How to Measure a Clevis Pin
A clevis pin is a steel fastener with a head on one end and one or more drilled holes in the shank. Clevis pins are used in conjunction with cotter pins for rigging components together such as a hitch between a car and a boat, while allowing for a range of movement. You can measure the main and secondary sections of a clevis pin.
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Place a straight ruler underneath the head at the tip of your clevis pin. The pin's overall length is measured with your ruler from the top of the head to the pin tip. Employ your caliper and measure from underneath the head to the edge of the hole closest to the head to determine your effective length or grip range.
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Secure a bolt gauge. This tool will have several size labeled diameter holes for determining pin shank diameter. Place the bottom of the shank of your clevis pin through the matching hole on the gauge. Your pin should fit snugly but still turn clockwise, counterclockwise and vertically without friction. The size of the hole that the pin fits is its body or shank diameter.
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Open your caliper slightly more than your clevis pin head. Begin to close the prongs over the head till they are tight. The result is the pin head diameter. Use your calipers from the bottom to the top of the head. This is your head height. Some clevis pins have a beveled edge around the head. This bevel is called a chamfer. To measure the chamfer, open, then close your caliper over the beveled portion. The resulting number is your chamfer depth.
References
Tips
- Hole diameter, point diameter, head to hole center and point length are considered optional clevis pin dimensions. Employ the same tools and techniques as above to measure them.
- Clevis pin length is synonymous with its height.
- A clevis pin's shank is synonymous with its body
Writer Bio
Based in New Jersey, Jeff Lockshin has been writing sales/marketing brochures since 1992. Lockshin writes articles related to business, marketing, fastener technology, Christian ministry and golf for various websites. He has a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Bloomfield College.
Photo Credits
- measurement of diameter image by Witold Krasowski from Fotolia.com
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