How to Use a RAM Tough-Ball with a Threaded Stud

Quick answer

A RAM Tough-Ball with a threaded stud screws directly into a matching threaded hole, then connects to any 1-inch ball compatible arm. Match the thread size and pitch first, hand-thread the post until it seats, and tighten just enough to stop rotation. If your device uses a different thread, switch to the correct adapter rather than forcing it.

Threaded stud mounts solve a specific problem: your device or vehicle already has a threaded hole, and you want a RAM ball there instead of a bracket. The Tough-Ball install is simple, but most failures come from mismatched threads or over-tightening, not from the ball itself.

This guide walks through the process in order, with checkpoints at each stage. It applies to any RAM Tough-Ball with a threaded post, including the RAM® Ball Adapter with 3/8"-16 Threaded Post & Lock Washer - B Size, which uses a 3/8"-16 thread and a 1" rubber ball.

Confirm the thread size and pitch before you buy

Threaded stud mounts are not universal. A 3/8"-16 post will not fit a 5/16"-18 hole, and metric threads will not fit inch threads even when the diameter looks close. Check the female thread on your device, bracket, or vehicle surface and write down both the diameter and the pitch.

The RAM® Ball Adapter with 3/8"-16 Threaded Post & Lock Washer - B Size uses a 3/8"-16 threaded post with a .5" thread length and a 1" rubber ball. That thread length matters: if your hole is deeper than the post, the ball may not seat against the surface, and if the hole is shallower, the post will bottom out before the ball is tight.

• Checkpoint: test the thread with a known bolt or thread gauge before installing the ball.
• Common mistake: assuming all 3/8" threads are the same pitch.

Protect the mounting surface and prepare the hole

Clean the threaded hole with a nylon brush or compressed air. Paint, thread locker residue, or debris can make the post feel tight before it is actually seated, which leads to cross-threading. If the hole is blind, make sure nothing is packed at the bottom.

If the ball will sit against a painted or finished surface, add a thin rubber or nylon washer under the ball base. The RAM® Ball Adapter with 3/8"-16 Threaded Post & Lock Washer - B Size includes a lock washer, which helps keep the post from backing out under vibration. Do not substitute a thick washer that changes how much thread engages.

• Checkpoint: the post should thread in by hand for at least two full turns before you need tools.
• Common mistake: using thread locker on a post you may need to remove later.

Thread the post in by hand, then set the angle

Start the post by hand. If it binds immediately, stop and re-check the thread. Once it turns freely, thread it in until the ball base contacts the surface or the lock washer compresses slightly. At this point you can rotate the ball to the angle you want before final tightening.

The ball itself does not need to be perfectly vertical. Because the RAM system uses a ball and socket arm, you can adjust the device angle at the arm. Set the post so the ball sits where the arm has room to move without hitting nearby surfaces.

• Checkpoint: the ball should be snug enough that it does not spin when you twist the arm.
• Common mistake: tightening the post before checking arm clearance.

Tighten the post without stripping the threads

Use a wrench on the flats of the post if your Tough-Ball has them, or a strap wrench on the ball if it does not. Tighten until the lock washer is compressed and the ball no longer rotates by hand. That is usually enough. Threaded stud mounts fail when users keep turning past the point of contact.

If the post is a 3/8"-16 thread into a metal boss, you can apply moderate torque. If it threads into plastic or a thin panel, stop as soon as the ball is stable. A backing nut or a through-bolt is a better solution for thin panels than over-tightening the post.

• Checkpoint: re-check tightness after the first use, especially on motorcycles or boats.
• Common mistake: using a cheater bar on a small threaded post.

Attach the arm and device, then test the range of motion

Connect a 1" ball compatible arm to the Tough-Ball. The RAM® Ball Adapter with 3/8"-16 Threaded Post & Lock Washer - B Size attaches to all 1" diameter ball compatible arms, so you can pair it with a short, medium, or long arm depending on reach. Tighten the arm knob only until the device holds its position.

Move the device through its full range of motion. Check that the arm does not hit the mounting surface, that cables have slack, and that the device stays put over bumps. If it droops, tighten the arm knob a quarter turn at a time rather than re-tightening the threaded post.

• Checkpoint: the device should stay in place when you tap or press the screen.
• Common mistake: adjusting the post when the arm knob is the real problem.

Tough-Ball threaded stud install steps

1. Measure the thread: Identify the diameter and pitch of the female thread. Confirm it matches the Tough-Ball post, such as 3/8"-16 for the RAM-B-236U. If the thread does not match, stop and order the correct adapter.
2. Clean and inspect the hole: Remove debris, paint, or old thread locker. Check that the hole depth is at least the post thread length, which is .5" on the RAM-B-236U. A shallow hole will bottom out the post before the ball is tight.
3. Hand-thread the post: Start the post by hand and turn it at least two full turns before using tools. If it binds, back it out and re-check alignment. Hand-threading prevents cross-threading and stripped holes.
4. Set the ball angle: Rotate the ball to a position where the arm has clearance and the device can reach its viewing position. Check arm clearance before final tightening.
5. Tighten until snug: Compress the lock washer and stop when the ball no longer rotates by hand. Do not use a cheater bar. Over-tightening is the most common cause of thread damage.
6. Attach a 1" compatible arm: Connect a B-size arm to the Tough-Ball, then mount the device cradle and adjust tension at the arm knob. If the device droops, tighten the arm knob, not the threaded post.

Product facts that affect the install

• RAM® Ball Adapter with 3/8"-16 Threaded Post & Lock Washer - B Size: The RAM-B-236U consists of a 1" rubber ball connected to a 3/8"-16 threaded post. Thread length is .5". The RAM-B-236U will attach to all 1" diameter ball compatible arms. The .5" thread length limits how deep the hole can be, and the 1" ball means you need a B-size compatible arm, not a C-size arm.
• RAM® U-Bolt Double Ball Mount for Garmin GPSMAP 76 & 96 Series - Medium: The RAM-B-149Z-GA14U consists of a double socket arm, zinc coated u-bolt base, diamond adapter base and custom high strength composite cradle for the Garmin GPSMAP. Designed into the mount is a 1" diameter patented rubber ball and socket system with adjustment points at the base and cradle. If your threaded hole is on a rail or bar instead of a flat surface, a u-bolt base may be a better starting point than a threaded stud.
• RAM® Large Marine Electronics Ball: The RAM-137BU, universal mounting plate, consists of a 1.5" diameter rubber ball, connected at right angles to a flat 3" x 11" rectangular plate. The plate contains different combinations of pre-drilled holes which will match up to many electronic devices and mounts, including Marine GPS, CB Radios, Ham Radios, Gimbal Brackets and more. A 1.5" ball is a different size class than a 1" Tough-Ball, so arms and cradles are not interchangeable between them.

A threaded stud Tough-Ball is one of the simplest RAM mounts to install when the thread matches and you stop tightening at snug. Measure first, hand-thread the post, set your angle, and make your final adjustments at the arm. That sequence keeps the threads intact and the device where you want it.