I have the Westfalia towbar on my VSE. I've tried to fit it today and, after figuring it was pull out and turn I was able to get it to stay in the holder....but....the key doesn't turn to lock and remove, the indicator stays on red and the knob stays proud of the hook by 10mm or so. So basically it doesn't lock out correctly. I can stand on the tow bar and it will drop (with some bouncing).

If I pull and turn the knob without inserting the hook in the receiver I can make it return to flush by moving the lever on the back of the hook. If I try moving this lever when the hook is inserted it makes no difference.

I've removed the receiver and looked inside and it looks OK. It appears that the 3 balls at the top of the hook are not expanding enough for the knob to cycle back to being flush and have a green indicator.

Anyone have any experience of this issue or any thoughts? I currently don't trust it to tow with as it shows red and the key cannot be removed. I have greased the ballbearings and have made sure they retract correctly and return. 2011 4.4 TDv8 Vogue SE
Zeus Challenger Evo II

No ideas guys? 2011 4.4 TDv8 Vogue SE
Zeus Challenger Evo II

Hi

Had the same with mine - got it in as far as it would go then gave it a bit of help (read hit with big hammer) to locate it. Nob clicked into place (ooerr) Did this several times - now works fine - lots of wd40 around the pins and turning mechanism also helped.

cheers

RP

jeffw wrote:

No ideas guys?

Mine was same. Copious amounts of WD40 and hammering solved the problem.

You could try taking a file to the v recess on the receiver and on the opposite part on the tow hook. I had the same myself and the big hammer did not work. Surprisingly tight tolerances between it locking out and not obviously a bit of surface corrosion stopped it.

Thanks for the responses...

I did search Stan, honest Guv 2011 4.4 TDv8 Vogue SE
Zeus Challenger Evo II

Hitting the underneath of the removable hook with a lump hammer has cured the issue. Now fits and removed correctly.

Thanks all  2011 4.4 TDv8 Vogue SE
Zeus Challenger Evo II

Recently got the problem with mine, hammered the thing, OK. Used my trailer, etc. Upon to remove the hook.. no way. It was stuck inside the arm!
Removed all the stuff, so cleaned it all, but still stuck.

Looking at the green half-circle, the knob halted its rotation just after the middle or the green drawing...

I was thinking about explosives or just some black powder thing when I discovered that under the hook there is a 5-6mm hole. Mine was filled with dust/mud/sand/etc.

Cleaned it a bit with a small screwdriver then flushed some WD-40 inside the hole. Turned the knob... it went full course and a big bubble of "brown blob" went out of the hole.
In fact, the inner rod that moves up and down to lock/unlock the hook might need some downspace, without this space, it can't go totally down so the knob can't make its total rotation.
And so the hook can get stuck.
Some pics:

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Looks like you've grounded the hitch?? You could have caused a burr where the pin should protrude?

Yes, the hitch had been used as a plow lol. Rangie had broken its serpentine belt, so had to be towed and it was in normal suspension mode, but as it has some heavy load in the boot (tiles) it went down on the rear suspension... so when gettin up and down of the tug the hitch plowed the ground.

But the hitch was stuck before this. So I should recommend to check this litle hole everytime the hitch is set or unset. And if stuck in, just use a mirror or a smatphone to ensure the hole is clear.

Besides, the quality of the whole set is very high. A very nice piece of engineering. Even with what mine was to endure (trailer filled with 1.400 lb of tiles, plowing lol) after cleaning: perfect fit.