Lynch Pins Coming Off

[TreeToad]

There are several posts about this but not many recently so a new day means new ideas. When I brush hog a different lynch pin falls off nearly every time. I've brush hogged five times in the last two months and have lost four lynch pins.

Facts: I do have a lot of overgrown weeds and saplings and I do use the HD black lynch pins.

My question is how do I keep them from coming off? I don't care about losing them so much as I do about tearing up my equipment. Chaining them to somewhere on the tractor just keeps me from losing the pin but it doesn't stop the inevitable damage from the pin coming out. Is there a better more secure pin out there other than a bolt and nut? Duct tape? Key rings? Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

New to tractoring but I see this as a real problem. Now I’m wondering if a grade 8 bolt and a nut/jam nut would solve the problem. I don’t see where this would take longer than tape, zip ties or wire.

 

[jphillipsfarms]

A couple of things to try: Cut a piece of metal pipe to make a bushing to reduce the slack/play between the equipment frame and the lift arm. If you reduce this space so that the linch pin fits snugly beteeen the lift arm and the hole in your draw pin, that may fix the issue. The attached implement can move around enough to shear or dislodge your linch pin. A weak spring action in the pin could also cause it to come off.

See photo below for a hairpin cotter. Get the largest one that will fit in the drawpin hole and use those.

Both options are low cost and can keep the equipment secure. This could also prevent ruining a rear tire or breaking a top link (have had this to happen) if the equipment pitches off too far to one side.

 

[txvrod]

That picture of the pin in Post 47 shows the problem! Way too much gap. I use the black "heavy duty" ones from TSC. One side is flat, they are a little longer than the standard one and the spring of the ring is tight. I ave not had one come off. Have bent several using the Intimidator Tree puller but usually straighten them back and keep using until I feel like they are bending too easily. Never lost one on the shredder but they do only close to the flat side.

 

[ragingrooster]

Drill a hole in the bottom of the pin, thread wire through and tie it off at the top of the pin.

This is what the military does with a lot of their aircraft.

 

[newbury]

There's also the Rue Ring cotter pin

The popular and revolutionary Rue Ring™ Locking Cotter Pin surrounds the shaft and locks itself on, making it one of the safest cotters available today- unlike R Clips and other Cotter Pin Clips. Rue Ring™ Locking Cotter Pins are best used on light to medium applications. Rue Ring™ Locking Cotter Pins install fast without tools.[/unquote]

 

[GuglioLS]

IMHO The best solution is to use a padlock and key or a combo lock. If using a key attach the key to your tractor key ring or handy area on the ROPS where the sticks and weeds cannot dislodge the key.

 

[kentrodngun]

I gave up for my back blade and just used bolts & nuts. It stays on now.

 

[macdoesit]

Zip ties.

 

[Whitetail62]

Are you talking about the lynch pin or the shear pin?

 

[Martin Roper]

There are several posts about this but not many recently so a new day means new ideas. When I brush hog a different lynch pin falls off nearly every time. I've brush hogged five times in the last two months and have lost four lynch pins.

Facts: I do have a lot of overgrown weeds and saplings and I do use the HD black lynch pins.

My question is how do I keep them from coming off? I don't care about losing them so much as I do about tearing up my equipment. Chaining them to somewhere on the tractor just keeps me from losing the pin but it doesn't stop the inevitable damage from the pin coming out. Is there a better more secure pin out there other than a bolt and nut? Duct tape? Key rings? Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

I assume it is the under growth unlatching the pins so would it be better to fit a suitable nut and bolt for this job. The inconvenience of fitting them is offset to the damage that could be done to the PTO shaft etc..