Hitch Pin Clip Features and Types

Hitch pin clips refer to a wide range of fasteners used to prevent hitch pins from becoming dislodged from their intended application. Whether securing trailer hitches or agricultural implement components, hitch pin clips are an important safety measure that significantly reduces the risk of equipment breaking free and causing catastrophic damage.

Most hitch pin clips can be quickly installed and reused, while others require tools for installation and are intended for single use. Careful consideration of what retainer to use should be made when deciding on the application design. Then an engineer should look at available application standards, fabrication, materials and suitable uses when choosing an appropriate hitch pin clip solution.

Take a look below at some of the more commonly used hitch pin clips to see which one best suits your application.

Bridge pins are the most common mating part to clevis and hitch pins. They are available in steel zinc and stainless steel for added corrosion resistance. These pins are easy tethered to prevent hardware loss.

Common Names:
Hitch Pin Clip, Hair Pin Cotter, Cotter Key

Applicable Standards:
None known.

Fabrication:
Wire formation. Part requires specialized tooling. Heat treatment for spring tempering.

How to Identify:
Manufacturer number or use nominal wire diameter x total length.

Where can bridge pins be used?
Bridge pins are a great retaining solution for drilled hole applications. This includes nearly any variety of hitch pins as well as latches on hitch couplers. Below is an example of two bridge pins fastened in a drilled pin. Bridge pins can also be secured using cable tethers to prevent loss.

Benefits of a bridge pin:
Bridge pins are easy to remove, are reusable, and more heavy duty than a cotter pin. The ring like end serves as a handle for removal and installation.

Double loop pins are the heavy duty version of a bridge pin that uses a double loop to distribute stresses evenly. They last longer and possess a wider application range.

Common Names:
 Bridge Pin, Ring Pin, Heavy Duty Bridge Pin

Applicable Standards:
None known.

Where should double‑loop bridge pins be used?
A double‑looped bridge pin can be used anywhere standard bridge pins are desired. They work exceptionally well in drilled hole applications such as those found in hitch pins, clevis pins, and trailer couplers.

Benefits of double‑loop bridge pins:
Double‑loop bridge pins boast a longer life span and are well suited for very high use applications. The double‑looped ring of the pin provides increased spring tension for more clamping force than standard bridge pins. Double‑loop pins can be secured using cable tethers to prevent lost hardware.

The only pin in this category manufactured to a specification (AA55487). These stainless steel pins come in standard and variable versions.

Common Names:
 Lock Pin, AA55487 lock pin

Where are locking bridge pins be used?
Lock pins are ideal for drilled, untapped hole applications in military and aerospace environments. Their extended and beveled leg provides improved hole orientation as well as increased reach.

Benefits of lock pins:
Lock pins are crafted from 316 stainless steel for enhanced corrosion resistance in extreme environments. These reusable pins feature an extended leg with a chamfered end for improved hole orientation. The large ring‑like loop allows for the addition of a tether to minimize hardware loss.

Grip clips’ unique design features a bent leg that locks it into place. As this pin is inserted into the mating pin, the leg snaps over the mating pin’s tail, providing additional security. They are ideal for light to medium duty applications.

Common Names:
Grip Clip, Twist Clip, Self‑locking Pin

Applicable Standards:
None known.

Fabrication:
Wire formation. Part requires specialized tooling. Heat treatment for spring tempering.

How to Identify:
Only four common sizes available. Identify by wire diameter x length.

Where should grip clips be used?
Grip clips are designed for in hole applications such as those found in hitch pins, clevis pins, and certain couplers, where a locking style pin is desired. Bent leg snaps over mating pin to lock in place. Intended for light to medium duty applications.

Benefits of grip clips:
Grip clips are reusable and present a bent leg that snaps over a mating pin’s tail. This significantly reduces the chances of the clip backing out of its hole. Grip clips can be secured by attaching a cable tether to the ring like loop at the end of the clip.

Hair pins operate similar to bridge pins. However, they are intended only to be used in grooved applications.

Common Names:
Hair Pin Clip, Hitch Pin Clip, Retaining Pin

Applicable Standards:
None known.

Fabrication:
Wire formation. Part requires specialized tooling. Heat treatment for spring tempering.

How to Identify:
Manufacturer number or use nominal wire diameter x total length.

When should hair pins be used?
Hair pins should be used in medium duty and more specialized retention applications. They are purposefully designed to retain grooved clevis pins and headless pins, as well as any other pin that uses grooves for attachment.

What are the benefits of hair pins?
Hair pins are reusable, simple to install, and can fit a wide range of pin diameters. They are best suited for grooved applications and feature a high shoulder to provide increased contact area.

E‑Clips are stamped clips featuring three prongs that yield high thrust load capacity. Excellent for deep grooved applications where lateral movement is present.

Common Names:
E‑Clip

Applicable Standards:
None known.

Fabrication:
Stamped part.

How to Identify:
Circular clip with three inward facing tabs.

Where can e‑clips be used?
E‑clips are most commonly found in precision, grooved pin applications to prevent wheels, bearings, or hub assemblies from rotating off the end of the axle.

What are the benefits of e‑clips?
E‑clips can withstand greater thrust loads than wire retaining rings and are great for applications subjected to high lateral forces. They can also be installed using automatic installation tools for increased efficiency in high volume operations.

X‑rings are an externally applied retainer that is “pinched” into the groove of a shaft or pin using pliers. Suitable for automated environments due to their low profile.

Common Names:
Crimp Ring Retainer, Snap Ring, Pinch Ring, Clinch Ring

Applicable Standards:
None known.

Fabrication:
Stamped part.

How to Identify:
Sized for a standard retaining ring groove. Size is identified by the shaft on which the part is applied.

Where should x‑rings be used?
X‑rings are used on grooved shafts where removal using common pliers is a consideration. X‑rings are single use and should be replaced when removed from their mating part.

What are the benefits of x‑rings?
X‑rings are simple in design and easily installed using standard pliers. Their heavy construction and zinc finish provide strong retention and corrosion resistance.

Tethers, also called cable tethers or lanyards, are a nylon, plain steel cable or nylon coated wire cable used to attach a pin to its mating part or application to prevent loss.

What do tethers do?
Simply put, tethers prevent separation of the pin from the clip or mating assembly.

Where are tethers used?
Tethers can be used anywhere there is a need to reduce the risk of losing hardware, parts, or tools. They are most commonly used to attach hitch pins to couplers or hitch pin clips to hitch pins.