Practical Maintenance Blog Archive Rigging Hardware Eye Bolts

1 of 7

http://practicalmaintenance.net/?p=787

Practical Maintenance
Improve the Quality of Life

The Hand Book

on
Mechanical Maintenance
Compiled by: K P Shah

Rigging Hardware Eye Bolts

Information about eye bolts material, specification, marking and application is given
in this article.

Material, Specification and Marking

Eye bolts are made from forged carbon steel or alloy steel. Alloy steel eye bolts are
forged, quenched, and tempered with improved toughness properties, intended
primarily for low- temperature applications. Carbon steel eye bolts (ASTM A489)
shall have the manufacturers name or identification mark forged in raised characters
on the surface of the eye bolt. Alloy steel eye bolts (ASTM F541) shall have the
symbol A (denoting alloy steel) and the manufacturers name or identification mark
forged in raised characters on the surface of the eye bolt.
Eye bolts are made as per ANSI/ASME B18.15 and ASME B30.26.
ASME B18.15 is limited to dimensions and capacities for forged threaded eye bolts
intended primarily for lifting applications, and cover the following types and styles:
Type 1, Plain Pattern (straight shank); Style A Long Length; Style B Short
Length.
Type 2, Shoulder Pattern; Style A Long Length; Style B Short Length.
Short Length Shoulder Pattern eye bolts are also known as Machinery Type eye bolts.
ASME B30.26 include identification, ductility, design factor, proof load and
temperature requirements.
Eye bolts shall have a minimum design factor of 5, based on ultimate strength.
Working Load Limit shown is for in-line pull.
Eye bolts manufactured in accordance with ASTM A489 (Standard Specifications for
Carbon Steel Lifting Eyes) are rated for lifting service between +30F and +275F.
These temperature limitations are also referenced in ASME B18.15 (Forged Eye
bolts). Eye bolts manufactured in accordance with ASTM F 541 (Alloy Steel Eye
bolts) are rated for use at a low temperature of -40F. ASTM F 541 requires the

2015-06-29 15:30

Practical Maintenance Blog Archive Rigging Hardware Eye Bolts

2 of 7

http://practicalmaintenance.net/?p=787

symbol A to denote alloy steel.

Safe Working Load for Carbon Steel Shouldered Eye bolts as per ANSI/ASME
B18.15 is as under.

Norminal
size (in.)
1/4
3/8
1/2
5/8
3/4
1
1 1/4
1 1/2
2

Inside diameter of
eye (in.)
Vertical
0.69
400
0.94
1,000
1.12
1,840
1.31
2,940
1.44
4,430
1.69
7,880
2.12
12,600
2.44
18,260
3.06
32,500

Safe Working Load for Shouldered Eye bolt (lb

30 from vertical
60 from vertical
75
Not recommended
400
220
850
520
1,410
890
2,230
1,310
3,850
2,630
6,200
4,125
9,010
6,040
15,970
10,910

Safe Working Load for Carbon Steel Eye bolts as per ASME B30.26 for vertical
(in-line) loading for Inch and Metric sizes are as under.

Size (in.)
1/4
5/16
3/8
1/2
5/8
3/4
7/8
1
1-1/4
1-1/2

Working Load Limit (lb

650
1,200
1,550
2,600
5,200
7,200
10,600
13,300
21,000
24,000

Metric Size
m6
m8
m10
m12
m16
m20
m24
m30
m36

Working Load Limit

200
400
640
1000
1800
2500
4000
6000
8500

For angular lifts, adjust working load as follows:

2015-06-29 15:30

Practical Maintenance Blog Archive Rigging Hardware Eye Bolts

3 of 7

Direction of Pull
45 degrees
90 degrees

http://practicalmaintenance.net/?p=787

Adjusted Working Loa

30% of rated working load
25% of rated working load

IS 4190: 1984
Indian standard for eye bolts is IS 4190: 1984 (Specification for Eye Bolts with
Collars). This standard specifies the basic dimensions, material, lifting capacity and
conditions of use of lifting eyebolts of Grade M. These eyebolts, which are described
as `universal` may be used in all cases involving vertical and inclined lifting. This
standard covers only eyebolts with eyes of internal diameters capable of permitting
direct engagement with eyehooks of the same lifting capacity (working load limit) for
use with Grade T(8) chain. In the case of eyehooks for use with Grade M(4) chain, it
may be necessary to use an intermediate component such as a shackle to make the
connection.

Application

It is recommended to use shouldered eye bolts for rigging hardware, except when
prohibited by the configuration of the item to which the eye bolt is attached. Where
non-shouldered eye bolts are required, they shall be used only in vertical pulls or in
rigging systems that are designed, analyzed, and approved by a qualified person.
For vertical loading, eye bolts without shoulders have the same load-carrying ability
as shouldered eye bolts.

2015-06-29 15:30

Practical Maintenance Blog Archive Rigging Hardware Eye Bolts

4 of 7

http://practicalmaintenance.net/?p=787

Shoulders of eye bolts shall seat uniformly and snugly against the surface on which
they bear. Never undercut eye bolt to seat shoulder against the load. Always
countersink receiving hole or use washers to seat shoulder.
When more than one eye bolt is used in conjunction with multiple-leg rigging,
spreader bars or lifting beams should be used to eliminate angular loading. In case
two or more than two eye bolts are used without spreader bars, their orientation shall
be such that load is in the plane of the eyes as shown below (Orientation of eye bolts).
When eye bolts cannot be properly seated and aligned with each other, a steel washer
or spacer not to exceed one thread pitch may be required to put below the eye bolt.
Proper thread engagement must be maintained. Use a washer with approximately the
same diameter as the eye bolt shoulder and the smallest inside diameter that will fit
the eye bolt shank.

If the hook does not go completely into the eye bolt, use a shackle to avoid loading
the hook tip.

Installation for In-line Loading

For in-line loading application use regular nut eye bolt or shoulder nut eye bolt. Use
number of nuts based on thickness of load as shown below.

Use one nut if thickness is more than one eye bolt diameter. Use two nuts if thickness
is less than or equal to eye bolt diameter. Always tighten nuts securely against the
load.

2015-06-29 15:30

Practical Maintenance Blog Archive Rigging Hardware Eye Bolts

5 of 7

http://practicalmaintenance.net/?p=787

Installation for Angular Loading

Use shoulder nut eye bolt for angular loading. If the eye bolt protrudes so far through
the load that the nut cannot be tightened securely against the load, use properly sized
washers to take up the excess space between the nut and the load as shown below.
Thickness of washers / spacer must exceed the distance between the bottom of the
load and the last thread of the eye bolt.

Reeving of Sling
Slings shall not be reeved through an eye bolt or reeved through a pair of eye bolts.
Reeving will alter the angle of loading on the eye bolt as shown below. Only one leg
should be attached to each eye bolt.

Machinery Eye Bolt Installation for In-line & Angular Loading

These eye bolts are primarily intended to be installed into tapped holes. For
installation, tap the load (tap depth) to a minimum depth of one-half the eye bolt size
beyond the shank length of the machinery eye bolt. If the plane of the machinery eye
bolt is not aligned with the sling line, add shims (washers) of proper thickness to
adjust the angle of the plane of the eye to match the sling line as shown below.

2015-06-29 15:30

Practical Maintenance Blog Archive Rigging Hardware Eye Bolts

6 of 7

http://practicalmaintenance.net/?p=787

To attain the rated capacity, minimum thread shank length of engagement depends on
parent material and must be as follows:
Steel: 1 thread diameter
Cast iron, brass, bronze: 1.5 times the thread diameter
Aluminum, magnesium, zinc, plastic: 2 times the thread diameter

Swivel Hoist Ring

Swivel hoist ring shown above is a patented product manufactured by The

Crosbygroup Inc. and is available in UNC and Metric thread sizes. One of the main
advantages for its use is self alignment of its eye with the load angle due to swivel
movement and they are rated 100% for 90 degree angle. It gives 360 swivel and
180 pivot action as shown below.

Eye Bolt Inspection

Visually inspect each eye bolt before use. Eye bolts that are worn, cracked, bent,
2015-06-29 15:30

Practical Maintenance Blog Archive Rigging Hardware Eye Bolts

7 of 7

http://practicalmaintenance.net/?p=787

elongated or have damaged threads shall be discarded. Ensure that threads on shank
and receiving hole are clean.
Note:
For more information on eye bolts (dimensions) and swivel hoist rings (different type
of rings) please refer General Catalog of the Crosby Group.
Acknowledgement:
Sketches in this article are based on sketches in General Catalogue by Crosby Group.

One Response
Jar Allah Says:
September 18th, 2011 at 12:54 am

Thanks a lot, very useful information in simple way

appreciated

2015-06-29 15:30