Bosal AK4 Tow-Bar Problems.

[@christernorfall9229]

Thank You. You saved my day. I have a tow-bar just like that for our Saab 9-5 Estate. Without your video the car wouldn’t have passed the Swedish MOT.

[@Trevs-Shed]

Glad it helped. It is quite an old video now.

[@andyzr1100]

Thanks to your video I managed to fix my own swan neck which would not connect the whole way in. Thank you for showing me how to dismantle it. It gave me the confidence to get stuck in!

[@richardclauson5898]

That was really good at explaining how this Bosal towbar mechanism works. Mine's not worn out like yours, but it hadn't been used for some years by the previous owner, so was a bit rusted up. With oil and your video I have now freed up the mechanism and it works smoothly again. Thanks.

[@bogdanbelciu6242]

Thanks for the video! It made me understand how it works. I have it on my van since I bought it but I was never able to get it out because I don't have a key. Thanks to your video I was able to remove it from the car without damaging the lock. By the way, the role of the lock is not to prevent you from turning the knob but it prevents you from pushing it in!

[@evanofelipe]

Although it was made a few years ago I thought your video was very informative on several levels. Firstly it demonstrated your deductive method on how to understand the correct function of the tow bar 'lock-in' mechanism, it led you to identify the problem and also showed your reasoning and practical attempts to overcome the defect. It was good to see you work through the issues. However, I would have expected to have seen the grease 'blackened' when you first dismantled it and think its likely that it had just previously been freshly lubricated before you bought it. Great idea to film the process to prove to the seller that 'all was not well' with your purchase.

[@HumpoC]

oh my word you just saved me also. had exactly the same problem on brand new vertical Witter tow bar with a similar mechanism. I couldn't push the knob in to retract the locking bar. Thought I was going mad till I watched all the way to 20 min. Applying some pressure to the locking bar works a treat. Not ideal I reckon it must be a design fault with the mechanism if released not in place. Thanks for your meticulous analysis.

[@Trevs-Shed]

Glad the video helped out. I have found our local Honda dealer to be up themselves and will never use them for anything unless I can help it.

[@StratovariusFTW]

This video was certainly very helpful even if old! Unfortunately, half of the teeth on the turning cog in my tow bar were missing! Also the outer pin that is supposed to get pushed up seems to have seized completely in the bar itself and I'm not sure how to get it unstuck without breaking it. These bars seem to be pretty low quality. I don't think I will be able to salvage mine to get through yearly inspections (I wonder how my car passed last year before buying it?) and I have no clue where to get a new one of these.

[@user-rx7c]

Thank you for making this video!

[@aaabbb7734]

Thanks for the video. It helped me a lot. Thanks again from Sweden

[@richardsutton956]

I had a very good response from Steve at Bosal so i am sending my tow bar back today. Steve informed me it was a HONDA designed part supplied by Bosal sisters company.I cannot say that HONDA UK HEAD OFFICE was as helpful. Having phoned them in the past to make enquries they are a bone idle lot and never willing to give any real help or information out. Their idea was take it back to the local garage where you bought it IT is not a garge issue Its a Honda issue,Quick to sell unwilling to help RS

[@adalbert6364]

Das Problem eigentlich ganz einfach und meines Erachtens bewusst herbeigeführt! Die Zahnstange mit dem Verriegelungsbolzen vorne ist so gestaltet, dass er innerhalb der Aufnahme am Auto nicht weit genug eingeführt werden kann, sondern vorne anstößt. Der Zughaken hält zwar fest in der Aufnahme und kann verwendet werden, jedoch kommt es zum Problem des Abschließens. Da der Bolzen nicht genügend weit eingeführt werden kann, dreht sich auch das Zahnrad im Inneren nicht weit genug zurück und der äußere Drehknopf gelangt nicht die die Position zurück, die erforderlich ist, um den Haken abschließen zu können. Wer jetzt mit Gewalt (z.B. eine Zange) versucht, den Drehknopf noch etwas weiter zurück zu drehen, zerstört die Zacken des Zahnrades und evtl. auch der Zahnstange. Das Heimtückische an der Sache ist, dass die Mechanik des Hakens zwar außerhalb der Aufnahme am Auto funktioniert, aber nicht mehr, wenn der Haken eingeführt ist! Die Aufnahmekonstruktion am Auto passt nicht mit der Hakenkonstruktion überein! Und dies müsste dem Produzenten bekannt sein; aber so erhält man ja zusätzliche Reparaturen... Und natürlich will die Firma die Reparaturen selbst ausführen, denn an dem Versandt von Ersatzteilen verdient ma ja nicht so viel. Lösung des Problems: Auf keinen Fall mit Gewalt versuchen, den äußeren Knebel zurück zu drehen! Ich habe einfach den Schließzylinder ausgebaut und die Öffnung mit einem Stopfen verschlossen. Damit lässt sich der Haken zwar benutzen aber nicht mehr abschließen und vor Diebstahl schützen. Wer will, kann ja mal versuchen das Zahnrad auf der Zahnstange etwas zu verstellen; vielleicht gelingt das ja. Viel Glück!

[@supasox]

Interesting video - thanks for uploading it. I have the same tow bar on my 2009 CR-V but mine is stuck ON. It's in really bad shape - very rusty and dirty. I have managed to get the key to turn and I can now turn the knob to the three o'clock position but it doesn't feel like it's doing anything and it certainly doesn't release the tow bar. I'm thinking maybe a few good taps on the end of the bolt to try to knock it back in? If I could just get the tow bar off I could fit a replacement - otherwise it's a whole new assembly at a cost of hundreds.

[@richardsutton956]

A very good piece of info I have got the same problem on my 2006 CRV. MY lock fell out yesterday 8th oct 2012. This failure obviouly is not a one off. I intent to ring BOSAL , and technical to see what have to say as No tow bar should fail as they are as in my case ocassional use. The worry is is it safe to repair one? RICHARD SUTTON LOUGHBOROUGH.

[@mrdavis1444]

Excellent! Thanks for posting.

[@martinezlopez4699]

is been fiddly really, but neatly arranged insight Tutorial √√

[@redfiatdk]

Hi thank you for this. But was the filing at all neccesary?

[@Trevs-Shed]

No idea. This was 8 years ago.

[@kevinwhitty4626]

You're a life saver

[@Trevs-Shed]

Have managed to track down Bosal in the UK. And we are in luck, the Honda supplied towball is the same as the Bosal retail version and that means that parts are available. Bosal offer a refurb service for £60 all in. Anyone with this exact same AK4 towball can send theirs to be refurbished to; Steve Steeden Bolsal UK Unit 330 Four Oaks Road Bamber Bridge Preston PR5 8AP 01772 771248 Current charge is £60 total. Cheques made out to Bosal UK.

[@raphaelparzmair3186]

Ich bräuchte die Spindel und das Zahnrad Neu, wo kann man dieses besorgen ?

[@Trevs-Shed]

No Response from seller. And for anyone thinking I have a work-around solution as shown in the video, yes, I thought I did as well...... Right up until I realised that once on I would not be able to get the towball off again as my little work-around can't be used when it is on the car........ I expect I could dismantle it once fitted to the car with the risk of bits flying all over the place. £250 what a great buy that was. And yes, I will be doing whatever it takes to resolve this situation.

[@amarobravo]

Very useful!! good job I share you tour frustración 😭

[@bonilsson3658]

I just bought a new lock for 350 swedish kronor (~£35) with two keys but I have the same problem that I can't rotate the plastic locking mechanism and it is stucked in my car.. crap...

[@olliebob8370]

My key doesn’t even turn, I’ve got 4 keys just incase it’s a 6/3/5/8 on the end but neither work

[@MrsRydkvist]

thx. solved my problem :)

[@Trevs-Shed]

The seller has agreed to go halves with me on the refurbishment fee. So hopefully that is job done.

[@TheMisko1987]

wher to buy new lock for towbar?

[@mactully322]

I think I will buy a flange towbar now seeing this because I would be as pissed as your mrs is going to be when she see what you have done to her new towels.

[@angelg5217]

Hi, could you pass me the manual?

[@dukenukem5768]

How the heck did you manage to spend 250 quid on a second-hand towbar? You can buy a new one (Bosal, Witter, Westflailia) for 140-175. Google for them. Or did you think one with"Honda" on it was really made by Honda and therefore somehow better? Here's a tip : most stuff on cars is actually made by sub-contractors.

[@aaabbb7734]

not in sweden

[@OldFliersGroup]

Buyer beware. Difficult to get your money back I'm guessing.

[@dusanborojevic8797]

interesujeme modul za 307istalacija kuke

[@davecooper8505]

EBAY = Online Car Boot Sale ! ! !

[@aaabbb7734]

good video but like all those who show the facts , so suddenly the thingsis just there ex 16.11

[@mightyeagle]

Westfilia

[@golden7676ify]

很笨的家伙。