Push Pin Failure

[tmar10]

We had a failure of the passenger-side push pin on our Blue Ox Aventa LX towbar. The failure occured on a busy interstate and we were able to get the toad off the highway with minimal damage to the vehicles and a major damage to the towbar. If anyone has the spring loaded push pins in use, I would send them back to Blue Ox. I took some pictures before releasing the towbar and pin to a Blue Ox rep and will post them ASAP.

[FlyingDiver]

You mean the pins that connect the towbar triple lug ends to the baseplate dual lugs?

I don't use them anymore, I got lock pins.

What was the failure mode? Did the pin just come out? Are you sure the pin failed and it wasn't just inserted all the way (so the spring end stops were all the way out)?

joe

[tmar10]

The pin was installed properly and it appears the pin fell out on its own. I took a little video clip of how easy the pin was to remove after proper installation.

http://bec-ed.com/Blue%20Ox/

[paz]

I had the same problem a long time ago. The spring-loaded retainer at the end of the pin just isn't a positive enough lock. Blue Ox traded me new pins with the snap ring at the end. These are much more positive - if you insert them correctly. You must be careful to get the retaining ring oriented the right way. If you get it in 180 degrees off, it will fall right out.

[Route 66]

That one piece design in the video is not a good design.

The 2 piece pin is the best, a large connecting pin and a smaller locking pin.

They stay in place.

Look at part # 48 and # 49 here.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I had to return my Aventa LX to Blue Ox recently for repairs. When Blue Ox sent it back, they had replaced my spring loaded pins with a different type that used standard clevis pins to lock it in place. I guess they must have had more than a few reports of failure of those pins.

[wa8yxm]

I don't use those I use the kind that have a hole in the end you put another pin through.. I grew up using that 2nd pin to hold things together and have never had one fail. I mean NEVER

Though I have had a pin come out of a reciever pin before. but that was a wired situtation.

Page 2:

I notice in the video... You have the "UP" side of the triple knuckle on the bottom.. Kind of upside down.

[ernieh]

After seeing the pictures I have to ask "what were they thinking"? Why would they ever want to change from the older "positive locking " design?

[Cruzer]

Actually, the older pins weren't foolproof either. I remember Bob Gregory (Rebelsbeach) having one fall out as well as other RVers. I check my towbar every rest or refuel stop and I did find that one of the retaining pins had fallen out once. Fortunately the main pin was still in place. After that I bought a set a Blue Ox keylock pins. They have never failed me after 7 years of use and no one is ever going to play games and remove one when Im' not looking.

This is the set that I got from RVupgrades.com: RVUpgradeStore - Blue Ox Towbar Lock Kit

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by Route 66

That one piece design in the video is not a good design.

The 2 piece pin is the best, a large connecting pin and a smaller locking pin.

They stay in place.

Look at part # 48 and # 49 here.

That is the kind of pin I have.. The "Two Piece" with the locking pin

I have been using that kind of locking pin (not necessarly the BLue Ox oen but one of the very same design, slightly larger as I recall, but hey it has been a while) for 50 years on and off, My dad for many years before that

If you have a farm tractor with Ferguson Hydraulics and you attach anything to the arms,, That is the kind of pin that locks the arm on to the "Accessory" Plow, Field mower, Bush hog, Post hole digger/crain, Planter, Drawbar, Snow blade, and a long long list of other thigns all get held onto the tractor with exactly that same pin.

I've never seen one come off, Even if installed "Upside down"

That includes the ones on my Blue Ox.

I did "Loose" one once... But I backtracked to the spot where I dropped it and found it again (NOTE: I, personally, dropped it on the ground, Was not hooked up at the time. It fell not from the tow pin but from my hand)

[Vegasdan]

I take it the better pins are the larger pins with a hole drilled through the "open" end and then you insert a Hair pin clip. That's the ones I use and have had no problems, although it's a good idea to check every time you are away from the coach to make sure no one has pulled the clip.

[tmar10]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

I don't use those I use the kind that have a hole in the end you put another pin through.. I grew up using that 2nd pin to hold things together and have never had one fail. I mean NEVER

Though I have had a pin come out of a reciever pin before. but that was a wired situtation.

Page 2:

I notice in the video... You have the "UP" side of the triple knuckle on the bottom.. Kind of upside down.

I know the demonstration was with the knuckle upside down but it had no effect on the outcome of the failure because it was in the back of my truck, not in tow mode.

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by Vegasdan

I take it the better pins are the larger pins with a hole drilled through the "open" end and then you insert a Hair pin clip. That's the ones I use and have had no problems, although it's a good idea to check every time you are away from the coach to make sure no one has pulled the clip.

No the hair pin clip is what dropped MY towed.

It is a special spring pin clip.. . The pin itself is very solid, not spring steel, the spring is kind of in a circle and either snaps down against the pin or up and out of the way.

Take a look at the link where the poster said "48 and 49" and find items 48 adn 49.. 48 is the tow pin, 49 is the lock pin..

Closed the pin looks like a circle with a pin through it

This sucker locks on very secure... But can be removed by vandals

[FlyingDiver]

I use the same lock pins as Cruzer. I was getting paranoid about some joker pulling one of the pins on me...

joe