Now you got me planning to look at all the cotter pins on my tractor tomorrow. I've never had one get pulled out, but I have lost a "hairpin" from the diff lock linkage on my X748. I only use cotter pins on connections that don't normally get taken apart very often, and use the largest one I can force through the hole, bend both legs back around the pin they go through, and cut off any excess.

I'd not seen the kickout rings until I bought my 2520, they are on the turnbuckles for my 3-point lower arms and a couple of other places.

 

I replaced every one I could under my tractor with those keyring type. I find them easy to use with my arthritic hands.

Here is a link to a cornucopia of pins - some neat stuff!

Pins, Cotter, Rings - Pivot Point

 

I lost the pin on the bottom of my tractor that holds the hydro pedals to the rod that controls the hydro itself.
Stepped on the pedal to go and nothing.
Very disconcerting.

I put a standard cotter pin in there as I have them around and they are very reliable. Big draw back of course is they are hard to get out.
I have had Std cotter pins wear thru and fall out. Happened on a 10 cu ft trailer, the pins held the wheels on.
I happened to find the issue before the wheels fell off luckily for me.

Coaltrains link is very good one showing lots of different choices.

Like all things in life there is no one perfect pin, they all have pros and cons and different applications call for different solutions.

 

The mower deck lift linkages that came with our tractors - the cotter were way too small for the application. The head would fall right through the hole. Many people with these tractors lost the pins and bent up the linkage which is very expensive to replace.

 

Really like the locking pin kit in Stan’s post.....but have to order $35.00 of stuff, pin set like $14.00 :nunu:

 

Two substitutions I use a LOT are Spirol pins, and tapered pins.

spirol pins - Google Search

tapered pins - Google Search

Also, a regular old cotter pin, installed next to an exactly sized washer, is easily 10X more likely to stay in place.
Heck, if the install is just right, even YOU will have a hard time removing a cotter pin next to a washer,,,:flag_of_truce:

 

Also, a regular old cotter pin, installed next to an exactly sized washer, is easily 10X more likely to stay in place.
Heck, if the install is just right, even YOU will have a hard time removing a cotter pin next to a washer,,,:flag_of_truce:

I remove them by cutting the loop end off with a pair of side cutters, and pull the pieces out from the bent over ends. I don't reuse them.

 

Neither spirol or taper pins will work in place of a cotter type pin on our tractors! Maybe I'm all wet, but I can't use them anywhere on my tractor!

 

I like the look of the "bow tie" clip, as show in the link Coaltrain posted. :bigthumb:

 

The bowtie pins are pretty neat! The J hooks are the 62D2 mower deck uses them! I'm sure other decks probably do too!

I'm going to give the circle cotter, double loop locking hairpin, rue ring, and kickout ring all a try!