Receiver hitch sticking

[John_Mc]

Anyone have any good magic tricks for fixing a sticky 2" receiver hitch?

When I put an insert in the receiver, it slides almost all the way in, then sticks. I can just see the edges of the insert's hole starting to appear when I look through the pin hole receiver. I've scraped, spayed with various penetrating oils and lubricants, scraped some more, but it still sticks at that smae point (even when I try any of 3 different inserts I have at hand).

 

[Seven Gables]

A good sharp flat bastard file used on the inside of the receivers 4 sides or the sides that need it. B

 

[CADplans]

90% chance that it is rust,,,

The only answer is to take a 4 1/2" angle grinder to the insert,,
keep grinding, until it goes in and out easily,,

OR,,,

find a favorite tree to attach a chain to,, and jerk the insert out of the truck,,

Once it starts rusting, the smaller insert is really the only answer,, it will rust again,,

 

[John_Mc]

90% chance that it is rust,,,

The only answer is to take a 4 1/2" angle grinder to the insert,,
keep grinding, until it goes in and out easily,,

OR,,,

find a favorite tree to attach a chain to,, and jerk the insert out of the truck,,

Once it starts rusting, the smaller insert is really the only answer,, it will rust again,,

I was really hoping it would not come to that. I've got 3 inserts I use regularly, and another that gets used occasionally. They get used on 3 different vehicles. I really didn't want to grind all of them down.

 

[John_Mc]

A good sharp flat bastard file used on the inside of the receivers 4 sides or the sides that need it. B

I did a little of that, but I need a longer (and sharper) file to do it right. I'm guessing that painting it when I'm done is probably a waste of time. I can't imagine the paint would hold up for long.

 

[countrybumpkin]

If all the inserts stop about the same location and fit fine in your other vehicle receivers then you don’t want to grind on them, that’s not the problem. The problem is on the inside of the receiver they will not go into, most likely rust, dirt, rocks, mud or a combination those are the problem. You need to clean out the inside of the receiver, as stated above a good file and work all four sides of the receiver from the front all the way to the back, you may even wash it out with a pressure washer then use the file. Once you have it sliding in and out freely take some paint or even primer and spray the inside to help keep from rusting.

 

[LouNY]

I was really hoping it would not come to that. I've got 3 inserts I use regularly, and another that gets used occasionally. They get used on 3 different vehicles. I really didn't want to grind all of them down.

Have you used this receiver before with your inserts?
The UTV I just got has a 2" receiver but my inserts wouldn't fit,
they stopped inserting about half a hole from lining up.
The inserts depth was just a bit shallow when putting the inserts in as a rise,
when used as a drop it fit good.
I ended up grinding about a quarter inch off the long side of the tapered end of the insert.

 

[LittleBill21]

get a pressure washer pin hole design and spray it, it generally works, after that spray the inside down with fluid film. i had the same issue.

 

[Tomtint]

I have a couple of them that have done that from time to time. I end up cleaning them down with a wire brush, a quick shot of paint and a light coating of grease. Lasts for quite a while.

 

[John_Mc]

Have you used this receiver before with your inserts?
The UTV I just got has a 2" receiver but my inserts wouldn't fit,
they stopped inserting about half a hole from lining up.
The inserts depth was just a bit shallow when putting the inserts in as a rise,
when used as a drop it fit good.
I ended up grinding about a quarter inch off the long side of the tapered end of the insert.

Yes, I've used these inserts in this receiver before. They used to all fit, now none of them do. At first, just cleaning out the mud/dirt worked (I live on a dirt road, and do a lot of of driving on dirt roads). Cleaning isn't cutting it anymore. The truck was bought used with 140,000 miles on it. I suspect the age is catching up to the receiver.