ahopper

i bought a new truck about a week ago and i have been trying to get the removable ball out of the back of the bed. i have used a half can of wd-40, half can of pb bolt blast, a sledge hammer, 36in pipe wrench and i have hooked a gooseneck trailer up to it and lifted the rear of the truck off the ground. the pin pulls out fine but the ball wont move. the safty chain plate spins freely but the ball is stuck. it says putnnam on the ball. any advice? Thanks

sherpadad

So the "keeper" pin in bottom comes out? If so, might try a BIG pipe wrench around the ball, as you put pressure on it and try to turn the ball, tap the top of the ball with a hammer, like a medium to large size ball peen hammer. If you can get it to turn, you can get it out. Or try and torch or propane heat around the plate, not the ball, it should expand enough to turn the ball. if you heat the ball, it'll expand and gain you nothing. My .02

ahopper

the keeper pin does come out and i have tried a pipe wrench. i will try it again and try the heat option as well, will a normal plumbing propane torch work?

wurkenman

No a propane torch will not work. Won't generate the amount of heat needed. Oxy acetylene will be your best bet.If you even heat it enough to get the ball hot it should move just due to the expansion of all the components. Isn't "rust welding" wonderful?

ahopper

im not used to the "rust welding" in arizona! but the truck is from Utah>

bandit408

I have done the shock method. Get the pieces red hot with an oxy-acetylene torch and then throw some cold water on it. You may have to do this a few times.

jp8819

Might try hooking the gooseneck up and pulling it around a while with a load on it to shake it around some and break the rust loose now that you have let it soak for a while.

PaulDaisy

Instead of annealing it and trashing the ball, just use it as it is! Looks like it is safely in place for many more years of towing!

2500

mine was stuck/rusted in exact same way....

here's how I got mine unstuck.

1. use penetrating fluid generously, let sit overnight min
2. remove plate assembly with ball from truck
3. find a large drift same diameter as ball's base
4. back out locking pin, then place solid drift on bottom side of ball.
take a sledge hammer and pound out ball.
5. after removal... use anti-size generously

not real elegant, but works. key is to use same diameter drift to press out ball. a 30+ ton hydraulic press would work too.

Palmetto_kid

Use "Kano Oil" to soak the ball with. This is best penetrating fluid I have ever used. Then get a 36" pipe wrench w/6' cheater. Stand outside the tailgate on theg ground, and apply pressure. Have someone stand in the bed, and hit the ball on the head with a sledge.

Moose10

I just read on another thread that a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone is an outstanding penetrating fluid. I look forward to trying it on the next stuck bolt I encounter.

ahopper

where can i get "Kano oil"?

I just read the same thing. im gonna try this as well.

ahopper

i would just use it but i do not have a gooseneck. but i do want to keep it incase i get one. right now i need the bed empty so can put my Jet Ski in the back of te truck to get to the lake.

merr6267

Hit the flange and socket with the sledge. It'll do more good for breaking the rust than trying to pound it out. It will shock the socket out of round and break the rust on the sides. Hit all the way around it, hard.
Then sit the ball from the top, sideways, down etc. if you can get it to rock to one side then you're golden. Spray more lube in there and keep hitting.

Busboy

Item 1 is most important especially the bit about overnight. It must be penetrating oil not WD40.