Member Since: 17 Oct 2008
Location: Deregistered
Posts: 269
Removable Tow Bar won't lock!
Actually I cannot get the to fit, that is my first issue.
Second is that I can turn the key either way but the green locky thing will still operate in either position, so if I COULD fit it to my car, there is nothing stopping someone taking it off.
Am I missing something?
Robin
28th Oct 2009 4:08 pm
AWD man
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: In Drag
Posts: 831
whe you say "fit" do you mean it slots in but does not trigger? or it will not slot in57 RRS TDV8
BAS Map
D3: Gone but not forgotten
28th Oct 2009 4:16 pm
Disco3newbie
Member Since: 26 Oct 2008
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 600
Make sure the 'hole' in the chassis member is clean, especially if the red plug has been missing and you have been offroad.
Then make sure that the steel pin at the back of the towbar is retracted.....give it a tap with a hammer if it is sticking out and it shoudl retract.
Then with some gentle persuasion it should simply slot into place and you will hear the pin engage. Twisting the green thingy wotsit until you can't see the red collar should let remove the key.Club RLD spare wheel protection
Club RLD skid plate
Club its all black
Club D3 - it's gone
Club D4 - just arrived and still all black
28th Oct 2009 4:19 pm
Robster
Member Since: 17 Oct 2008
Location: Deregistered
Posts: 269
Okay, what red thing?
Maybe I am doing this wrong and doing it blind.
So, I bought this tow bar from ebay.
I looked under my bumper and can see a slot for the towbar to fit into, I tried pushing it up but it does not seem to go 'just' far enough for the catch to work?
Of course my next concern, if I can get it to latch into place, is that the lock does not seem to umm, lock!
Robin
28th Oct 2009 4:38 pm
AWD man
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: In Drag
Posts: 831
Sounds like (as a result of the red bung not being used) it's corroded inside the slot.
small wire brush and elbow grease57 RRS TDV8
BAS Map
D3: Gone but not forgotten
28th Oct 2009 4:41 pm
Robster
Member Since: 17 Oct 2008
Location: Deregistered
Posts: 269
So I do not have to remove anything else, just push the towbar up int the slot and wait for it to click into place?
What about the lock issue, is this something other people have seen?
Robin
28th Oct 2009 4:44 pm
AWD man
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: In Drag
Posts: 831
Yep, just guide it up and it'll click (the green knob will rotate) and bob's your uncle.
As for the key, I've never tried to lock it while it's not on the car, I'll have a look now57 RRS TDV8
BAS Map
D3: Gone but not forgotten
28th Oct 2009 4:47 pm
AWD man
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: In Drag
Posts: 831
Right, Just looked
I cannot turn the green knob at all when it's off the car, locked or not...
Maybe the towbar's in "located" mode as newbie suggested
It's happened to me before and I cannot remember how I re-cocked it, but I do remember it taking 2 or 3 attempts before I figured how...57 RRS TDV8
BAS Map
D3: Gone but not forgotten
28th Oct 2009 4:51 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
When the towbar is off the car, you own't be able to remove the key.
When you put the towbar in the socket & it is 'partly' located, just get a good hammer/mallet & hit it upwards at the bottom of the Towbar & it will then just click in place.
Very common issue. Once it's located properly, you will be able to remove the key & it will be fully inserted. Bodsys Brake Bible
Clock/ SNOTM /3Flash / 4x4Info /BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes / Gearbox Reset See It Here
28th Oct 2009 5:46 pm
andymck
Member Since: 21 Sep 2009
Location: North Somerset
Posts: 32
I sometimes have the same issue with mine (today in fact!!) I got mine from Ebay (Thule) - not that it matters I think but I have a red locking ring on mine. I found the trick is to lie on the floor and "wiggle" the bar in while holding the locking knob out. As others have said the locking lug really needs to properly locate in the chassis rail or you cannot remove the key. Once it slots home the key come out in the locked position. Each time I fit it I think I will not remove it and go through all this muddy hassle next time. HTH
Andy
28th Oct 2009 5:51 pm
Robster
Member Since: 17 Oct 2008
Location: Deregistered
Posts: 269
Okay, now I am worried.
I can take the key out of the lock, no problem and its not fitted to my car.
But I do not see how you could ever stop a key coming out of a lock?
Robin
28th Oct 2009 6:58 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
if you can take the key out when its not fitted then the mechanism is a bit stuck. it need plenty of lubricant on all the moving bits - this maybe why its not seating properly. I had the same proble with an adjustable i boughtDuncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
28th Oct 2009 7:00 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
Robster, there is a small silver 'pin' on the towbar. With the towbar removed, if you tap on that pin, then a larger 10-12mm silver bit should shoot out. That is effectively in the 'engaged position' which youshould eb able to remove the key.
When you then unlock it, you shouldn'y be able to remove the key.
Just a thought, this is a genuine LR towbar isn't it? It has the proper LR logo forged into the towbar?Bodsys Brake Bible
It sounds as though the towbar things it is locked in to position as the only way the key can be removed is if it is locked in place, or tricked in to thinking it is locked in place. I am certain the instructions are in the standard manual.
Try the following:
Turn the key until it cannot be removed
Pull the large green knob out
Turn it towards you
If it was in the locked position it will click and the silver pin will retract. You should now be in able to put in in place. Once it is properly seated it will click and you can turn the key and remove it.
Circled in red is the silver pin that Bodsy is talking about. It is this that triggers the larger locking pin to shoot out when the towbar is inserted into its receiver socket. You can't see the locking pin in the diagram as it's located in the front of the wedge-shaped part of the towbar but I've added a red arrow to the pdf to indicate roughly where it is.
With the towbar removed from the car, the green locking handle should be pointing downwards as in the picture (exposing the red band) and the large locking pin should not be protruding from the front of the towbar. If it is, turn the green locking handle anti-clockwise to withdraw the locking pin. The green locking handle should lock into position and you should not be able to get the key out!
I would advise giving the whole wedge-shaped part a good wire brush and squirt with brake cleaner or meths. It might be worth pushing the circled silver pin (it's stiff so takes a bit of doing) to trip the locking pin so that you can clean that as well. Smear a little copperease grease on the pin and withdraw it as described above. I put a little copperease on the parts of the "wedge" that contact the inside of the receiver socket too (they're usually the "shiny" bits around the edges).
Ensure the receiver socket on the car is not clogged up with crud as it sounds as though the red blank has long since disappeared. (Incidentally, they're cheap as chips from the stealer - ISTR paying less than £2 for a replacement when I lost mine).
Now shove the towbar firmly into the receiver socket. If you don't do this hard enough, it won't lock. Really bang it in! The green locking handle should turn into the horizontal position (covering the red band) if it locks correctly. Now turn the key anti-clockwise to lock it and you should now be able to get the key out. Try turning the green locking handle. It will rotate a bit but shouldn't turn enough to allow the towbar to come out of the receiver socket. Give the whole thing a good tug - provided the green locking handle is horizontal and no red band is showing, the towbar should be very firm with hardly any play.
Hope this helps - good luckNow an ex-D3 owner after 7 happy years. Miss the car but not the big bills
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
to fit, that is my first issue.
