I decided to build a lock for the pintle ring on my welding trailer, rather than pay the $35 for one already made. I took no during photos because I really need to stop getting oil and crud all over my camera. First pic is right after welding was finished. I used some round bar I had, turned down the end where the lock attaches on the lathe, and also lightly knurled half the length. Then drilled the hole for the lock to go through. Next was torching out the circles from 1/4" plate, cleaning them up a bit, and cutting the holes. Hole saw was used on the larger hole, and a regular drill bit on the smaller. 3/4" and 11/16", respectively.After that it was time to fire up the Ranger and weld the top plate to the round bar.I tigged this. Scratch start off the Ranger, around 140 amps, outside in the breeze. There honestly is not under cut like it looks in the picture. Next is the finished product. You cannot see it, but the second plate goes on the round bar under the ring, before the lock, Should at least deter any thieves that do not carry torches. If I were to do it over, I would do a couple things differently. First, have more time to work with( my own projects always seem rushed and end up a little less perfect than I would like). Second, not have to tig outside ( I could have used stick, but I really wanted to use tig).IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Cool. I have been building about seven of these for five years now! Someday I will finish them. I used flat instead of round for the center. I would make it a heck of alot easier if I had an iron worker."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Maybe you should put some gussets on the pin that sticks up..One good whack on that pin with a sledgehammer (The way it is now) and out it goes...Or better yet make it a one piece top from solid stock.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterMaybe you should put some gussets on the pin that sticks up..One good whack on that pin with a sledgehammer (The way it is now) and out it goes...Or better yet make it a one piece top from solid stock.....zap!
Reply:Get out the BFH either it will hold and the abuse will also deter ( cause someone else tried and couldn't get it) or 2nd revision will end up being different ie STRONGER.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Hard to see how much over lap the top plate has over the hole with the pin sticking up with out enogh over lap the plate could be folded in to pound it through. Might want to lock the safty chains up also. I've pulled locked up trailers out of the way with the chains hook em short enough and they could pull it away and worry about the lock latter.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:I admit I am ignorant about this stuff but, just looking at the picture, if I am a thief, I am looking at that bolt & nut...(Retired) Professional firefighter, amateur everything else I try to do...Oh yeah: Go Big Red! (You know: one of the 12 members of the Big 10 cuz we left the 10 members of the Big 12...)
Reply:Originally Posted by strube1369I admit I am ignorant about this stuff but, just looking at the picture, if I am a thief, I am looking at that bolt & nut...
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erhaps I should get out the sledge and try. I think it would take one heck of a hit, but there is only one way to find out. And as far as folding the plate over, not likely that it would fold enough to fall out. All comments are appreciated though, that's the best way to perfect my design I guess. Either way, stealing the whole trailer would be very noisy or they would have to unbolt the ring and bring a new one from home. I am going to get the sledge now and post the results, either way. Let's see who wins.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Well now that I have ruined my nice paint job.... 15 blows with an 10 pound sledge hammer later, the top of the pin is mushroomed, the plate bent a bit and the paint cracked. The weld shows no damage at all.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:So...the way I'd break that thing out is just to take a prybar to the lock...not with the intent of breaking the lock, but with the intent of snapping out the thin sidewall of the pin where the lock goes through it. I honestly never would have thought to try a sledge hammer...too loud and honestly, it's a large tool to haul about. Try putting a 3' prybar into that lock and prying against the side of the ring so that it's applying force to the side of the pin where the lock goes through it. My guess is that it'll snap that pin open without a whole lot of effort.--WintermuteLast edited by wintermute; 06-27-2011 at 05:56 PM."No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:If a guy with a welding truck shows up and wants the trailer your screwedDisclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingIf a guy with a welding truck shows up and wants the trailer your screwed
Reply:This is true, ask me how I knowDisclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:You're the guy with the welding truck that shows up at 2am?Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:nicely done.. i went a little different rout from my friends skid-steer trailer... I took a piece of 2' Schd. 80 pipe, and cut a hole in the center of an 8" square piece of 1/2" plate, welded both side, 6010 and 7018, then i cut a piece of 1 1/2" sched. 40 piece of pipe, and fillet welded it to another piece of 8" square 1/2" plate. the 1 1/2" slides into the 2" and there is a hole burned in each piece of pipe to accept a master lock.. its a little over kill, but your really gonna want the trailer to get it off.. plus it was all free 1 1/2" on plate2" through platePipefitter/Welder- Pipefitters Local 537 BostonAmerican by Birth, Union by Choice4th Generation member Local 537
Reply:Weak link here (to me) is the 3/4" hole drilled thru the shaft.Pin looks like mild steel. Battery grinder and a cut off wheel will knock those shoulders off the throughbolt in short order.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Awe, c'mon guys. You made him mess up a perfectly fine lock. And he did it to prove it works, to a bunch of people he doesn't even know! Wnywelder, your lock is just fine. NOTHING will stop someone who REALLY wants what you've got."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Completely off the topic, but would you consider getting LONGER bolts that pass through the nuts by at least 1-1/2 to 2 threads? Better yet, toss the split lock washer and standard nut, and go to a distorted thread lock nut?That kind of crap is just Disturbing.Such a small detail, can lead to a HUGE problem if it fails.Later,Jason
Reply:Agreed get longer bolts with locking nuts or just tack the nut as another theft prevention tool.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by wnywelder Well now that I have ruined my nice paint job.... 15 blows with an 10 pound sledge hammer later, the top of the pin is mushroomed, the plate bent a bit and the paint cracked. The weld shows no damage at all.
Reply:Originally Posted by wnywelder 15 blows with an 10 pound sledge hammer
Reply:I do welcome everyone's criticism and comments, and appreciate the great ideas. I also stand by my design. The lock would deter any person that is looking for an easy grab. You cannot stop a welder/ fabricator who wants to steal something, this is just to slow them down. No way is a pry bar going to break through the side of the pin, cutoff wheel would though. As far as the bolts holding the ring on: Yes, there is almost a whole thread in the nut left untouched. However, those nuts hold no load really, they just keep the bolts in. Also, that hitch setup is such serious overkill for this application, that I am not worried at all. You could hang that whole trailer from the hitch and nothing would break. Thanks for all the helpful ideas everyone.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmEither that pin and plate is made out of unobtanium or you swing like a girl.
Reply:Originally Posted by wnywelderOr I laid down a strong weld.this thread is exactly why i dont post my projects on this site. if i asked for opinions, fine, blast away. but sometimes your just proud of what you made and want to share the idea with others. there will always be a "better" way of doing things in someone elses mind. for the record, i liked it.
Reply:Originally Posted by tnatcherthis thread is exactly why i dont post my projects on this site. if i asked for opinions, fine, blast away. but sometimes your just proud of what you made and want to share the idea with others. there will always be a "better" way of doing things in someone elses mind. for the record, i liked it.
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmThe weld has nothing to do with it. That 1/4" plate should be funnel shaped and/or the pin mushroomed a lot worse than it is. To be honest, 15 real hits with a 10 lb sledge and I would be worried about the bolts and holes that hold that pintle on.Not trying to be an *** here, but don't kid yourself on the weld. Forcing a weld through a plate is not an easy task. The weld doesn't have to be good to not fit through the hole.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIWeak link here (to me) is the 3/4" hole drilled thru the shaft.Pin looks like mild steel. Battery grinder and a cut off wheel will knock those shoulders off the throughbolt in short order.
Reply:Originally Posted by tnatcherthis thread is exactly why i dont post my projects on this site. if i asked for opinions, fine, blast away. but sometimes your just proud of what you made and want to share the idea with others. there will always be a "better" way of doing things in someone elses mind. for the record, i liked it.
Reply:Final update, I just got around to making the finishing touches on my hitch lock. I got everything as straight as possible after the sledge attack, not perfect but close enough. Also welded the bottom side where the pin goes throught the plate (only the top was welded before. I decided that a way to protect the side of the pin and the lock from cutting and prying was the best improvement i could easily make. 1"x1/2" flat stock, 1" long, welded to the bottom plate to capture the shank of the lock.I will most likely lock the chains up as suggested earlier in the thread so no one can easily pull the trailer with them. Other than that, if someone really needs my beat up Ranger bad enough to bother busting or cutting all the locks off, then more power to them. Thanks for all the ideas guys!On a side note, the two plate that are used in the pintle lock are actually 5/16" thick, not 1/4" as I incorrectly stated earlier.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingIf a guy with a welding truck shows up and wants the trailer your screwed
Reply:Originally Posted by woodtick007 But then if someone really wants it they will just hire someone with a flatbed wrecker to come and pick it up for them....
Reply:I'm gonna take a different route here- good looking piece dude. Good idea and implementation of said design. If I left anything outside, I'd probably borrow your design. However, to deter thieves, I built my shop big enough to lock up my trucks and trailers indoors every nightGo Cards!!!!!
Reply:Just weld the hole shut and when u wanna pull it , grab the torch and opener back up. easier then all this lock nonsense.I forgot how to change this.
Reply:I like the updated design. Much better protection against leverage breaking the lock or pin. Also looks alot more stout. --Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:Good job on the updated design! It will definitely deter your average "moment of opportunity" thief, which is what you are going for anyway. Reality is, nothing is theft proof, regardless of how elaborate the lock is built. Nonetheless, this is a good design and will probably get copied at home by more than one or two members for their own trailers. Hell, if I had a pintle hitch trailer, I would build one!
Reply:That is a great design. I believe that most theaving dou__ bags are basically lazy and that stealing stuff is a crime of the moment so it will probably stop most people. The organized and committed thief could drop in with a helicopter and take anything. So good work and now you got me thinking about all the ball mounts on my trailers.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Great looking lock! I worked for a trailer manufacturer for a few years and we sold a lot of those types of locks. Problem is that the trailer thieves would unbolt the locked couplers and put on there own
Reply:It's all about making things less convenient. You don't have to outrun the bear. You just have to outrun the OTHER guy who is running from the bear.You can tack weld the outside of the coupler nuts so no one can pull the "coupler swap" trick. Works even better than lock washers, yet reasonably convenient to remove.
Reply:i cant believe so many people are putting this dude down. i like the design! seems like it will keep ayone from even really trying to take it.
