# Identify this machine/vehicle part **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2014, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-machine-vehicle-part/690761 "2014-06-14T09:00:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-machine-vehicle-part/690761/1 "2014-06-14T09:00:42Z")
I found this thing in the gutter on a busy road - photos here: [http://1drv.ms/1lwtr8C](http://1drv.ms/1lwtr8C) It’s about 3.5 inches long, tapered square section on the outside, with a thick circular flange at the base. Internally, it’s got a square-section hole running though it, which turns into a circular hole at the thin end. No internal thread in the circular hole. It’s made of heavy steel - cast or forged, and appears to be powder coated with blue plastic. I’m assuming this has fallen off a vehicle - either something driving along the road, or a piece of farm machinery on a trailer. Any ideas what it is? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-machine-vehicle-part/690761/2 "2014-06-14T09:13:41Z")
Locking pin for a shipping container? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-machine-vehicle-part/690761/3 "2014-06-14T23:56:37Z")
Could be something like that. It looks as though it’s meant to fit over a square shaft that is topped with cylindrical rod that would protrude through the hole - maybe that rod would be threaded and a nut would keep this thing in place. There’s no significant evidence of rotary wear though - so whatever this thing is, it does not appear to be designed to move once placed. ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-machine-vehicle-part/690761/4 "2014-06-15T02:09:42Z")
Maybe an older or handmade version of a truck bed anchor? ---
**Author:** ![ctywkr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@ctywkr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctywkr)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-machine-vehicle-part/690761/5 "2014-06-15T18:12:56Z")
It is a operator nut for a gate valve. It fits over the brass stem of the valve. The round hole at the end if for a bolt to secure it to the valve stem. The top picture here. [Resilient Wedge Gate Valves | Clow Valve](http://www.clowvalve.com/products/catalog/resilient-wedge-gate-valves/) ---
**Author:** ![nonferrous\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea666f/32.png) [@nonferrous\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonferrous_guy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-machine-vehicle-part/690761/6 "2014-06-15T18:16:18Z")
city worker nailed it ! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-machine-vehicle-part/690761/7 "2014-06-15T20:00:58Z")
Thanks - that does appear to be the true identity of this thing.