Can Quick Release Locking Pin Be Frequently Used?

I get this question more often than you’d think. Customers want to know if quick release locking pin can handle daily use, or if they’re just for occasional adjustments. It’s a fair concern. Nobody wants a part that fails after a few cycles.

Yes, quick release locking pin can be frequently used — if they’re manufactured with quality materials, precision tolerances, and the right surface treatments. At SKN Fastener, our stainless steel quick release pins are designed to withstand thousands of insertions and removals without losing performance.

Still, “frequent use” depends on where and how you’re using them. Let’s dig into the details.

What Happens When You Use a Quick Release Pin Daily?

Every time you pull the handle, two things happen:

• The spring compresses.

• The balls retract, then lock back in place.

This cycle puts stress on the spring and ball locking structure. If those parts are low quality, you’ll quickly feel the pin lose tension or start jamming. That’s why frequent use is the ultimate test of engineering.

The Role of Materials in Frequent Use

Let’s talk materials.

We use 304 stainless steel for most applications. It’s tough, corrosion-resistant, and cost-effective. For harsher conditions, like marine or chemical exposure, we recommend 316 stainless steel.

The balls themselves are hardened steel. Without hardening, they’d flatten after repeated use, and the locking action would fail. And springs? Only high-grade, fatigue-resistant steel makes the cut.

Precision Manufacturing Keeps Them Reliable

Material is only half the story. Precision matters.

When we turn pin bodies on CNC machines, we maintain tolerances within microns. Why? Because a sloppy fit accelerates wear.

The ball locking seats are stamped or mold-formed with exact shapes. If they’re off even slightly, the balls won’t retract smoothly. Over hundreds of uses, that tiny error becomes a big problem.

This is why cheap, low-precision pins fail fast. Ours don’t.

Surface Treatment Protects Against Wear

Repeated use also means repeated contact between metal surfaces. Friction is inevitable.

That’s why we add protective surface treatments:

• Passivation for stainless steel, removing impurities and boosting resistance.

• Zinc plating for affordable corrosion resistance.

• Black oxide for durability and aesthetics ([surface finishing link]).

These finishes don’t just protect against rust. They reduce wear during daily operation.

Applications That Demand Frequent Use

Quick release pins aren’t just “nice-to-have.” In some industries, they’re pulled dozens of times a day.

• Aerospace — Seat tracks, where panels are adjusted constantly.

• Automotive — Race cars, where body panels come off between heats.

• Industrial equipment — Machine guards removed for maintenance.

• Sports gear — Adjustable gym machines in daily use 。

In each case, the pins must handle constant cycles without degrading.

How We Test for Frequent Use at SKN Fastener

At our 10,000 m² facility, we don’t just trust our process — we test it.

• Cycle testing: Repeated insertion/removal until failure.

• Spring fatigue testing: Measuring how tension holds after thousands of cycles.

• Salt spray testing: For corrosion resistance over time 

If a pin can’t survive repeated use in our lab, it doesn’t ship to your factory.