What a week

[TreeCo]

Ky here is the spring loaded pintle lock. I've never seen one that locked only with a pin, they have all had this high strength locking tab. The chain goes to the pin and the pin goes through the spring loaded locking tab.(or what ever it is called)

 

[Toparboring]

In this awakenings we have another chipper gone wild where the chipper killed ppl. In the area where we work we have to do a truck and trailer check before we go out. In getting a CDL they have in the book that all drivers are respossible for all loads and trailers, dont think the wieght will hold it down.

 

[Kevin]

That's the latch.
You lift up to open the hitch, the pin locks that latch down.

 

[KyLimbwalker]

Thanks Kevin. That's what I call the latch too. As far as I know, the latch doesn't have a spring. It just pushes into place. They're a pain if you don't keep them greased. The spring types I was talking about is spring-loaded at the hinge of the latch. That is, you pull the spring to open the latch. Maybe I've seen them on old Asplundh trucks. I'm not sure. I do know that most pintels are similar to the picture TreeCo posted. If you don't pin that latch, the chipper can definitely come off.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

That latch is spring loaded I think. It was on the old hitch our truck had. The time the chipper came off on me, my helper lifted that latch UP and then put in the pin. He locked it in the OPEN position. I eyeballed the hookup (chains, pins, etc) before I took off, but didn't notice that huge detail. Chipper came off and hit the back of the truck. Damage to the metal engine cover and hole in the radiator. It was more annoying than expensive. But I got lucky.

In the end I say it was 100% my fault. The driver has to take the responsibility.

 

[KyLimbwalker]

Is it spring-loaded? I want to check on monday, b/c it sure doesn't act like it's spring-loaded. If that's the case, I stand corrected. My hypocrisy knows no bounds. Let me check.

 

[KyLimbwalker]

I just checked on a combo I have on my pickup. The latch does appear spring loaded. My bad.

 

[SirTreeRat]

[ QUOTE ]
I just checked on a combo I have on my pickup. The latch does appear spring loaded. My bad.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hows about a big dish of Crow?

 

[TreeCo]

[ QUOTE ]
I just checked on a combo I have on my pickup. The latch does appear spring loaded. My bad.

[/ QUOTE ]

Drop and give up 50 pushups!

 

[KentuckySawyer]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it spring-loaded? I want to check on monday, b/c it sure doesn't act like it's spring-loaded.

[/ QUOTE ]

Its old and rusty. And it doesn't get used anymore since we switched to the ball hitches.

 

[KyLimbwalker]

[ QUOTE ]

Hows about a big dish of Crow?

[/ QUOTE ]

"It tastes so good when it touches your lips!"

 

[treehumper]

The only chipper loss we've had occurred with a ball hitch. We've upgraded the chains to heavy duty stuff that held no probs. Likely the driver didn't properly latch and pin it.