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Round Pin Shackles (Chain & Straight Pull Connectors)
Round pin shackles are engineered exclusively for straight-line tension applications. Featuring an unthreaded pin secured by a cotter key, this design allows for rapid assembly and disassembly in tie-down, towing, and suspension operations where side loading is absent. Holloway Houston distributes the complete line of Crosby G-215 and S-215 round pin chain shackles, providing Working Load Limits from 0.5 tons up to 35 tons to match your precise rigging and load-securing requirements.
Round Pin Shackles | Crosby G-215 & S-215 Chain Shackles
When a rigging operation requires a fast, secure connection for a strictly straight-line pull, riggers deploy the round pin shackle. Unlike screw pin or bolt-type models, round pin shackles utilize a smooth, unthreaded load pin inserted through the shackle ears and locked in place with a standard cotter pin. This provides operators with the fastest assembly time possible for temporary, in-line connections.
Holloway Houston Inc. (HHI) stocks an extensive inventory of Crosby round pin chain shackles. Featuring 32 distinct SKUs, our catalog covers physical sizes from 1/4-inch up to 2-inch material diameters, equipping industrial, marine, and construction sectors with heavy-duty rigging hardware.
Types of Round Pin Shackles
Holloway Houston supplies the industry-standard Crosby 215 series. These are classified as "chain shackles," meaning the shackle body forms a narrow U-shape rather than a widened bow, maintaining tight alignment with chain links and lifting lugs.
1. Crosby G-215 (Galvanized)
- Finish : Hot-dip galvanized coating.
- Application : The standard choice for outdoor, marine, and general industrial environments. The zinc galvanization provides an active sacrificial barrier against rust, saltwater, and atmospheric moisture.
2. Crosby S-215 (Self-Colored)
- Finish : Bare, self-colored steel.
- Application : Specified for environments where the shackle will be painted to match a larger custom assembly, or in specific fabrication applications where zinc galvanizing is unnecessary or prohibited by welding requirements.
Capacity and Sizing Guide
Round pin shackles scale exactly to your load requirements. Crosby shackles feature the Working Load Limit (WLL) permanently forged directly into the shackle body for absolute traceability in the field. Operating with a 6:1 Design Factor, these shackles deliver a Minimum Ultimate Load six times their working rating.
- Light-Duty (0.5 to 2 Tons) : Available in 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", and 1/2" sizes. Ideal for light equipment tie-downs and agricultural implement connections.
- Medium-Duty (3.25 to 9.5 Tons) : Available in 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1", and 1-1/8" sizes. The standard range for general commercial towing, industrial suspension, and factory rigging.
- Heavy-Duty (12 to 35 Tons) : Available in 1-1/4", 1-3/8", 1-1/2", 1-3/4", and massive 2" sizes. Engineered for extreme heavy-haul load securement and large-scale, straight-line structural tensioning.
Applications by Industry
- Tie-Down and Load Securement : Rapid attachment to flatbed anchor points and heavy machinery D-rings where the tension remains perfectly in-line with the shackle body.
- Towing and Recovery : Connecting tow straps and winch lines to vehicle recovery points for straight-line pulling operations.
- Suspension Systems : Hanging static loads, lighting arrays, or HVAC components where the load hangs perfectly plumb and the pin will not be subjected to twisting forces.
- Agriculture and Marine : Fast connection points for tractor implements, dock lines, and mooring chains.
Safety, Compliance, and Rigging Awareness
Round pin shackles carry strict operational limitations under ASME B30.26.
- Zero Side Loading : You must NEVER side-load a round pin shackle. If a load shifts sideways, the tension will bear directly against the cotter pin. The cotter pin will shear, the main load pin will slide out, and the load will drop.
- Cotter Pin Installation : The smooth load pin relies 100% on the cotter pin for retention. Operating a round pin shackle without the cotter pin installed and properly bent is a severe safety violation.
- No Multi-Leg Slings : Because multi-leg bridles inherently create angled tension, you cannot gather multiple sling legs into the body or pin of a round pin shackle.
- Vibration Limits : In high-vibration environments, cotter pins can fatigue and fail over extended periods. For permanent or high-vibration installations, operators transition to bolt-type shackles.
Frequently Asked Questions
A round pin shackle utilizes a smooth, unthreaded steel pin that slides freely through the shackle ears. It is locked into place mechanically using a simple cotter pin inserted through a hole in the load pin's end.
You can only use a round pin shackle for overhead lifting if the pull is strictly vertical and strictly in-line. If there is any risk of the load shifting, twisting, or applying side-load pressure against the pin, you must upgrade to a screw pin or bolt-type shackle per ASME B30.26.
The G-215 features a hot-dip galvanized finish to fight rust and corrosion in outdoor environments. The S-215 is "self-colored," meaning it is raw, uncoated steel designed for applications where the hardware will be painted post-assembly.
Speed and simplicity. When operators execute dozens of temporary, straight-line tie-downs per day, sliding a smooth pin and dropping a cotter key is significantly faster than threading and unthreading a screw pin.
If the shackle body stretches, the pin bends, or the ears splay outward, the shackle has yielded to overload and lost its structural integrity. Operators must perform visual inspections before every use and discard deformed hardware immediately.
Complete Your Rigging System
Holloway Houston stocks a massive industrial hardware inventory. If your application requires angular lifting or permanent installation, explore our alternative connection hardware:
- Upgrade to a threaded pin for operations requiring temporary connections with the ability to handle angular loading.
- Explore Bow-shaped anchor shackles designed to accommodate multi-leg slings and wider connection points.
- Grade 80 and Grade 100 lifting chains for heavy industrial material handling.
- The required top-fitting hardware for gathering multiple sling legs into a single crane hook.
Need Bulk Hardware Fulfillment?
Holloway Houston acts as a premier distributor for the Crosby Group. We fulfill bulk hardware requests for major fabrication yards, offshore platforms, and commercial transport fleets daily. Call our rigging hardware specialists at 1-888-496-4700 for immediate inventory confirmation and freight shipping quotes.