Trailer help needed: removing trailer from ball

[Al Sargent]

Anyone here good with trailers? 

My Laser trailer wouldn't release from the ball after last night's race. So, I had to disconnect the trailer hitch from a car so I'm not dragging my boat everywhere I go. 

Take a look at the video below. Any suggestions?

 IMG_4583.mov

Best regards,
 
Al

asar...@stanfordalumni.org | +1 650 269 2176

[Colin Brochard]

At risk of stating the obvious... Did you spray with WD-40 and let it sit overnight?

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[Al Sargent]

Not yet, since I don't have any WD40.

If WD40 is the best thing to spray I can do that. Just want to ensure that I spray the right stuff in there.

Best regards,
 
Al

asar...@stanfordalumni.org | +1 650 269 2176

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[Joshua Gutow]

WD40 is probably decent. You can look at other penetrating oils as well. That will help the handle rotate if there is rust in that mechanism.

Based on the statement that you had to kick the handle down to seat it, I wonder if the ball is in the wrong spot where you may just have to force it.

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[Jenny Maybee]

Sometimes couplers have an adjustment nut on the underside, which affects the fit of the ball and how easy/hard it is to get the handle up and down, so if it has one and somehow it got bumped the wrong way that could change the tension so that you now can't get the handle to release.  Something like this picture:

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[Tracy Usher]

Quiz time: how many people know what “WD 40” stands for? Bonus points: when was it invented. No cheating. 

On Mar 2, 2026, at 5:09 PM, Jenny Maybee <jma...@gmail.com> wrote:



Sometimes couplers have an adjustment nut on the underside, which affects the fit of the ball and how easy/hard it is to get the handle up and down, so if it has one and somehow it got bumped the wrong way that could change the tension so that you now can't get the handle to release.  Something like this picture:

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/international-laser-class-association-district-24/CAH-2JWW2pFEN_WDtdO8RDVkr6-tdFiAsZAHKN1mHv__NYHNA5Q%40mail.gmail.com.

[Al Sargent]

Thanks Jenny!

Got a concept for your next album cover. 

Best regards,
 
Al

asar...@stanfordalumni.org | +1 650 269 2176

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[Jenny Maybee]

Ha, I love it!  Thanks Al! :)

Jenny

[Al Sargent]

Tracy: Water Displacement, version 40. For the space program. That's my cheat-free answer.

All, 

I talked to my trailer repair guy, Caleb at Performance Trailer, who suggested the following:

1. Take hull off trailer
2. Spray on white lithium grease. Not WD40.
3. Lift up trailer, and try to try open with a screwdriver.
4. Loosen adjustment nut on the bottom if that doesn't work. (Similar to Jenny's tip.)
5. If all else fails, Caleb can replace and/or fix the hitch.

So that's what I'll try. If anyone needs a trailer repair person, here's Caleb's info:

Performance Trailer Service

2968 Grant Street

Concord, CA 94520

925.914.0836

Ca...@performancetrailerservice.com

https://www.yelp.com/biz/performance-trailer-service-concord-2

https://performancetrailerservice.com/

[Bauman, Brian J.]

Where’s the “beat the hell out of it with a rubber mallet” step?

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[Jenny Maybee]

I think that one goes without being said as the default last resort.

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[Jonathan Howell]

Ha! That would be my first resort except I wouldn't use a rubber mallet. 

Jonathan
Technical Wizardry

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