Can't Remove Hitch Pin, Not Rusty

My Brothers Taho · Feb 10, 2025

I towed a (5 x 8-ish) single axle trailer 5 miles loaded with a Case 222 lawn tractor. It appears that the hitch flexed, and the formed end of the pin rotated down into the slot for the safety chains.

Is this a "normal" thing? Is the hitch that flexible?

I should be able to get it out by removing a little material from the end of the leg but do I have to?

Grady_Wilson · Feb 11, 2025

From the looks of the first picture, the pin was much smaller than the hitch pin hole.
It allowed it to move up and down, along with allowing the hitch to move inside the receiver.
This caused the pin to move upwards during the movement of towing and get inside the safety chain loop.
I would see if you can lift the hitch bar enough to move that pin up to rotate it out of the loop.
Or, you could just cut the pin and source the proper sized pin for the receiver.

OR VietVet · Feb 11, 2025

Wiggle and tug. The hitch flexed enough at one time during the tow and allowed the movement. Lots of rust there. The second pic looks like could easily use a pry bar out of your tool box and pop it out. Plus, like @Grady_Wilson said, check that pin size when you get it out.

Joseph Garcia · Feb 11, 2025

I had a similar situation with a locking hitch pin, where it rotated, and I did not have the clearance to insert the key.

The Dremel is your best friend. Cut it off and replace it.

PPV_2018 · Feb 11, 2025

Putting some weight on it / jiggling it plus a BFH tap from the left side couldn’t break it loose?

GMCChevy · Feb 11, 2025

You should be able to get something on it to pry the end back out of the hole with. Pretty bad if the hitch flexes that far to let it drop in there to begin with.

Fless · Feb 11, 2025

Push down on the ball to lever the pin up into the high point of the hole, then turn the pin with something persuasive. Maybe hook up a heavy trailer to apply the weight to the ball.

89Suburban · Feb 11, 2025

Are you sure the tow chain/hook didn't get too tight in a turn and bend the pin? Cut it off with a dremel or sawzall or something.

Maybe use a floor or bottle jack with a piece of metal stock to push/pop it up out of the hole somehow.

Geotrash · Feb 12, 2025

89Suburban said:
Are you sure the tow chain/hook didn't get too tight in a turn and bend the pin? Cut it off with a dremel or sawzall or something.

Maybe use a floor or bottle jack with a piece of metal stock to push/pop it up out of the hole somehow.

See? This is my kind of ingenuity right here. Whenever I encounter something like this hitch pin, my mind immediately goes to the biggest, strongest tools I have to get shit going the right way again.

If you can't fix it, force it. If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.

homesick · Feb 12, 2025

89Suburban said:
Are you sure the tow chain/hook didn't get too tight in a turn and bend the pin? Cut it off with a dremel or sawzall or something.

Maybe use a floor or bottle jack with a piece of metal stock to push/pop it up out of the hole somehow.

I don't think I'd reuse that pin, regardless of everything else.

joe

Can't Remove Hitch Pin, Not Rusty

My Brothers Taho

TYF Newbie

Grady_Wilson

OR VietVet

GMT800 SUV/Trucks

Joseph Garcia

PPV_2018

Senior Member

GMCChevy

Senior Member

Fless

89Suburban

Bull in the china shop

Geotrash

Dave

homesick

Full Access Member

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