www.iFourWinns.com

Can't get the trailer hitch to couple with the ball on the car hitch. Ball seats but won't lock in place. Can raise the tounge off the hitch by hand. Any ideas?

The trailer receiver should have stamped in the metal what size ball it requires. You'll have to buy the correct size ball for the car. Usually 2". Sometimes 2 5/16.

What kinda car are you trying to tow the 214 Funship with?

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1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

After confirming you have the proper ball, make sure the lever and the locking mechanism in the coupler are moving freely. If the ball is indeed the proper size the coupler might not be closing.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Also make sure that the coupler is not jammed in the up position causing it to not grab under the ball for a tight latch.

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Not Penny's Boat

1993 190 Horizon 5.0L EFI
http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11136
1977 14' CMF Skiff SOLD
2015 Emotion Stealth Angler 11

yep!

I have a 2000 214 Funship and the trailer came with it. The ball is 2" and I've used the same ball since I've had the boat. This is the first time I've had this problem and it happened as I hooked it up for the first time this year to get my boat out of the water for a cleaning. The coupler moves easily when I have the tongue off the ball, moves into position when I load it on, but when I tested it before I started off, I could lift the tongue off the ball by hand. It just didn't "clamp" on tightly. Even with the pin inserted it still came off. Seems to me something isn't "locking in.

Forgot to mention earlier, the coupling assembly has a disc brake actuator, although the brakes don't work they're still hooked up. Does the actuator need to slide backwards to lock in the coupling, because it isn't doing that. Sorry to be such a novice.

Found the actuator brand and model. It's a Titan Aero 7500 model.

When the trailer is on the ball look under the coupler on the back side and make sure the coupler is comming down and cupping the back side of the ball. It sounds like it's not, and it is stuck up in the release position.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Had the same problem a couple years ago. Get a can of spray penetrating oil like PB Blaster and hit the couple and latch from every angle. Let soak for a bit then hit it again and work the latch and coupler back n forth till it starts snapping into place. I now do this multiple times a year as maintenance and havent had a problem since

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

_________________
1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

Found the problem by calling the manufacturer of the hitch tongue mechanism, Titan. The particular model has what's called a handle, not one of the "trigger" releases like on most tongues these days. It's attached to the top of the coupler case assembly with a pivot pin which allows the handle to move up and down. Then there's a 5/16" bolt that inserts through two holes in the handle, just behind the pivot pin, that holds the ball catch coupler down when the tongue is on the ball.

That 5/16" bolt was missing, and to my knowledge, and I've owned the boat for six years, there's never been a bolt there. I finally just decided that I've been extremely lucky all these years that the tongue didn't come off the ball when I was towing. Scary feeling. Anyway, I got a bolt, inserted in the proper holes and put a lock nut on it, and it worked. I just don't know how it worked all this time without the bolt in place, so I may be mistaken and somewhere along the way it came out, but I sure don't think so.

Mystery solved. Bob at Titan was really helpful incase you ever need their help. Thanks to all of you who offered tips. Wish there was a way to insert pictures of things on this site to help people see what someone is working on.

There is! You have to upload them to a photo hosting site (such as photobucket.com), then you can insert them here using tags. It's easy once you do it once. Here's a tutorial:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1877

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Thank you!