Hello -

I recentely purchased a Da'lan trailer hitch from a fellow sk2i member without the fasteners. I was under the assumption that the fasteners could all be obtained from a local hardware store, but the #907 backing plate is the exception.

I was wondering if any of you who have the hitch might be able to give me a description of this piece so that I might be able to go to a local machine shop and get a piece of scrap cut to the correct size. I can see from the mounting instructions that the piece is 7/8" x 2", but I'm missing the following details:
1) Composition - I presume it's steel, but does anyone know what gauge/thickness?
2) bolt hole details - Is it a hole just large enough to hold the 7/16" bolt, or is it a slot?

I'm assuming this piece of metal is just a rectangular fender washer and that I can easily find a substitute, but I'd like to verify that with someone before I risk damaging my car and the bicycle that I plan to carry.

I've found someone in FL that can sell me the fastener kit for $41.00, but I thought I would post these questions first in hopes of a cheaper solution before I order the package and have to wait for delivery.

Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to provide.

Doug Conyers

 

From these instructions:

http://www.hitchesonline.com/pdf/247385.pdf

I would deduce that the 907 plate has to be 7/8"x2" with a square hole the size of the square part of the 7/16" carriage bolts, so that the bolt can't turn when inserted into the plate. I'd make it at least 12 gauge steel, painted with zinc-based paint to prevent rust. The plate appears to have two functions. One is to spread the load of the hitch over a larger area, and two is to prevent the head of the carriage bolt from turning -- because you can't get a wrench into the space.

Buy high quality bolts. (Grade 5, zinc plated). Use lock washers.

Square holes are a pain. You may end up drilling a round hole & filing it out square.

Or perhaps -- I'd drill a round hole in #907 and insert an ordinary hex head bolt through the hole & weld or braze the head of the bolt to the plate. The bolt wouldn't be grade "5" anymore, but I'd bet that it would be more than strong enough for that application.

Let me qualify this advice. Though I was a machinist, I've never actually looked under an S2000.



--Mike