not sure what I want to do!

Ken

sailer · 08-11-2008, 04:58 PM

I got a can of slip plate from a pull-rite dealer , like 12.00 or more a spray can sailer

Pete Hanson · 08-12-2008, 04:23 AM

I made the move to Slip Plate this summer and I'm real happy with it so far. It looks like it is providing the lubrication the Pullrite needs and it is much easier to maintain. It doesn't seem to attract all the dirt and debris that the lithium grease did. I think I'll stick with it. I bought six cans anyway so it will be a long time using that up.

Glenn and Lorraine · 08-12-2008, 10:12 AM

As I said I ran out of Slip Plate by also using it on my slides and, other than the Internet, I still have not been able to find it any where. I will be using the white lithium until I get to Goshen. At which time I will be going over to PullRite and buy a few cans, even at $12.00 a can if that happens to be the price.

brenkco · 08-12-2008, 11:31 AM

Pete,
When you went to slip plate, did you do the cleaning and disassembly yourself? If so, how was it? I am waiting for the cans to arrive from PullRite. The customer service rep told me that the complete instructions were included. He said that the rails must be pulled off, cleaned with mineral spirits and sanded lightly to have the slip plate adhere properly. He also said that the cam arm had to be removed and cleaned. Not sure how easy/difficult this might be!

Ken

Pete Hanson · 08-12-2008, 02:14 PM

Ken, i did as thorough a cleaning as I could without too much disassembly. I used a spray on brake cleaner from the auto parts store to get the lithium grease off the rails and it got them really clean. I then moved the hitch head all the way to the full slide position and sprayed the Slip Plate on the inside and top of the rails from halfway back to the front. When that dried I moved the head back to the front end and did the other half of the rails. Not sure if that is the way Pullrite would have you do it but it seems to be working out for me.

Pete

brenkco · 08-15-2008, 11:16 AM

I just got 2 cans of slip plate shipped to me from pullrite, $39.60 including shipping. Instructions for disassembly, cleaning, application and reassembly are simple and straight forward (2 pages). If any one wants a copy I can email them in a pdf file.

BTW, the cans were $12.50 ea, the rest was shipping, no tax.

brenkco · 08-17-2008, 05:03 AM

I completed the disassembly, cleaning, preparation, application of slip plate and reassembly. It was a very easy job. The application of slip plate was just like applying black spray paint. I stood the way tubes on end and applied two light coats. I understand that Pullrite recommends touch up every time we unhitch. I am going to check that out when they open tomorrow.
We are planning a 3 week trip from Northern Ca to Victoria BC in a few weeks so I will be anxious to see how it works.

On edit:
As a follow-up Pullrite told me that they recommend reapplying slip plate every 1000 miles or so. She told me to watch the area around the hitch in the tow position, both top and sides of the tubes. She also told me that it will appear that the slip plate has worn off but in fact, the graphite has worked into the metal.

After towing a few hours on mountain roads, I checked the hitch/tubes and she is right. It looks like bare metal but there is a lot of graphite still in place. It looks like it is working as advertised.

mail2us · 08-17-2008, 04:38 PM

Ken, if it's not too imposing, email the instructions you got from Pullrite. As Pete Hanson related, I used spray-on brake cleaner with little disassembling but am curious on the instr. you have as well.

Tks. Dennis

sreigle · 08-23-2008, 11:56 AM

If you're happy with Slip Plate, keep using it. If you decide to go back to white lithium grease, the lady at Pulliam in Mishiwaka, IN when we stopped in there last month told me it's ok to put the grease over the top of the slip plate but not vice-versa.

In an earlier post I mentioned Pulliam told me I can use a dry graphite spray. Someone else posted they were told only slip plate. The email I got was from Julie Williamson, Customer Service Specialist. I then asked her is I look in a hardware store will I find it under the name "slip plate." Here is her reply:

"No, it will be called a Dry Graphite Lubricant Spray for metal."

However, I found the slip plate not protecting the metal as well as I'd like so switched to a spray white lithium grease. I have a cover for the superglide so that protects it from dirt, leaves, etc. when not towing. Maybe I was just being overcautious. I'd be interested in hearing the experiences of those who have not already reported here.

Pete Hanson · 08-25-2008, 04:34 AM

I have been checking the slide rails after each tow and the Slip Plate seems to be doing a fine job for us. I have only performed some minor touch up where the lubricant seemed to come off the rail but it has been very minor. Personally, I find it so much easier to maintain then the Lithium grease I used to use.
Where I park the Monty at home requires a pretty sharp turn so the slide gets a little workout. I panicked the first time I checked the coating as it looked like the graphite came off the rails, but it turned out that the graphite simply got shiny when the slider slid over the rails and it only looked like exposed metal. I plan on staying with Slip Plate.
Pete

embraceatrend · 09-08-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by mail2us

Please advise if dry or wet lubricant is better when cleaning and lubricating the rails on a Superglide hitch. I am using the white lithium grease currently. It is messy and it requires a thorough cleaning and re-lube effort. It seems to do well.

The other product is slip plate graphite spray. Where can this product be purchased other than internet? Tks. Dennis

We are about to order Slip Plate for our super glide hitch from the site noted, hope this helps, i went through Pull Rite initially, but at $12.00 a can we thought we could do better. This site offers 6 cans for 39.00 plus UPS shipping. Cant seem to locate it in the stores.

http://cfbenderco.stores.yahoo.net/slipplate.html

mail2us · 09-09-2008, 07:17 AM

Thanks Larry (embraceatrend) for the link. I did find the SlipPlate product also at Tweetys.com @ $12.22 per can plus shipping. I did note that your link says 6 ounce cans and Tweetys has the 12 ounce cans. No matter though cause the product is expensive either way. Two cans plus shipping was $39.02.

Sreigle in talking to Julie at Pullrite maybe onto something with the generic Dry Graphite Lubricant Spray for metal product. Not sure but thought I saw something like this at Walmart. SlipPlate by name is an expensive product. Tks for your input. Dennis

embraceatrend · 09-09-2008, 02:09 PM

I think if you revisit the link, you should see 6/12oz. cans for $39.00, at least i hope that is what it says. Larry.

mail2us · 09-10-2008, 05:18 AM

My error Larry, I did see your link indicating 6 1/2 oz cans. I was wondering, now that I looked at your signature, if Canada sells different product quantities of this stuff?? Anyway, I think the SlipPlate will be a cleaner product after it's applied/dried than the white lithium grease I've been using. The grease is fine but everything adheres to it. Tks. Dennis

brenkco · 09-10-2008, 05:21 AM

That is a great price...what I paid for 2 including shipping. BTW, we are on leg one of a 2500 mile trip. So far the slip plate is performing well.

mail2us · 09-13-2008, 06:59 AM

Ken (brenkco) indicated that Pullrite is now using SlipPlate on their new products coming out of the factory. In talking to PullRite rep Scott Rasely he too indicated that all new SuperGlide hitches have SlipPlate applied prior to leaving the plant.

Can I assume that Pullrite prefers dry graphite spray lube over the white lithium grease products? I do! I'm not sure it is all about the "mess" that the lithium grease creates. The graphite lube spray may allow for better movement of the cam especially if it stays cleaner than with a grease application on the cam and way tubes?? Just my thoughts...outloud. Tks. Dennis

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