Member Since: 13 Oct 2018
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 2
Removable tow bar locking pin not to be fully extening
Hi all,
I'm concerned about the security of the removable tow bar on our 05 plate Disco 3. It's a genuine LR removable tow bar and whilst I am aware of the recall for loose tow bars, that's not my problem.
When I slam the tow bar into the housing, the locking pin fires and holds the tow bar in. Likewise the knobs rotates and latches in hiding the red collar.
So it appears to be correctly and securely fitted. However, on closer inspection I have noticed the following:
The silver locking pin when fully extended (when the tow bar is out of the housing) seems to extend roughly 2 cm from the tow bar. When I look at the receiver slot, i.e. the aperture in the plate for the locking pin, I can see t is about 10 mm in thickness.
When I slam the tow hitch in, the pin fires but feeling it's position, it's apparent it has only extended for about half the depth of the face plate. My gut instinct is that it should at least extend to at least the same depth as the plate and most likely would be further. Effectively, the pin has not extended to it's full length and only 7 or 8 mm of the pin has extended into the aperture.
I have cleaned the housing, the tow bar is completely new and have applied careful use of a mallet at the base of the tow ball. Additionally I have applied a mallet to the rear of the receiver where the locking pin goes to see if a few sharp blows will encourage the pin to extend further, all to no avail.
Any further suggestions?
Thanks for your help,
Rich
13th Oct 2018 6:16 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
I could be wrong here but think the pin has a taper, so as things wear the pin can move out further and keep on gripping the housing tightly?
13th Oct 2018 6:31 pm
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4399
lynalldiscovery is spot on.
The tow bar relies on tapers for location and for locking. If you look carefully at the locking pin, it's not a plain taper, there is a protruding radius at the tip, and this is the bit where the load is carried.
Mine fits exactly the same as you describe, and I've towed many things with the removable tow bar.
Although, now I tow a tintent more often, I have fitted a Tow Trust TL1.Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
13th Oct 2018 6:38 pm
rtosh1
Member Since: 13 Oct 2018
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 2
Thanks,
The pin is indeed tapered, I'm just concerned as to how little of the pin seems to have extended and engaged with the plate. It seems odd that it would only go half way into the depth of the metal of the plate.
The tow bar certainly seems secure and it doesn't move at all.
13th Oct 2018 6:46 pm
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2080
If you can remove the key, when in position, the hitch is correctly fitted. If the tongue isn't engaged properly the knob wont have rotated far enough to remove the key .
13th Oct 2018 7:13 pm
JackNorris
Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Beds/Bucks Border
Posts: 1877
Glad I found this thread, I was intrigued today also, didn't help we fitted 2 to different cars at the same time.MY2023 Discovery 5 R-Dynamic 3.0
MY2020 Discovery 5 Landmark 3.0 - SOLD
MY2005 Discovery 3 V8 4.4 HSE - SOLD
MY2019 Discovery 5 SE 3.0 - LR Replaced !
MY2005 Discovery 3 S 2.7 - SOLD
MY2016 Discovery 4 Graphite - SOLD
MY2015 Discovery 4 SE Tech - SOLD
29th Jun 2020 10:56 pm
MintyHit
Member Since: 25 Jul 2017
Location: Bradford on Avon
Posts: 227
I recently bought a square hitch receiver for a bike rack and I found I had to clean a bit of corrosion the receiver for the pin with a dremal attachment before it would extend properly.
30th Jun 2020 9:15 am
Shane1000rr
Member Since: 04 Jan 2020
Location: County Durham
Posts: 97
Hi lads sorry to hijack the post just a query as the post has answered some of my worry’s Does the little small pin at the top do anything other than fire the locking pin in upon sitting the towbar into the fixing point as mine seized in but I can manually turn the key in the locking position and the big pin goes into correct place and I can manually turn it back to remove, was just a little worried to use it with the small pin being seized in Ps I did file the small pin down to get the towbar to go in the socket. Any advice appreciated
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before I found the youtube.
