Hensley Hitch cotter pin

[Mifair]

On a trip very recently, where we occasionally encountered some bad bumpy roads, I luckily discovered the pin that attaches the top attachment strut to the orange Hensley hitch was very close to popping out. The cotter pin that holds the main pin was missing. I noticed with the wd bars under tension the strut pin was very tight. Is it possible the pin popped out with the vibrations from the road or did the cotter pin snap from the friction of the main pin and the strut. Also what would have happened if the the strut bar would have become disengaged.
It pays to check all linkages on you hitch at every stop. Your comments and advise is appreciated.



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[moosetags]

Over the years we have had several cotter pins on the Hensley mysteriously disappear from the pins that they were in. We have never lost one of the main pins, but it is still unnerving. I always carry several extra cotter pins since I had to replace one with a small bolt and nut.

Brian

[J. Morgan]

Those pins kind of bugged me when I installed my hitch.

I was having visions of the parent pins turning in the bores and "walking" the cotters out. I think I might replace mine with the style that you bend.

It would not be good if any of the pins fell out of their bore.