First gen 4R 88 dismount tow ball mount

[SomeDay]

Well, this'll sound very ...

Here we go, the previous owner of my 4Runner applied some sort of wax as antirust tratment in the frame. Some of that wax's inside the tow ball mount lock, the key doesn't fit and I can't dismount that mount. It's some sort of sticky material. Do you kow a way to clean that stuff from the key hole?

 

[fourwd1]

Heat
Hacksaw

 

[SomeDay]

Heat
Hacksaw

I'm going to start with heat, I'll try the extreme options at the end.
Thank you.

 

[KidVermicious]

Propane torch will get the wax out, but the lock might be frozen anyway. I've cut off several of those locking hitch pins over the years.

 

[fourwd1]

I've gotten more frozen stuff unfrozen with propane.

 

[youngr]

Every time that has happened to me i just cut it off and get a new one.

 

[Beaumont67]

If the wax-oil is holding the lock tumblers, causing it to stick:
- spray the key entry hole with a good dose the Brake Klean...to flush clean
- I newer leave my 2" ball receiver mounted, all year long
- its inside my truck, until I need to tow...so I don't need a lockable hitch pin
If all else fails, cut locked pin off, with a thin angle grinder zip wheel.

 

[SomeDay]

If the wax-oil is holding the lock tumblers, causing it to stick:
- spray the key entry hole with a good dose the Brake Klean...to flush clean
- I newer leave my 2" ball receiver mounted, all year long
- its inside my truck, until I need to tow...so I don't need a lockable hitch pin
If all else fails, cut locked pin off, with a thin angle grinder zip wheel.

Thank you.

It was a silly question maybe, but it's the first time I see a tow ball mount like that in here. We use something similar like this:

I'll try heat and Break Klean first.
If I can remove it I'll keep it inside the 4R.

Thank you for your advice.