Glad hand Trailer side

Is it ok to bend/tweak the metal retainer plate a bit with a box wrench or something to loosen up the connection? My service line is so tight I have to bang it on every time and it’s deforming brand new seals in the process!

just wondering if it’s bendable or if i’m more likely to break the retainer plate mounting screws off and make a HUGE headache for myself!

 

Have you tried using grease? And you can you can, just be careful not to bend it too much.

 

Teflon seals? Red and blue colored ones?

The fat/larger diameter goes in the gladhand. Worth a look.

 

Thanks! They are the black seals from phillips with the 4 little dots on the back side. Ya I thought about throwing some grease on the retaining plates. Will try that and they bend a little as needed.

As far as what side goes in the glad hand… i’ve read all the arguments on the internet about that and prefer what I see on most all trucks and trailers which is large diameter to the outside.

 

Problem with bending the plate is it weakens the metal and makes it where one has to keep hammering it back for the glad hand to connect well.

 

I slather Lubriplate around mine.

 

I always want to, but dang I never get it done.

 

I get the red / blue seals at the Kenworth dealer here, much better than some of the knock offs at other places.

Other brands seem to be so thick it’s all I can do to just get it started with both mule skinners gripping it hard…

 

Or anything slimy - really. Oil or grease . It catches dirt, but I find that after leaving either trailer sitting, the rubber needs some form of lube.

 

I use windshield washer fluid