What are eye bolts used for?

Eye bolts are used for many different functions, including lifting, suspending, lashing, tying down, and fencing. Heavier-duty styles like machinery eye bolts and shoulder eye bolts are often used in trucks as anchors for supplies during shipping or as lifting components for equipment and machinery, whereas wire eye bolts are often used in light duty applications requiring suspension or fencing.

How to install a machinery eye bolt:

Correct installation of a machinery eye bolt, also called a lifting eye bolt, is crucial for safety and performance. Follow these steps: 1. Pick the Right Eye Bolt: Make sure it’s rated for the maximum load expectation of your application and is compatible with mating components, such as the receiving hole. Ensure the fastener material is unpainted, as paint could hide damage or corrosion. 2. Drill the Hole (if needed): Use the correct drill bit size for the eye bolt. The hole should be as deep as the length of the shank plus one-half the diameter of the shank, and the thread specifications of the receiving hole should match those of the shank. 3. Check for Damage and Debris: Make sure the solid, metal surface and the internal threads of the mating hole are clean and undamaged. Ensure the machinery eye bolt is clean and dry and shows no sign of damage, wear, modification, or deformation. 4. Screw It In: Turn the eye bolt clockwise by hand until it’s snug. If it has a shoulder (a flat base), that part should sit flat against the surface. Never side-load a non-shouldered eye bolt. 5. Face It the Right Way: Ensure the load is applied in line with the plane of the eye. The looped head should point in the direction of the pull or load – not sideways. Use washers or shims if needed to line it up.

How to measure a lifting eye bolt:

Measuring eye bolts correctly is essential to ensuring safety and performance. View our guide to measuring eye bolts below: “Huy Oughta Know” – How to Measure Lifting Eye Bolts.

Eye Bolts

Explore Huyett’s broad selection of eye bolts to fulfill your application’s lifting, rigging, and suspending needs. Eye bolts are one of the most recognizable and widely used lifting and rigging hardware components, featuring a looped head and a threaded shank for easy use and secure attachment. These simple, reliable fasteners are often used to secure loads, suspend items, or connect rigging hardware.

Huyett offers plain pattern eye bolts, shoulder pattern eye bolts, and bent wire eye bolts. Material options include stainless steel and carbon steel with a variety of available finishes to meet the needs of your application.

Plain Pattern Eye Bolts
Shoulder Pattern Eye Bolts
Wire Eye Bolts

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