How to clean a rusty tow ball?

EvansT

Hi everyone, I have a rusty tow ball (even though I had a cover on it) and I was wondering if it was compromised since it has rust on it or can I just clean the rust off? If I can clean it, what is the best way to do it - just a steel wire brush or do I need other things to keep it from further rusting? Thanks for your help. 

JacobZ

Hi @EvansT,

Did you have any photos of the tow ball that you can share?

I doubt the rust is going to be anything more than surface-level rust, but I'd like to have a look to confirm.

If it is surface-level oxidation, you should be fine to just clean it off, but if the rust runs deeper than it could pose a risk as the strength of the tow ball will be compromised. When you are removing the rust, look for rough or uneven spots where metal has actually been eaten away, as these are signs that the rust runs deeper. If this is the case, then you should replace the towball. We have a few inexpensive options, such as this Ark 50mm Chrome Towball.

Assuming it is surface-level rust, I'd just use a combination of a wire brush and some 180-grit sandpaper to remove the rust. If it is particularly stubborn, some CLR can help. Make sure to wear a mask when doing so, as airborne rust particles aren't particularly good for you if inhaled.

This should be sufficient if you just want to remove the rust, but if you want to polish it up, you can use finer Wet And Dry Sandpaper to smooth things even further. 

Once cleaned, you can apply a light coating of WD-40 300g Specialist Rust Prevention Lanolin to help prevent further rust. This, alongside the tow ball cover, will give you some solid protection in the future.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob