Shear Pins.

[cajun555]

Needing shear pins for 56 30hp johnson. Had to order special pins @ 6.95. Is this pretty much the price and is there one I can use off the rack?I was looking on the rack and they had dirrerent sizes 15, 20, 17, etc. Are all pins made out of same materials? <br /> <br /> Thanks

 

[DJ]

Re: Shear Pins.

Pins are pins.<br /><br />Find a good hardware store with a decent bolt room and they'll fix you up.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, I'm doing that right now on an old Lightwin (3 -hp) folding model. This one has pins galore.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Shear Pins.

Pins on my big twin are specified as 1/4" x 1-15/32" stainless steel. I'll bet yours measure the same. I cut mine out of a peice of 1/4" stainless rod. An old shift rod as a matter of fact.

 

[AznDrgn]

Re: Shear Pins.

stainless? are you sure? I thought the point of shear pins was for them to give before you did serious damage to your motor. If you have a stainless steel shear pin I doubt that would give very easily and you would probably end up doing lots of damage. I've always used something a bit milder like brass or aluminum.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Shear Pins.

web page<br /><br />Stainless steel pins are fine for motors with aluminum propped motors...

 

[kd6nem]

Re: Shear Pins.

Stainless steel "shear pins" might be OK with RUBBER HUBBED aluminum propellers or lower units which have an internal "clutch" to protect the internals, especially if you have deep pockets and parts are still available for your LU. Something has to absorb the hit when there is a prop strike. If the manufacturer put a brass shear pin in I'd do the same. True, many motors these days have a pin that is not expected to shear- depends on design. I do not know what a 1956 30 horse Johnson needs, but there are cases (esp older motors) where pins are NOT all equal!

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Shear Pins.

Cajun's 30hp employs virtually the same lower unit as my '63 28hp, and uses the same prop line. I also know OMC has been using rubber hubbed props since at least 1950. The stainless spec came straight from my OEM manual. Brass pins will shear prematurely.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Shear Pins.

The pins listed for sale at the iboats link above from S & J Products Ltd. are brass.....

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Shear Pins.

S & J Part # 550111 <br />$8.08 - Shear Pin, 1/4x1-7/16", <br /><br />The only one which will fit, is stainless...

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Shear Pins.

If that pin is stainless, then i've been zoomed...I called the company and talked to their sales department...they said their pins were brass....hmmmm.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Shear Pins.

I looked here among other places. Searched around for "550111 shear pin." Someone's not on the up-and-up. I don't know for sure which though...<br />550101, the 1/4" x 1-1/8" one, is brass though.<br />FORK!

 

[cajun555]

Re: Shear Pins.

Thanks for the input on such a small item. My OMC dealer called about the parts are in. The pins are not brass. A magnet will attract them, so I'm thinking a mild steel or very cheep stainless. Found the pin I broke a few weeks ago and it will stick to a magnet. The part # that OMC sent me was 314364. I'll just have to trust that I've got the correct pins. By the way, my prop is aluminum with a brass hub. <br /><br /> thanks

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Shear Pins.

It's actually very good stainless, they're just 400 series stainless rather than 300 series. You'll notice that a magnet is also attracted to your prop shaft, and it hasn't got any signs of rust. I don't know what alloy OMC used, but it's probably something like 440. The shift rod I use for pins is also magnetic stainless...

 

[cajun555]

Re: Shear Pins.

I'm going to give it a whirl this week end, but stay clear of the stumps. Also how right you are <br />no rust on shaft.

 

[randycc58]

Re: Shear Pins.

i had a pin problem after removing the flywheel on on a 70 evenrude. Thought that I could go to hardware store and use anything on the rack. I was wrong. Mine was a different material. The strength of the pin is rated for the torque value at which it waas intended to operate at. You can get a stronger pin but do you want to? Thne pin is suppose to break and proteck the engine internal. Too weak and it will break under lite conditions. I bought the expensive oem pin and never looked back on the problem again. Word to the wise. Buy two while you're getting.<br />Randycc58

 

[DJ]

Re: Shear Pins.

Agreed that you want a weaker pin or at least one that is NO stronger than OEM.<br /><br />I have also used brass shear pins, they work fine.