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I can't tow anything!

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1.3K views 19 replies 9 participants last post by  bnewton530  
#1 ·
My tow hitch has been rendered unusable. Through absolutely no fault of my own the locking pin I've always used to secure my hitch when in-use or not has seized up. Despite never lubricating it or even washing salt or other road grime out of it, I just can't get the key to turn!
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I'm open to any ideas to get this thing off!

I have access to bolt cutters at work but I doubt they're big enough to cut the shaft, and any that are big enough might not fit in the space available.
I've soaked the lock with PB blaster. That at least allowed me to get the key in the lock, which I wasn't initially able to do. I still can't turn the lock though. But considering I'm about to cut it anyway, I might as well turn it as hard as possible until it either opens or breaks the key.
No room for an angle grinder in there.
 
#2 ·
"Sawzall" with an appropriate blade type (have a bunch if that's a hardened piece of steel) that's just long enough to do the job, but short enough to not hit what's behind it. Cut it next to the lock where it's thinnest... ;)
 
#3 ·
So...... Key is now insert-able, but wont' rotate? Try some powdered graphite to loosen up the tumblers?

If that doesn't work and the escalated 'shorty' sawzall, followed by BFH on the side to knock the pin out doesn't work.

Try not to go full send like the guy below.

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#7 ·
I like your idea better. I forgot I have a heat gun that could apply heat without destroying the entire car @HeyChris! 🤣
I did break out the sawzall but with the amount the blade moves in and out on mine I doubt I'd be able to cut it without hitting the metal behind.
Then I gave it another PB Blaster bath and put the key in. It still wouldn't turn by hand so I tried turning it with pliers. Now that the key was broken off in the lock it was safe to move on to more destructive methods.

So I guess its time for an anticlimactic update. When I left work I took the bolt cutters out with me. It wasn't an easy cut nor did they fit in that gap very easily but I was able to cut the lock head off at the thin part @Jim_in_PA was referring to. That doesn't exactly give me a great sense of security but its still better than nothing.

I still can't tow anything without a hitch pin...
 
#8 ·
Fortunately, a new hitch pin is easy to come by! 'Glad you got it resolved for sure. Do consider not leaving it in place if you don't have a ball mount, um...mounted. Despite all the assurances that product purveyors give about weather resistance, etc., locks are locks with lots of moving parts and well, they too often get all jammed up when they are out there in the "stuff". (I had one of the locks on my landscaping shed seize up in a similar manner, but fortunately, got it to open without destroying it)
 
#17 ·
For my own knowledge, why leave the pin in place without the hitch attached? Just curious.
Really just for peace of mind. Nobody can tow or attach anything without me unlocking it (or cutting the lock off).
And ideally so I can find the pin when I need it.
All of that backfired on me lol