B27081/27BZ - S.A.E. Standard Clevis Pin - 1/2 Diameter x 1-25/32 Inch Long

Buyers Products Clevis Pin is manufactured to SAE standards and available in multiple sizes to fit your application. The clevis pin is used with rods, cables, yoke ends, and other assemblies. It can be ordered with a cadmium- or zinc-plated finish in quantities to your specification.

Specifications

S.A.E. Standard Clevis Pin: Precision Engineering for Critical Industrial Linkages

The S.A.E. Standard Clevis Pin, with a nominal diameter of 1/2 inch and an effective length of 1-25/32 inches, represents a cornerstone in mechanical fastening technology. Manufactured by Buyers Products to stringent Society of Automotive Engineers (S.A.E.) standards, this clevis pin is engineered for high-performance applications demanding robust and reliable pivotal connections. Its design facilitates articulation in linkages while providing superior resistance to shear forces, making it indispensable across a spectrum of industrial, agricultural, automotive, and construction sectors.

Detailed Dimensional Analysis and Functional Implications

Understanding the precise dimensions of a clevis pin is paramount for ensuring optimal fit, load distribution, and operational longevity. The specifications provided for this S.A.E. Standard Clevis Pin are critical for engineers and procurement specialists:

• (0) Drill No. 29 (.136): This dimension refers to the diameter of the transverse hole drilled near the end of the pin, specifically designed for the insertion of a cotter pin or other retaining clip. A Drill No. 29 corresponds to a nominal diameter of 0.136 inches. This precision is vital, as it dictates the size of the compatible retaining fastener. The cotter pin prevents the clevis pin from dislodging due to vibration, dynamic loads, or rotational forces, thereby maintaining the integrity of the connection. Proper selection of the cotter pin size ensures a snug fit, minimizing play and enhancing security.
• A: 0.500 inches (1/2 inch): This is the nominal diameter of the clevis pin's body. The 0.500-inch diameter is a critical parameter, directly influencing the pin's shear strength and its compatibility with mating components such as yokes, rod ends, and brackets. Precision in this dimension ensures a proper fit within the bore of the connected parts, minimizing wear and maximizing load-bearing capacity. Deviations, even fractional, can lead to excessive play, premature wear, or, conversely, difficulty in assembly.
• B: 0.625 inches: This dimension represents the diameter of the clevis pin's head. The head serves as a positive stop, preventing the pin from passing entirely through the mating assembly. A larger head diameter (relative to the body diameter) distributes contact stress over a wider area on the external surface of the connected component, reducing the likelihood of localized deformation or wear on the component itself.
• C: 0.156 inches: This is the thickness of the clevis pin's head. The head thickness contributes to the overall structural integrity of the pin, ensuring that the head can withstand the forces exerted against it without deforming or failing. It also defines the minimum clearance required for the pin to seat properly against the external surface of the connected component.
• D (Min.): 1.562 inches: This dimension, often referred to as the "grip length" or "usable length," represents the minimum effective length of the pin available for engagement within the mating assembly. It is the distance from the underside of the head to the cotter pin hole, or to the point where the pin's full diameter is maintained before any taper or chamfer. Ensuring that the collective thickness of the connected components falls within this grip length is essential for proper function, allowing the cotter pin to be inserted correctly while ensuring full engagement of the pin through all components.
• E: 1.781 inches (1-25/32 inches): This is the overall length of the pin, measured from the underside of the head to the end of the pin, aligning with the product title's primary length specification. This dimension is crucial for calculating the required clearance and for ensuring that the pin extends sufficiently beyond the last connected component to allow for the proper insertion and securement of the retaining cotter pin.
• F: 1.983 inches: This dimension likely represents the total maximum length of the clevis pin, including the head thickness (C) and the overall length (E). If E is the length from the underside of the head to the tip, and C is the head thickness, then C+E = 0.156 + 1.781 = 1.937 inches. The specified F (1.983 inches) suggests this could be an absolute maximum total length including manufacturing tolerances, or it might account for a specific feature not explicitly detailed, such as a slight protrusion or a more defined overall length measurement from the top of the head to the very end of the pin. Engineers often consider this dimension for clearance within confined spaces or for automated assembly processes.
• G: 0.109 inches: This typically refers to a chamfer or radius at the tip of the clevis pin. A chamfered end facilitates easier insertion of the pin into misaligned holes or tight bores, reducing assembly time and preventing damage to the pin or the mating components. The specific value of 0.109 inches defines the extent or angle of this lead-in feature.

Material Composition and Surface Treatment

The fundamental performance of a clevis pin is rooted in its material selection and subsequent surface treatments. While the specific base material is not detailed, S.A.E. standard clevis pins are typically manufactured from robust carbon steel, chosen for its excellent balance of strength, ductility, and cost-effectiveness. The manufacturing process often involves cold heading, which enhances the material's grain structure, improving fatigue resistance and overall strength characteristics compared to pins produced by machining alone.

Buyers Products offers this clevis pin with a choice of two critical protective finishes:

• Zinc Plated Clear: Zinc plating is a sacrificial coating applied through an electroplating process. It creates a barrier that corrodes preferentially to the underlying steel, thereby protecting the steel from rust and corrosion. The "clear" designation refers to the chromate conversion coating applied over the zinc, which enhances corrosion resistance further and provides a bright, aesthetically pleasing finish. Zinc plating is a cost-effective solution for a wide range of applications in moderately corrosive environments, offering good protection against atmospheric oxidation and moisture.
• Cadmium Plated: Cadmium plating is highly regarded for its superior corrosion resistance, particularly in harsh saline environments and situations involving galvanic corrosion (where dissimilar metals are in contact). It also offers excellent lubricity, reducing friction during assembly and operation, and provides a good base for paint. While offering enhanced performance, cadmium plating is subject to stricter environmental regulations due to the toxicity of cadmium, leading to its specialized use in applications where its specific properties are critically required, such as aerospace and certain military applications.

The choice between zinc and cadmium plating depends critically on the operational environment and regulatory considerations. Both options ensure significantly extended service life compared to unfinished steel, mitigating the risks of material degradation and premature failure.

Adherence to S.A.E. Standards: A Hallmark of Quality and Interoperability

The designation "S.A.E. Standard" is not merely a label; it signifies a commitment to established engineering principles, quality control, and interoperability across vast industrial landscapes. The Society of Automotive Engineers (S.A.E.) develops technical standards that are widely adopted in the automotive, aerospace, and commercial vehicle industries. While there isn't one singular "SAE Clevis Pin Standard" in the same vein as a specific bolt standard (e.g., SAE J429 for bolts), the term "S.A.E. Standard Clevis Pin" implies adherence to several critical aspects:

• Material Specifications: Conformance to specific steel grades and mechanical properties suitable for the intended application, ensuring adequate shear strength and resistance to bending.
• Dimensional Tolerances: Strict control over critical dimensions (diameter, length, hole placement) to ensure interchangeability and proper fit within standard mating components.
• Finish Requirements: Specification of plating thickness, adhesion, and corrosion resistance performance (e.g., salt spray testing) for zinc and cadmium finishes.
• Quality Assurance: Implied adherence to manufacturing processes that yield consistent product quality and reliability, reducing the risk of premature failure in critical assemblies.

By conforming to S.A.E. standards, Buyers Products guarantees that this clevis pin will integrate seamlessly into existing designs that rely on standard components, ensuring compatibility, predictable performance, and a higher degree of safety and reliability in the field. This compliance minimizes design risks and simplifies procurement processes for engineers and designers.

Diverse Applications Across Key Industries

The robust design and adherence to S.A.E. standards make this 1/2 inch clevis pin an invaluable component in a multitude of applications:

• Automotive Industry: Widely used in trailer hitches, towing accessories, suspension linkages, steering mechanisms, and various attachment points for specialized vehicle equipment. Its ability to create a pivot point while resisting shear forces is critical for dynamic automotive systems.
• Agricultural Equipment: Indispensable for connecting implements to tractors, securing components on tillers, cultivators, harvesters, and irrigation systems. The ease of assembly and disassembly with a cotter pin is highly beneficial for quick changes and maintenance in the field.
• Construction Machinery: Employed in the articulation points of heavy machinery such as excavators, loaders, bulldozers, and cranes. Clevis pins are used to secure bucket linkages, hydraulic cylinder connections, and structural bracing, enduring high static and dynamic loads.
• Industrial Machinery: Integral to various industrial equipment, including conveyor systems, material handling devices, manufacturing jigs, and robotic arm linkages. They provide crucial pivot points that allow for controlled movement and alignment of mechanical components.
• Marine Applications (Non-Direct Immersion): While not stainless steel for direct immersion, zinc or cadmium plated pins can be used in above-deck marine applications or in freshwater environments where high corrosion resistance for steel is still desired without the cost of stainless steel. Examples include boat trailer components, davit systems, and dock hardware.
• Aerospace Ground Support Equipment: Critical for securing ground support components, maintenance platforms, and test equipment where reliable, load-bearing connections are required.

In all these applications, the clevis pin serves as a reliable shear device, designed to withstand forces perpendicular to its axis, while simultaneously allowing for rotational movement of the connected components around its longitudinal axis.

Engineering Considerations for Optimal Performance and Selection

Selecting the appropriate clevis pin requires a thorough understanding of the application's demands. Engineers must consider several key factors:

• Load Requirements (Shear vs. Tensile): Clevis pins are primarily designed to handle shear loads. The 1/2-inch diameter provides a specific cross-sectional area, which, in conjunction with the pin's material properties, determines its shear strength. It is crucial to calculate the maximum anticipated shear stress and ensure it remains well within the pin's ultimate and yield shear strengths, applying appropriate safety factors. While they resist some bending moments, their primary function is shear. Tensile loads, which pull along the pin's axis, are typically resisted by the head and the retaining pin, and are generally less critical than shear in clevis pin design.
• Environmental Conditions: The operating environment dictates the choice of protective finish. For outdoor applications, high humidity, or exposure to water/chemicals, the zinc or cadmium plating is essential. For extreme conditions, material upgrades (e.g., stainless steel) might be considered, though this specific product offers robust plated steel.
• Fit and Tolerance: The clearance between the pin's diameter (A: 0.500 inches) and the bore of the mating components is critical. Excessive clearance leads to rattling, increased wear, and potential for fatigue failure due to impact loading. Insufficient clearance can hinder assembly or lead to binding. S.A.E. standards ensure these tolerances are managed for optimal performance.
• Vibration and Dynamic Loads: Applications involving significant vibration or dynamic loading require careful attention to the retaining mechanism. A properly selected and installed cotter pin (using the Drill No. 29 hole) is essential to prevent the clevis pin from working loose. For very high vibration, alternative retaining methods like safety wires or specialized locking clips might be employed in conjunction with the standard cotter pin.
• Wear and Longevity: In pivot applications, the pin and the bore of the mating components will experience wear over time. The material hardness of the pin and the plating's lubricity (especially cadmium) play a role in mitigating this. Regular inspection and lubrication, where appropriate, can significantly extend the lifespan of the assembly.

Maintenance, Inspection, and Longevity

To ensure the sustained high performance and safety of assemblies utilizing the S.A.E. Standard Clevis Pin, a proactive approach to maintenance and inspection is recommended:

• Regular Visual Inspection: Periodically inspect pins for signs of wear, deformation (bending or ovalization), corrosion, or damage to the plating. Any indications of distress warrant immediate replacement to prevent catastrophic failure.
• Retaining Pin Integrity: Verify that cotter pins or retaining clips are securely in place and are not bent, fractured, or corroded. A compromised retaining pin renders the entire connection vulnerable to disengagement.
• Lubrication: In high-cycle or heavily loaded pivoting applications, applying appropriate grease or lubricant can significantly reduce friction and wear between the clevis pin and its mating components, extending the service life of all parts.
• Replacement Protocols: Establish clear guidelines for replacing clevis pins based on service hours, visual inspection results, or any observed performance degradation. Given their critical role as shear elements, timely replacement is a cost-effective measure against larger component failures.

Conclusion: The Unyielding Reliability of S.A.E. Standard Clevis Pins

The Buyers Products S.A.E. Standard Clevis Pin, with its precise 1/2-inch diameter and 1-25/32-inch length, embodies engineering excellence for critical mechanical linkages. Its meticulous design, adherence to robust S.A.E. standards, and availability with advanced zinc or cadmium plating underscore its suitability for demanding industrial, agricultural, and automotive applications. From its accurately sized cotter pin hole to its chamfered tip, every dimension is carefully controlled to ensure optimal fit, superior shear strength, and prolonged operational life. By offering a reliable, interchangeable, and corrosion-resistant fastening solution, Buyers Products provides a component that contributes directly to the safety, efficiency, and longevity of the systems it serves. Choosing this S.A.E. Standard Clevis Pin means investing in a component engineered for enduring performance in the most challenging environments.