Green Pin^® Sunken Hole Key

Note: Main dimensions, general info and warnings can be found in our latest catalogue.

If the recommendations in this product information are followed performance of the shackles is guaranteed:

• permanent identification marks, or symbols, are to be made by dot peen marking or with stamps having rounded profiles (low stress stamps).
• the number of marks on a shackle is to be kept to the minimum.
• the use of fractions and oblique strokes is to be avoided and a dot or hyphen is preferable to a dividing line.
• values of WLL are, generally, to be marked to one place of decimals (except for 0.25 and 0.75) up to 100 t and in integers thereafter. The word “tonnes” may be abbreviated to “t”.
• recommended sizes of marks are
  • Diameter of part to be marked > recommended size of mark
  • less then 12.5 mm > 3.0 mm
  • 12.5 to 26 mm > 4.5 mm
  • over 26 mm > 6.0 mm

Typical arrangements of marks can be found in the following illustrations.

FAQ-Reference: PI-05-03. Rev 0.

It is required that shackles are regularly inspected and that the inspection should take place in accordance with the safety standards given in the country of use. This is required because the products in use may be affected by wear, misuse, overloading etc. with a consequence of deformation and alteration of the material structure. Inspection should take place at least every six months and even more frequently when the shackles are used in severe operating conditions.

Shackles should be inspected to ensure that:

• all markings are legible;
• the body and pin are both identifiable as being of the same size, type and make;
• the threads of the pin and the body are undamaged;
• for a safety bolt type shackle is used with the split cotter pin;
• the body and the pin are not distorted or unduly worn;
• the body and pin are free from nicks, gouges, cracks and corrosion;
• shackles are not heat treated as this may affect their Working Load Limit;
• the shackle is not modified, repaired or reshaped by welding, heating, machining or bending as this will affect the Working Load Limit;

Remove the shackle from service if:

• all markings are not  clearly legible;
• body and pin can not be identified as being from same size, type and make;
• the threads of the pin and/or body are damaged;
• for a safety bolt type shackle the split cotter pin is missing;
• the body and/or pin is distorted or unduly worn, the maximum allowable wear is 10% of the original dimension;
• the body and/or pin is not free from nicks, gouges, cracks or corrosion;
• the shackle has been exposed to any heat treatment;
• the shackle is modified, repaired or reshaped by welding, heating, machining or bending;
• t is expected that before the next periodical inspection any of the inspection criteria above will not be passed;

FAQ-Reference: PI-06-01. Rev: 0.

No! Green Pin^® products are treated with well designed heat treatment, which results in a certain Minimum Break Load and other specific mechanical properties. These properties will be destroyed by the heat of welding. It even can initiate extreme hard spots and initial cracks, that will decrease the strength and fatigue life dramatically. An exception is made for Green Pin^® GH and PAS products, as these need to be welded to a surface to function. For these items, please follow the instructions that are available at Green Pin^® sales.

FAQ-Reference PI-07-02 Rev. B