I have a well used BX 7445 10,000lb Aventa tow bar. While it was being checked at a BX Dealer Hitch City here in Mississauga.Canada they discovered the jaws of the swivel ball joint were pried open 1/16th in and the open sides where the shaft protrudes were badly flared. It would not have been long before the shaft pulled out of the joint assembly!!!!!!
The copper bearings/flanges that are the wear surface inside the joint were very worn causing too much movement of the shaft in the cup /joint assembly.
Hitch City replaced the whole joint and shaft assembly .It comes from Blue Ox in Nebraska as one order. $290 plus S&H $89 to Canada and 15% HST.for a grand total of $425.00 CAN.
I noticed that the bearing /flanges in the new joint are made of teflon;a far superior material than copper.
Any member with the older copper bearing/flanges should be aware of this potentially very serious safety issue that requires regular maintenance.
