how can i tell if the steel bolt will have the same break strength? i've come close to breaking the pins a few times already, and don't want to break the gearbox.
Shear bolts are made of mild steel. A mild steel bolt of the same size should have the same or close to the same breaking point. Bring a shear bolt with you and talk to your hardware guy. He'll know what's suitable for your machine. You could also buy Craftsman or other brand shear pins/bolts as long as they're the right diameter and length. No need to buy brand specific shear bolts. That's just another money grab scam. I've been using mild bolts for years. They break as required. I can buy a dozen mild steel bolts for the price of four brand name shear bolts.
