When fitting a Mitchell Bros hitch did you use the original LR pin or did you replace it with a HR version?
I have just received mine and noticed that the LR pin doesn't fit, should I drill it out or will HR pin fit?2007 TDV6 SE Towing 22' Boroma Primo Grandinata, Mitchell Bros. Tow Hitch, Bolle Tint, TomTom GoLive 825 GPS.
It is very close but not close enough, needs probably 1/2 mm more clearance to fit. I just thought in usual LR fashion that they had made it to some slightly different standard.2007 TDV6 SE Towing 22' Boroma Primo Grandinata, Mitchell Bros. Tow Hitch, Bolle Tint, TomTom GoLive 825 GPS.
21st Oct 2008 9:02 am
Martin Krutli
Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
Towing Hitch
My pin fits - but most of the time I use an aftermarket lockable one.
Cheers,
MartinMY08 TDV6 SE. White/Alpaca. BFG265/65/18 At's
Autologic, Trackside Dual Battery syst., Remote GME UHF, 4X4 Intelligence rear wheel carrier, Boab removable rear drawer system w National Luna fridge, Mitchell Bros hitch.
Rasta Plate. 110L LRA long-range fuel tank.
21st Oct 2008 10:26 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Would explain why my old D2 hitch is slightly loose, I have an after market pin with it though. So pin tight in Mitchel bros hitch and loose through the old hitch.
The hole in the MB hitch is a tight fit though, wouldn't fit when painted, had to remove the paint. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
21st Oct 2008 11:08 am
pbhawkin
Member Since: 14 Dec 2006
Location: Mudgee
Posts: 377
I had to use a dremel to open up the holes by a few thou to allow an off the shelf pin to fit.regards
Peter
__________________________________________
Oct 2013 SDV6 3.0 HSE.
2007 TDV6 SE E-diff, adaptive lights sold 1/2014
21st Oct 2008 9:56 pm
mitchellbros4x4
Member Since: 25 Oct 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 66
Hi All,
When we did the prototype hitch, we made the pin hole @ 16.20mm to accomodate a 16mm pin, we didnt want a sloppy pin fitment that would inevitably destroy the pin and the hitch, not mentioning being very noisy.
What we didnt allow for was the variance in thickness of the zinc coating, this has removed any tolerances we left for easy pin insertion and removal.
If you take a round file and remove the zinc coat a fresh 16mm pin should fit through just nicely.
We certainly recommend that you use a new pin, we dont want you to wreck your nice new hitch.
Ok I am seeing a pattern here, it would appear that the manufacturing tolerances are tight and I may have to enlarge the holes very slightly to fit the LR pin. I have to get a HR drop tongue so before I enlarge the holes I will try a HR pin for size. If I am lucky it will fit otherwise if its the same as LR will have to get to work with sandpaper and rub off a few thou.
Edit: Must be posting at the same time Aaron, yes I figured that was your intention and I didn't want to remove any of that zinc before trying a fresh pin. Guess these things happen from being too perfect 2007 TDV6 SE Towing 22' Boroma Primo Grandinata, Mitchell Bros. Tow Hitch, Bolle Tint, TomTom GoLive 825 GPS.
21st Oct 2008 10:50 pm
mitchellbros4x4
Member Since: 25 Oct 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 66
lawrie50 wrote:
Ok I am seeing a pattern here, it would appear that the manufacturing tolerances are tight and I may have to enlarge the holes very slightly to fit the LR pin. I have to get a HR drop tongue so before I enlarge the holes I will try a HR pin for size. If I am lucky it will fit otherwise if its the same as LR will have to get to work with sandpaper and rub off a few thou.
Edit: Must be posting at the same time Aaron, yes I figured that was your intention and I didn't want to remove any of that zinc before trying a fresh pin. Guess these things happen from being too perfect
Hi Lawrie
I would grab the new pin first, it wont need much only a few thou.
You are correct in think the tolerances arre tight, we wanted it this way so as to eliminate potential failure areas.
Half an hour with some medium wet & dry and now the pin slides thru freely. Two coats of matt black epoxy and looking pretty fine.
Moved on to Coffs Harbour and after a little investigation found a 4x4 shop that had a selection of drop tongues to suite so purchased and this morning I was able to fit the beast. All went well except the two bolts at the bottom are too long as others had noted they do tighten up against the casting behind the holes so cut off about 5 mm and now they are just right. Still a couple of threads thru the nylock with it all tightened up.
Here is a picture of the amount I removed, unless you add another washer you will need to do this.
Click image to enlarge
More pictures in my gallery. Haven't hooked up the van yet but looks like with the tongue I have should have about 20-30mm drop at the front and that will be just perfect.
Moving in a few days so will have the first road test then. May get the tongue redrilled to allow it to sit closer up to the hitch receiver but will see how it goes under test first.2007 TDV6 SE Towing 22' Boroma Primo Grandinata, Mitchell Bros. Tow Hitch, Bolle Tint, TomTom GoLive 825 GPS.
Regarding the pin holes, it helps to mask the holes prior to painting, otherwise the holes get a bit too small for most pins. Done correctly it's a wonderfully tight fit!Jim Dowell - D4 HSE TDi, 12,000 hydraulic winch & hidden winch mount, MTRs, TyreDog, Traxide 2 x aux battery system, fixed air compressor, Dolium roof rack, MitchHitch.
RIP 2005 D3 HSE V8 5 seater gold (stolen and torched)
31st Oct 2008 4:40 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
lawrie50 wrote:
Half an hour with some medium wet & dry and now the pin slides thru freely. Two coats of matt black epoxy and looking pretty fine.
Moved on to Coffs Harbour and after a little investigation found a 4x4 shop that had a selection of drop tongues to suite so purchased and this morning I was able to fit the beast. All went well except the two bolts at the bottom are too long as others had noted they do tighten up against the casting behind the holes so cut off about 5 mm and now they are just right. Still a couple of threads thru the nylock with it all tightened up.
Here is a picture of the amount I removed, unless you add another washer you will need to do this.
Click image to enlarge
More pictures in my gallery. Haven't hooked up the van yet but looks like with the tongue I have should have about 20-30mm drop at the front and that will be just perfect.
Moving in a few days so will have the first road test then. May get the tongue redrilled to allow it to sit closer up to the hitch receiver but will see how it goes under test first.
I would not advise modifiying the bolts. They are high tensile and the heat generated in cutting them will change the properties if the steel. Also if the threads are not cleaned the nylock can be damaged leading to the nut coming loose.
This would be more important on the bolt through the eye as it takes a lot more load and consquence of failure is greater. You need to remove the tow sockets to get this bolt in, don't shorten it! And make sure it is tight. (may not be a bad idea to check it again after first use to make sure the bush has taken properly)
Remember to always throw away any used nylock nuts and use new ones.
Remember this is a rated hitch and is rated with the bolts as supplied.
Click image to enlarge
The bolt only just touches the casting, if your casting is slightly different and you need more room, add a thick washer to the underside. It's easier and safer.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
I agree somewhat with this observation except my bolts were much too long and would have needed at least an extra two of the same washers supplied under each bolt head to clear the casting. With the amount cut off my bolts they are still just touching the casting when tightened so there is either a difference in the length of the bolts now supplied or some castings are different. As for changing the properties by cutting them off I doubt it, I did this by hand with a hacksaw and it would barely have raised the temperature of the bolt by more then a few degrees with the speed that I was cutting and I did clean the thread before using so no harm would have been done to the nylock nuts so all is well.
I still have to acquire some suitable stick on discs to cure the reversing sensors otherwise its looking pretty smooth.2007 TDV6 SE Towing 22' Boroma Primo Grandinata, Mitchell Bros. Tow Hitch, Bolle Tint, TomTom GoLive 825 GPS.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
