Atwood Yoke Style Ball Coupler Question

[Kalamacoho]

Hello; the wife and I bought a fixer-upper 2008 TM 2720. Looking for some help.

It has the Atwood 80072 Coupler. The internal ball clamp mechanism was stuck dangling down (Circled in last photo). I cleaned it up, added some grease and used a mallet to tap it back to the correct position. However, it still tends to fall back to dangling down. I noticed there is a slot on the right side that looks like something should go in it to hold it up (circled in 2nd to last photo).
Does anyone else have this Atwood coupler? Does your ball clamp dangle down? If no, is there a part that fits into the slot that keeps it up?
Can you share a photo?

Thank you to anyone who can answer.

[Kalamacoho]

OK, looks like I am answering my own question. I found a good image online of the backside of a new coupler. The slot is formed by a sheet metal punch operation leaving a tab on the inside as a stopper for the ball clamp.
On mine, it is broken off. I will put a short sheet metal screw in its place.

Perhaps someone with the same issue will one day find this post.

[Bill]

Much as I hate to admit it, I think I know what happened here. There are times when the coupler just won't let go of the ball. You tweak the tow vehicle forward a bit, then back a bit, and you still can't lift the latch. Out of frustration, you grab a pry bar and "convince" the latch handle to lift.

BAD IDEA. It breaks stuff in the coupler.

In my experience, when this happens, the best bet is to crank the jack so that it is lifting the hitch ball just a bit - but not a lot. If the jack is too high, and lifting a lot of tow vehicle weight, the coupler parts may be unable to slide. Then, with the jack height adjusted, again jig the tow vehicle back and forth a bit - no more than an inch - while you try to lift the coupler latch. Of course, don't bend the jack stem while you do it.

Later, when the trailer is disconnected, it helps to get down on your knees and peer up into the ball cup while you work the latch up and down. This lets you see what the coupler is trying to do when you lift the latch. And don't forget to grease the hitch ball when you hitch up. That helps too..

Bill

[Kalamacoho]

Thanks Bill. I think that is what happened by the previous owner.

I will use your de-coupling method... with lots of grease!