Lifting Shackles too narrow

[Cornholio]

Has anybody bought a set of lifting shackles from these guys in the past?

http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com/...ckles-3522.cfm

I ordered up a set because I only had one on my truck but when I received them there was a problem.

They fit the rear bumper and wheel tie downs with no problems but are too narrow to fit the stock front bumper/frame holes. I just measured them and they are in fact 2-3/4" inside width as stated on the website. The one stocker I had measures 3" inside width.

Any suggestions on the best method to widen them that 1/4" without losing any strength? Can I heat them up a bit or are they hardened to some degree? I guess I could always try widening them with a threaded rod and a couple nuts/washers on the inside.

[Doug]

I go the threaded rod method and bend them cold. Heat could change the temper of the metal and weaken them.

[george walker]

i had the same prob mine fit everywhere but the front i guess when they cast the mounts for the front they got a little to wide i just spread mine as i put them on however they are very tight an dont move easily

[Cornholio]

The other option would be to grind a 1/4-3/8" off the front mounts with a hand grinder but I'm sure that would be a PITA and difficult to take an equal amount off each side.

[gimpyrobb]

Well, then, you could never tow the truck with a military tow bar either.

[Cornholio]

Good point, scratch that idea. I may never happen but I don't want to rule it out the possibility either. Thanks for pointing that out.

[5quarter]

it will take two bends .... one to widen and the other to straighten the threads out
a short heat cycle souldnt affect these just dont dunk in water

[fng]

What if you just ground out the insides of the rings with a hand grinder? You could go slow and remove only a little at a time and stop when they fit....

[agengr]

What if you just ground out the insides of the rings with a hand grinder? You could go slow and remove only a little at a time and stop when they fit....

That's exactly what we did to make the shackles fit on the front of my truck.

[kwai]

Just spread the shackles apart. You aren't going to break them. They don't have threads on the inside so there is no problem with threads. This is a pretty common problem. You don't need to grind on anything to make them fit. The problem is the shackle and not the truck.