Forged Hitch Pins & Linch Pins
A hitch pin is the single component connecting a tractor to whatever it is pulling. It is small, cheap and absolutely critical — and it is lost or sheared more often than any other implement part.
Forged hitch pins connect tractors to implements, carrying drawbar pull in double shear with shock loading. They are case hardened for surface wear resistance over a tough core, in categories I, II and III, retained by linch pins or R-clips.
- Diameter
- 12 mm – 50 mm
- Materials
- EN8, EN19, 20MnCr5
- Hardness
- Case hardened
- Finish
- Zinc plated or painted
- Categories
- Cat I, II, III
Forged Hitch Pins & Linch Pins at a glance
Quotable facts from Avadh Techno Forge, Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot.
- Diameters 12 mm to 50 mm
- Category I, II and III sizes
- Case hardened surface with tough core
- Zinc plated for seasonal storage
Shear Loading With Shock
The pin carries drawbar pull in double shear, with shock every time the implement catches. Case hardening gives surface wear resistance while the core stays tough enough to bend rather than snap under a severe overload.
- Double shear loading
- Shock loads from ground obstacles
- Case hardened surface, tough core
- Retention by linch pin or clip
Retention Matters as Much as Strength
Most hitch pin failures in the field are losses, not fractures. Linch pins, R-clips and lanyards keep the pin in place, and specifying the retention method is as important as specifying the pin.
Hitch Pin Capability and Categories
A hitch pin is the single component connecting a tractor to whatever it pulls. It carries drawbar load in double shear with shock every time the implement catches, and it is lost or sheared more often than any other implement part.
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 12 mm – 50 mm |
| Materials | EN8, EN19, 20MnCr5 |
| Hardening | Case hardened surface, tough core |
| Finish | Zinc plated or painted |
| Linkage categories | Category I, II and III |
| Retention | Linch pins, R-clips or lanyards |
Retention Matters as Much as Strength
Most hitch pin failures in the field are losses rather than fractures — the pin works out because its retainer was missing, worn or never fitted. Specifying the retention method is therefore as important as specifying the pin, and we supply linch pins, R-clips and lanyard options alongside the pins themselves. Where fractures do occur they usually trace to a through-hardened pin that was too brittle to bend under shock; case hardening over a tough core prevents that.
People also ask
Why do hitch pins fail?
More often they are lost than broken — retention by linch pin or clip is the usual failure point. Actual fractures come from shock overload or a pin that was through-hardened and therefore brittle.
What size hitch pin do I need?
It follows the tractor's linkage category — category I, II or III — which sets the pin diameter and length. We supply all three plus drawing-specific sizes.
What finish do agricultural pins need?
Zinc plating for corrosion resistance during seasonal storage, or paint where appearance matters and abrasion is low.
Topics covered on this page
- hitch pin
- linch pin
- drawbar pin
- double shear
- case hardening
- three point linkage
Based on work carried out at our own forging plant at Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot — operating since 2008.
Questions Answered
What is the difference between a hitch pin and a linch pin?
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The hitch pin carries the load through the hitch; the linch pin is the small retaining pin that stops the hitch pin falling out.
What tractor categories do you cover?
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Category I, II and III hitch pins to standard dimensions, plus drawing-specific sizes.
Should hitch pins be hardened?
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Case hardened, so the surface resists wear while the core stays tough enough to bend rather than snap under overload.