Help With Square Hole Thingy

[Perianne]

A couple of months ago, I bought a bicycle carrier for my SUV. The carrier has a square thing that fits into this:

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7879&stc=1

This thingy ^ is welded or bolted to the SUV. The carrier square thing that fits into it is the problem. It has a pin that goes through the holes on the side of the receiver (?). Now I want to take the bicycle carrier off but I don't know how. I tried to knock the pin out with a hammer, but the pin will not move.

Can some strong, handsome, intelligent man tell me what to do?

[Bilgerat]

I'm a BIG fan of WD 40. Try spraying the pin with this before applying the "force multiplier" (aka Hammer time)


http://www.taproot.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wd40-ducttape.jpg

[LongTermGuy]

A couple of months ago, I bought a bicycle carrier for my SUV. The carrier has a square thing that fits into this:

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7879&stc=1

This thingy ^ is welded or bolted to the SUV. The carrier square thing that fits into it is the problem. It has a pin that goes through the holes on the side of the receiver (?). Now I want to take the bicycle carrier off but I don't know how. I tried to knock the pin out with a hammer, but the pin will not move.

Can some strong, handsome, intelligent man tell me what to do?


Hard to give advice without getting my `hands and eyes` on it....Go to your nearest U-Haul or Tire place (Firestone or similar) and have one of the Guys look at it...I don't feel it would be a big deal...and would be NO charge....But make sure you watch and learn as they take care of the problem...

[Elessar]

Get penetrating oil and let it sit. CRC makes a good one. Then lightly tap the
pin with a ball-peen hammer.

After that, lube it.

Dry lube works very well.

Try a Lithium spray lube. It repels water.
WD 40 is O.K. but will not repel water.
Another is Hi-Temp bearing grease.
I put that on my hitch balls.
Get a good locking hitch pin, too!

Get a cap for the hitch; one that has a seal on it.

[NightTrain]

A couple of months ago, I bought a bicycle carrier for my SUV. The carrier has a square thing that fits into this:

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7879&stc=1

This thingy ^ is welded or bolted to the SUV. The carrier square thing that fits into it is the problem. It has a pin that goes through the holes on the side of the receiver (?). Now I want to take the bicycle carrier off but I don't know how. I tried to knock the pin out with a hammer, but the pin will not move.

Can some strong, handsome, intelligent man tell me what to do?

Can you take a picture of it? Specifically the pin on both sides of your receiver that you're trying to get out.

[Gunny]

A couple of months ago, I bought a bicycle carrier for my SUV. The carrier has a square thing that fits into this:

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7879&stc=1

This thingy ^ is welded or bolted to the SUV. The carrier square thing that fits into it is the problem. It has a pin that goes through the holes on the side of the receiver (?). Now I want to take the bicycle carrier off but I don't know how. I tried to knock the pin out with a hammer, but the pin will not move.

Can some strong, handsome, intelligent man tell me what to do?

You got a trailer hitched welded on to carry a bicycle? Little bit over overkill here. :laugh:

You have to have the same size receiver as what you're trying to hitch it to. THAT would be the first thing you need to check. They come in different sizes. You might need something that offsets the size of the receiver vs the size of you bicycle hitch.

[Perianne]

You got a trailer hitched welded on to carry a bicycle? Little bit over overkill here. :laugh:

You have to have the same size receiver as what you're trying to hitch it to. THAT would be the first thing you need to check. They come in different sizes. You might need something that offsets the size of the receiver vs the size of you bicycle hitch.

I didn't get it welded on, it was there as part of the SUV. Everything works just fine. Everything fits just fine. I just can't remove it now that the bicycle shop mounted the carrier.

[NightTrain]

Usually when the pin is jammed in there like you're describing, it's pinched from the insert. I asked to see a picture of what you've got there to make sure there's no clips holding your pin in place.

If you've already removed the clip on that pin, then it's just a matter of wiggling the bike rack either in or out until it frees up your pin. You shouldn't need to beat on it with a hammer, they come right out when you relieve the pinching. If you've backed into anything (or someone backed into you), then the insert is jammed in, so you'd need to work it back out a little to free the pin.

[Gunny]

I didn't get it welded on, it was there as part of the SUV. Everything works just fine. Everything fits just fine. I just can't remove it now that the bicycle shop mounted the carrier.

A LOT of questions go with this.

My first best guess is take it back to the bike shop and find out what they did. Next best guess is if it's just jammed, you need to find someone big and strong enough to un-jam it.

[fj1200]

Can some strong, handsome, intelligent man tell me what to do?

Gladly. Did you take the pin out?

[Perianne]

There was surprisingly no pin to keep it in. My husband had taught me a lot of stuff about those types of things, so I was expecting a pin, but there was none.

Thanks for everyone's help. NightTrain I will take a picture when I can and post it.

[Gunny]

There was surprisingly no pin to keep it in. My husband had taught me a lot of stuff about those types of things, so I was expecting a pin, but there was none.

Thanks for everyone's help. NightTrain I will take a picture when I can and post it.

That's wrong. There's always a pin if it is detachable.

[Perianne]

There was surprisingly no pin to keep it in. My husband had taught me a lot of stuff about those types of things, so I was expecting a pin, but there was none.

Thanks for everyone's help. NightTrain I will take a picture when I can and post it.


That's wrong. There's always a pin if it is detachable.

I think my lack of calling things by the right name is a problem here. There is a pin there that keeps the thing in, but no pin to keep the pin in. Here is the photo.


http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7884&stc=1

[Gunny]

I think my lack of calling things by the right name is a problem here. There is a pin there that keeps the thing in, but no pin to keep the pin in. Here is the photo.


http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7884&stc=1

Hold on now. You're crossing two threads. Square hole? How does THAT happen? :poke::laugh2:

Looks like it's just jammed. Take it to Discount tires and pretend you're interested in tires. They'll fix it for you AND inflate your tires for free.

BTW ... got a lot of rust under that bucket, ma'am. :)

[Gunny]

I was starting to think like jimnyc. I had to stop myself. :halounplugged:

[fj1200]

I think my lack of calling things by the right name is a problem here. There is a pin there that keeps the thing in, but no pin to keep the pin in. Here is the photo.

No cotter pin but there's a hole for it. Is the bolt pin threaded on? Get an adjustable wrench and try that.

[Perianne]

No cotter pin but there's a hole for it. Is the bolt pin threaded on? Get an adjustable wrench and try that.

I thought of that and tried it, but I couldn't get it to move. But I didn't use a very big wrench. I will try it again later.

Thanks.

[Gunny]

No cotter pin but there's a hole for it. Is the bolt pin threaded on? Get an adjustable wrench and try that.

You KNOW where THIS passive aggressive crap is going. Start talking headlights and Jim will be right here.:laugh:

[NightTrain]

I think my lack of calling things by the right name is a problem here. There is a pin there that keeps the thing in, but no pin to keep the pin in. Here is the photo.


http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7884&stc=1

It's hard to tell, but it looks almost like your bike rack shaft is tweaked, like someone backed into you or you backed into something. Is it perfectly straight where it goes into the receiver?

Instead of that bolt, your receiver should have a pin that looks like this :

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7887&stc=1

That bolt that's in there is pretty torn up, and I'm guessing that you didn't bend the end of it. Someone worked that over with a hammer and you won't get it through the holes even if you did free that bolt.

Like FJ said, that hole in the end of the bolt is supposed to have a Cotter Pin in it to prevent it from coming out... someone already tried to remove it and gave up, it looks like.

I would cut the end of the bolt off as short as possible, then use a punch & hammer to drive it back out - assuming your rack isn't tweaked.

Gunny has the best solution here... I'd go to a local shop and in your sexiest sultry voice ask the young man to help you out! I'm sure it'll take all of 3 minutes to get that removed for you.

[Perianne]

No cotter pin but there's a hole for it. Is the bolt pin threaded on? Get an adjustable wrench and try that.

Thanks, fj1200. The pin/bolt has threads. I removed it easily.

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7890&stc=1

[Perianne]

Thanks, @fj1200 (http://www.debatepolicy.com/member.php?u=728).

Thanks very much to everyone. Together, we worked it out.

[Gunny]

Thanks, @fj1200 (http://www.debatepolicy.com/member.php?u=728). The pin/bolt has threads. I removed it easily.

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7890&stc=1

It shouldn't be threaded for a hitch. Should have a pin held on by a cotter pin.

[Perianne]

It shouldn't be threaded for a hitch. Should have a pin held on by a cotter pin.

Should I get one of those pins and cotter pin for next year?

[Gunny]

Should I get one of those pins and cotter pin for next year?

You can probably go to your local auto store, get the guy to come out and look at, and get what you need for about $10. at most. You do NOT need a threaded bolt with a hole cut in it for a hitch pin. Any person in an auto shop should be able to help you and if not, I want his job.

[NightTrain]

Man, that is some Talkeetna Engineering.

Yeah, that's not supposed to be threaded.

Go buy a pin for it like I posted, Peri.

[Gunny]

Sorry. Had to walk outside and :laugh2::laugh2::laugh2: This thread is killing me. :laugh2:

You got make sure he gets the right size pin to fit the hole. :laugh2:

I know YOU might be all proper but I'm a guy. (And shut up Jim and your brother too).

[fj1200]

Thanks, @fj1200 (http://www.debatepolicy.com/member.php?u=728). The pin/bolt has threads. I removed it easily.

Very odd to have that IMO. I'd say the bike rack place owes you something better. A couple of undone buttons should help. :eek:

[Elessar]

Thanks, @fj1200 (http://www.debatepolicy.com/member.php?u=728). The pin/bolt has threads. I removed it easily.

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7890&stc=1

That thing looks tweaked.

My carrier has a similar rig, but I take it off when I am done carrying the bike.
They have a tendency to tighten after weight is put on them.
Try using an extension on the wrench for greater torque if it is too tight.

[Gunny]

That thing looks tweaked.

My carrier has a similar rig, but I take it off when I am done carrying the bike.
They have a tendency to tighten after weight is put on them.
Try using an extension on the wrench for greater torque if it is too tight.

Tweaked? That looks like a shoddy attempt to "rig". I could have done better than that. Who the hell uses a threaded bolt as a hitch pin?

You got these assholes that like to take advantage of women. My mom's about as mechanical as Bozo the Clown and I watched this for years. Same old stuff. Little lady wants something let's just cut corners and use a chessy threaded bolt to save $3. That kind of shit gets me irate.

If I lived in Lexington, me n somebody'd be having words and I bet you I'd get a hitch pin for free before I got done. I hate predators,

[fj1200]

Tweaked? That looks like a shoddy attempt to "rig". I could have done better than that. Who the hell uses a threaded bolt as a hitch pin?

You got these assholes that like to take advantage of women. My mom's about as mechanical as Bozo the Clown and I watched this for years. Same old stuff. Little lady wants something let's just cut corners and use a chessy threaded bolt to save $3. That kind of shit gets me irate.

If I lived in Lexington, me n somebody'd be having words and I bet you I'd get a hitch pin for free before I got done. I hate predators,

Chessy??? :omg:

:poke: I don't think it was rigged, I think it came in the box like this (https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-Racks/Swagman/S64670.html) one; just seems dumb when my trailer doesn't even use a threaded bolt. It might look tweaked because Perianne flexed her muskles in trying to beat it back out.

Overkill unless they don't want it bouncing around back there.

[Gunny]

Chessy??? :omg:

:poke: I don't think it was rigged, I think it came in the box like this (https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-Racks/Swagman/S64670.html) one; just seems dumb when my trailer doesn't even use a threaded bolt. It might look tweaked because Perianne flexed her muskles in trying to beat it back out.

Overkill unless they don't want it bouncing around back there.

Uh oh. I misspelled a word. Look who's Johnny on the Spot. :laugh:

I'm blaming @Jim. I was asleep then the hairs I don't have on the back of my neck were standing up because he thought I was slacking. I had to get up and give him some attention only for him to ditch the place. Unappreciative fucker.

[fj1200]

Uh oh. I misspelled a word. Look who's Johnny on the Spot. :laugh:

If ya can't handle the heat...

:salute:

[Gunny]

If ya can't handle the heat...

:salute:

I can take as good as I give. :cool:

[Elessar]

Tweaked? That looks like a shoddy attempt to "rig". I could have done better than that. Who the hell uses a threaded bolt as a hitch pin?

You got these assholes that like to take advantage of women. My mom's about as mechanical as Bozo the Clown and I watched this for years. Same old stuff. Little lady wants something let's just cut corners and use a chessy threaded bolt to save $3. That kind of shit gets me irate.

If I lived in Lexington, me n somebody'd be having words and I bet you I'd get a hitch pin for free before I got done. I hate predators,

Mine has a nut welded inside the carrier shaft. The threaded pin is hardened steel, the purpose
of it being locked like that is so the bike and carrier do not shake and wobble. Remember the
bike in these rigs mount vertically.

When towing a trailer, the resistance is horizontal unlike the above.

[Gunny]

Mine has a nut welded inside the carrier shaft. The threaded pin is hardened steel, the purpose
of it being locked like that is so the bike and carrier do not shake and wobble. Remember the
bike in these rigs mount vertically.

When towing a trailer, the resistance is horizontal unlike the above.

I have a truck. The bike fits in the back. I don't know why anyone wants to drive their bike in their vehicle to begin with, but to each his own. I used to ride mine where I wanted to go.

But I do have a heavy duty step bumper with receiver and I've hooked up enough stuff to know how it works.

I understand exactly what you are saying but perhaps they might have explained it to her? A lot of people don't have mechanical minds. You ain't touching my truck without giving me the rundown from the get-go.

Anyway, you are correct and I never considered it that way but a loose pin would shake the bike to death.

[NightTrain]

Mine has a nut welded inside the carrier shaft. The threaded pin is hardened steel, the purpose
of it being locked like that is so the bike and carrier do not shake and wobble. Remember the
bike in these rigs mount vertically.

When towing a trailer, the resistance is horizontal unlike the above.


Ah, that makes sense!

I've never owned a bike rack.
Perianne don't buy that new pin! lol

[Gunny]

Ah, that makes sense!

I've never owned a bike rack.
@Perianne (http://www.debatepolicy.com/member.php?u=2722) don't buy that new pin! lol

I could have said that if I wasn't putting so much effort into not putting this in the gutter.:laugh:

[Elessar]

I could have said that if I wasn't putting so much effort into not putting this in the gutter.:laugh:

I still think the pin looks tweaked!:laugh:

[Gunny]

I still think the pin looks tweaked!:laugh:

If that pin ain't tweaked I got a full head of hair. :laugh:

[fj1200]

Tweaked or not it came out OK apparently. She doesn't have a problem anymore it seems that a little knowledge couldn't cure.

[Gunny]

Tweaked or not it came out OK apparently. She doesn't have a problem anymore it seems that a little knowledge couldn't cure.

Maybe. A threaded bolt is not a hitch pin.

[fj1200]

Maybe. A threaded bolt is not a hitch pin.

True, but apparently there is a reason that they use a threaded bolt and not a hitch pin.