Exceptions to the rule "If you have to force it, you are doing it wrong"

[Scarlett]

I've heard the rule that in a California "If you have to force it, you are doing it wrong" a few times now. But is force ever required?

I wondered if anyone had any exceptions to this rule, so that I know when I might actually have to persevere with muscle!

One exception I can think of is the quick lock on the legs of the Thule awning - they are really tough and I always think they are going to snap.

And another partially relevent - attaching my bike rack to my brand new tow ball takes a bit of grunt. But I understand that is because the ball is new and it will ease up in the future.

So let me know. What does require force? And if anyone has any warnings of where they have used force, broken something and learned the hard way, that would be welcome too...

 

[andyinluton]

I think you've got it spot on with the two you've mentioned, I cant think of anything else.

 

[ThomasHJ]

I've heard the rule that in a California "If you have to force it, you are doing it wrong" a few times now. But is force ever required?

I wondered if anyone had any exceptions to this rule, so that I know when I might actually have to persevere with muscle!

One exception I can think of is the quick lock on the legs of the Thule awning - they are really tough and I always think they are going to snap.

And another partially relevent - attaching my bike rack to my brand new tow ball takes a bit of grunt. But I understand that is because the ball is new and it will ease up in the future.

So let me know. What does require force? And if anyone has any warnings of where they have used force, broken something and learned the hard way, that would be welcome too...

When I need to remove my CEE-plug (electricity cable) from the van, I need to press down on the lever but also use quite some force to pull teh cable out.

 

[Scarlett]

When I need to remove my CEE-plug (electricity cable) from the van, I need to press down on the lever but also use quite some force to pull teh cable out.

Interesting. Mine is not too bad, I can pretty much do it one handed, both the lever and the pulling. But I could imagine as things have a bit of use they might stiffen up.

 

[Californication69]

Removing the wheels from the hubs

 

[ThomasHJ]

Interesting. Mine is not too bad, I can pretty much do it one handed, both the lever and the pulling. But I could imagine as things have a bit of use they might stiffen up.

I thought it would loosen through the years but it hasn't. I know people have tried lubricants and what not but its not that bad yet.

 

[WelshGas]

I've heard the rule that in a California "If you have to force it, you are doing it wrong" a few times now. But is force ever required?

I wondered if anyone had any exceptions to this rule, so that I know when I might actually have to persevere with muscle!

One exception I can think of is the quick lock on the legs of the Thule awning - they are really tough and I always think they are going to snap.

And another partially relevent - attaching my bike rack to my brand new tow ball takes a bit of grunt. But I understand that is because the ball is new and it will ease up in the future.

So let me know. What does require force? And if anyone has any warnings of where they have used force, broken something and learned the hard way, that would be welcome too...

Removing Water tank cover to replace water pump. Easy to replace if you can open tank cover which can require some force even with the special tool.

 

[andyinluton]

Removing the wheels from the hubs

I would rather wheels are hard to get off than hard to keep on.

 

[Wish]

Removing the arms on the front seats when putting on seat covers... required Thor like strength and the splined tool cannot slip!

 

[AdamsFamily]

When I need to remove my CEE-plug (electricity cable) from the van, I need to press down on the lever but also use quite some force to pull teh cable out.

Up until I recently changed the socket (another thread) mine took a massive force to pull out.
Not anymore, slides on and off with ease.

 

[AdamsFamily]

I've heard the rule that in a California "If you have to force it, you are doing it wrong" a few times now. But is force ever required?

And another partially relevent - attaching my bike rack to my brand new tow ball takes a bit of grunt. But I understand that is because the ball is new and it will ease up in the future.

I'm not sure you can blame the ball for that entirely - maybe a small bit of grease might help, but its usually the rack itself that is to blame.
I cussed mine for ages on my Volvo only to find that the rack had a tiny adjuster that allowed the jaws to open slightly allowing the rack to simply slide on.

 

[WelshGas]

I'm not sure you can blame the ball for that entirely - maybe a small bit of grease might help, but its usually the rack itself that is to blame.
I cussed mine for ages on my Volvo only to find that the rack had a tiny adjuster that allowed the jaws to open slightly allowing the rack to simply slide on.

DO NOT USE GREASE ON THE TOW BALL/HITCH.

Without the friction lock of hitch and tow ball then the bike rack can swing from side to side and make a real mess of the tailgate etc. The rack won’t fall off , just swing side to side.

It helps when hitching up a tow bar bike rack to have the rack nose down on the tow ball and once the ball is in the hitch socket lower the rack back to horizontal.

 

[chockswahay]

I need force to get me out of the van sometimes! not because I'm stuck but because it's such a nice place to be.........

 

[Kayleigh]

Undoing wheel bolts with the VW supplied tools. At 180 Nm they can be a little bit tricky!

 

[Californication69]

DO NOT USE GREASE ON THE TOW BALL/HITCH.

Without the friction lock of hitch and tow ball then the bike rack can swing from side to side and make a real mess of the tailgate etc. The rack won’t fall off , just swing side to side.

It helps when hitching up a tow bar bike rack to have the rack nose down on the tow ball and once the ball is in the hitch socket lower the rack back to horizontal.

I’ve been waiting all night for this reply !
I can go to sleep now

 

[Perfectos]

I'm not sure you can blame the ball for that entirely - maybe a small bit of grease might help, but its usually the rack itself that is to blame.
I cussed mine for ages on my Volvo only to find that the rack had a tiny adjuster that allowed the jaws to open slightly allowing the rack to simply slide on.

Noooooooo Grease , the Westfalia tow ball is heavily painted and is problematic until the paint has worn off, it's a thing. (Or until the paint on the ball has been taken / worn off)

grease on a tow ball that works on friction No No.

Edit, just seen the response's above, now get to bed

 

[Deskman]

To remove the spare tire… may the Force be with you.

 

[Campervanpup21]

I've heard the rule that in a California "If you have to force it, you are doing it wrong" a few times now. But is force ever required?

I wondered if anyone had any exceptions to this rule, so that I know when I might actually have to persevere with muscle!

One exception I can think of is the quick lock on the legs of the Thule awning - they are really tough and I always think they are going to snap.

And another partially relevent - attaching my bike rack to my brand new tow ball takes a bit of grunt. But I understand that is because the ball is new and it will ease up in the future.

So let me know. What does require force? And if anyone has any warnings of where they have used force, broken something and learned the hard way, that would be welcome too...

My ‘mains’ switch in the rear wardrobe (side of bottom shelf) is stiff when I switch from red to green. At times the panel around it moves!! (Apologies I don’t know the technical term for this switch - I was just told to switch it up so red panel appears when it is on mains hook up!)

 

[Goldi]

I've heard the rule that in a California "If you have to force it, you are doing it wrong" a few times now. But is force ever required?

I wondered if anyone had any exceptions to this rule, so that I know when I might actually have to persevere with muscle!

One exception I can think of is the quick lock on the legs of the Thule awning - they are really tough and I always think they are going to snap.

And another partially relevent - attaching my bike rack to my brand new tow ball takes a bit of grunt. But I understand that is because the ball is new and it will ease up in the future.

So let me know. What does require force? And if anyone has any warnings of where they have used force, broken something and learned the hard way, that would be welcome too...

I needed to get all my wheels off to swap tyres front-back & back-front. I had to use 4x4" fence posts slung under van from opposite sides & resting against bottom of inner tyre wall, & then 2-3 good wacks with a sledge hammer to knock them off. I applied lots of copper grease to the contacting surfaces before refitting; making sure of course that none of the grease touched the bolts/threads.

The quick locks on my awning were difficult to operate for a while but eventually freed up.

 

[Deskman]

My ‘mains’ switch in the rear wardrobe (side of bottom shelf) is stiff when I switch from red to green. At times the panel around it moves!! (Apologies I don’t know the technical term for this switch - I was just told to switch it up so red panel appears when it is on mains hook up!)

I never touch these switches. They’re always on. They must be on for the hook up to work but nothing bad happens when keep them switched on forever.

 

[BeeBee]

Our T6 sink tap seemed to come loose and isn’t screw on as I assumed it would be.
WelshGas advised me to give it a “good whack’ on the top. Using a folded up tea towel and our mallet and an element of trepidation, I gave it a good whack and sure enough heard it click back into place.

 

[wildslammer22]

The release lever on the sliding bench can often need a good yank to disengage. It often feels like the lever might break but it hasn’t happened yet!

 

[Not-tonyadventures]

When I need to remove my CEE-plug (electricity cable) from the van, I need to press down on the lever but also use quite some force to pull teh cable out.

I second that.

I also find I need force to slide the trap door for the pop top and to lock the roof down on the manual coast.