Re getting the coupler to let go of the ball. I will repeat a suggestion I have made before. It is not popular, but works wonders.
Chock the TM wheels. Unhook your TM from the tow vehicle, and move the tow vehicle away. Use the tongue jack to get the coupler 18-24" off the ground. Drop the front corner jacks in the front to the ground. All that is purely for safety.
Now, get down on the ground, on your back, with your face directly under the coupler. Look straight up into the cup, work the lever a few times, and watch what happens inside the coupler. As you watch the moving parts slide around, it will suddenly become clear how the coupler works, why it sometimes hangs up, and what to do when it won't uncouple.
Before I did this, I had occasionally used a hammer or a pry bar to get the darn thing to release. I even broke the coupler at one point, and had to get a welder to fix it. Can you say EMBARRASSING? But once I saw what was going on inside the thing, I was able to uncouple easily every time.
Bill
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