What 'grade' are hitchpins?

[sixdogs]

I am thinking of making some hitchpins that are longer than commercially available and it occurred to me that they might be hardened as in grade 5 or grade 8 or whatever. It never got thought about but I just assumed they were just cold rolled steel as in grade 2. Seems a harder grade would tear apart the drawbar hole that would likely be just plain old barstock and grade 2 ? Anyone have any ideas about this?

 

[RickB]

Drawpin hardness varies more or less with price. Generally, yellow zinc plated pins are soft and those with black oxide fiinish are quite a bit harder. How soft, how hard? Can't answer definitively.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I think the softest hitch pins are Gr4 -- the ones with the swinging handles. I prefer that form, altho I wouldnt mind them being harder like the ones with red or blue rigid handles.
larry

 

[tessiers]

good ones are definately hard, twisted more yellow pins into pretzels than I can count. A325 bolts work pretty good, they are better than the yellow pins, mild steel will not hold up to heavy use. I haul baler and hay wagon, or chopper and forage wagon. Mild steel may be OK if you are hauling a small implement or something light.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

The black pins with solid red rubber coated handles are usually grade 5. They are available in a variety of lengths.
Hitch Pin, 1 in. dia. x 7-1/2 in. Usable Length - 0269078 | Tractor Supply Company
It looks like the yellow ones are grade 2+
Hitch Pin, 3/4 in. dia. x 6-1/4 in. Usable Length - 0268828 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[strum456]

I weld a 1.5" lock washer on the head of a grade 8 or a Supertanium bolt to make a hitch pin. We have bent others but never my homemade pins.

 

[sixdogs]

I weld a 1.5" lock washer on the head of a grade 8 or a Supertanium bolt to make a hitch pin. We have bent others but never my homemade pins.

I don't mind using a harder grade such as an 8 but I pull heavier tillage things that slop around or bounce and don't want to destroy my drawbar in an afternoon. If that black TSC pin shown above (and below) is grade 5 i guess that's what to go with?
http://www.tractorsupply.com/hitch-pin-1-in-dia-x-7-1-2-in-usable-length-0269078
Any thoughts now?

 

[strum456]

My dad has had the same drawbar on his tractor for 50 years and he uses grade 8 pins.

 

[mikehaugen]

probably something like 4140 chromoly would be good, it is stronger than mild steel, but not all that hard. 4140L if I remember right has lead in it and is a little easier to machine and probably even softer.