Installed a Curt hitch solo today.

[Langwilliams]

I installed a Curt hitch I bought off eBay by myself. Not normally a big deal but I've had both shoulders operated on an can't lift like I used to. When I was 17 I had a Mustang II with a 4 speed. I had the transmission repaired, I slid under the car with the transmission on the my chest with a bolt in my mouth, lined up the fly wheel an throw out bearing an slid it in an slapped a bolt on. Ah to be young.

I clamped the receiver onto the jack (had to partially jack it up some).

removed the 4 bolts, rolled the hitch under, jacked it up an started the bolts.

Not too bad.

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[Langwilliams]

Looks like it will interfere with a larger spare tire. guess I can just have it off center a little.

 

[Big Blue]

I installed a Curt hitch I bought off eBay by myself. Not normally a big deal but I've had both shoulders operated on an can't lift like I used to. When I was 17 I had a Mustang II with a 4 speed. I had the transmission repaired, I slid under the car with the transmission on the my chest with a bolt in my mouth, lined up the fly wheel an throw out bearing an slid it in an slapped a bolt on. Ah to be young.

I clamped the receiver onto the jack (had to partially jack it up some).

removed the 4 bolts, rolled the hitch under, jacked it up an started the bolts.

Not too bad.

You do realize if you bolted it in like your showing it, you have it backwards. The end you have the hitch inserted goes under the truck.

 

[Langwilliams]

You do realize if you bolted it in like your showing it, you have it backwards. The end you have the hitch inserted goes under the truck.

yeah....that was a test fit while gathering all the tools an filling the air compressor. Had to make sure it would support the weight before getting the breaking bar an big pipe out to crack those 4 bolts loose. Directions said to torque them to 196 Ft pounds!

 

[subquark]

Wow Langwilliams, you brought me right back to my late teens and early 20s with your transmission story. I did the exact same thing with my FJ40 transmission and transfer case, on the chest and shove it up and get the bolts in! Wow, those were the days ...

I installed a Curt hitch I bought off eBay by myself. Not normally a big deal but I've had both shoulders operated on an can't lift like I used to. When I was 17 I had a Mustang II with a 4 speed. I had the transmission repaired, I slid under the car with the transmission on the my chest with a bolt in my mouth, lined up the fly wheel an throw out bearing an slid it in an slapped a bolt on. Ah to be young.

I clamped the receiver onto the jack (had to partially jack it up some).

removed the 4 bolts, rolled the hitch under, jacked it up an started the bolts.

Not too bad.

 

[Wytchdctr]

Glad to hear it was an easy install. Going that route myself once I have something to pull... looking for a trailer now.

 

[Gsxrdoug]

That's a great idea. Don't need to do it, already have the hitch but I'm glad people can still work smarter not harder.
And Big Blue you had me on that one, I was like oh shit he did have it wrong, totally missed it at first glance. But glad it was just a test.

 

[Langwilliams]

Wow Langwilliams, you brought me right back to my late teens and early 20s with your transmission story. I did the exact same thing with my FJ40 transmission and transfer case, on the chest and shove it up and get the bolts in! Wow, those were the days ...

Wish my body would allow me do those projects now.

 

[Whiplash]

yeah....that was a test fit while gathering all the tools an filling the air compressor. Had to make sure it would support the weight before getting the breaking bar an big pipe out to crack those 4 bolts loose. Directions said to torque them to 196 Ft pounds!

I'm in the same boat.....DIY'er 63 year old that has added breaker bar, cheater pipes, , ratchet straps and extra Jack's to my arsenal of tools....I have found ways to wedge my breaker bar or Torque wrench on my floor jack to deal with bolts that have been or require being torqued to over 120 ft lbs..

 

[OC4095]

I installed a Curt hitch I bought off eBay by myself. Not normally a big deal but I've had both shoulders operated on an can't lift like I used to. When I was 17 I had a Mustang II with a 4 speed. I had the transmission repaired, I slid under the car with the transmission on the my chest with a bolt in my mouth, lined up the fly wheel an throw out bearing an slid it in an slapped a bolt on. Ah to be young.

I clamped the receiver onto the jack (had to partially jack it up some).

removed the 4 bolts, rolled the hitch under, jacked it up an started the bolts.

Not too bad.

Cleaver trick, I'll have to remember that next time. I instead man handled it all like an idiot.

 

[subquark]

Getting old ain't for sissies.
Bette Davis

 

[KJRR]

So redneck way to calculate torque when you just have a breaker bar and long pipe.

• Force X Distance from center.
• 200 pounds on a 1 foot breaker-bar, equals 200ft/lbs.
• 200lbs X 1ft = 200ft/lbs
• The same force applied to 2 foot breaker bar equals 400 ft/lbs.
• 200lbs X 2ft = 400ft/lbs
• Figure out your weight and reverse the calculations to see how far from the center you need to place that weight. (You just did algebra) Mark it with tape and stand on it.
• Long version

I've used this on my old VWs when you need to torque the flywheel bolt or rear drum nut to 195 ft lbs.
I've since bought a torque multiplier.
I'm sure this wouldn't be Phil approved but never had a flywheel or wheel fall off my old VW's

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