Ball Lock Pins (L Handle)

Ball Lock Pins & Quick-Release Pins

Product Information

Ball Lock Pins (L Handle) For Workholding Equipment

Carr Lane L-Handle Ball Lock Pins are high-strength, quick-release alignment pins designed to combine positive locking with an offset handle that provides added grip and leverage. Unlike a T-handle, which extends in both directions, the L-handle projects from only one side of the pin. This lower-profile, asymmetric design makes it especially useful where surrounding components or limited clearance restrict access on one side of an installation.

These standard single-acting L-Handle Ball Lock Pins remain positively locked until the push button is depressed. Pressing the button moves the internal center spindle forward, allowing the locking balls to retract so the pin can be inserted or removed quickly. Releasing the button returns the locking balls to their extended position to securely retain the pin.

The L-handle provides greater leverage than compact button- or ring-handle designs, helping make repeated insertion and removal more comfortable during frequent fixture changes, tooling adjustments, and production operations. Its offset shape also gives operators a defined gripping point while keeping the handle primarily to one side of the pin.

Carr Lane L-Handle Ball Lock Pins feature a precision-ground shank for accurate alignment and repeatable positioning. They are available in alloy steel or stainless steel, with inch pin diameters from 3/16" to 1" and metric diameters from 5 mm to 20 mm. Standard grip lengths are available for each diameter, while special grip lengths up to 12" (300 mm) and other custom features can also be specified.

Technical Information

Carr Lane L-Handle Ball Lock Pins use a single-acting, positive-locking mechanism designed for fast manual insertion and removal without tools. In the locked position, the balls extend from the pin shank to retain the pin within the assembly. Pressing the release button advances the center spindle and allows the balls to retract into the shank. Once the button is released, the internal spring returns the mechanism to the locked position.

A key technical advantage of the L-handle is its combination of leverage and reduced space requirements. The handle extends perpendicular to the pin axis in only one direction, so clearance is required primarily on one side. This makes the L-handle a useful alternative to a T-handle when leverage is desirable but available space does not accommodate a handle extending in both directions.

The L-handle also provides a larger gripping surface than compact handle styles, making it well suited for frequent actuation and applications where operators may be wearing work gloves.

Standard L-Handle Ball Lock Pins are available in:

Inch pin diameters from 3/16" to 1"
Metric pin diameters from 5 mm to 20 mm
Alloy-steel or stainless-steel shanks
Multiple standard grip lengths
Special grip lengths up to 12" (300 mm)
Standard two-ball or optional four-ball locking configurations
Optional cable and nylon-lanyard retention

L-Handle Ball Lock Pin Variants

Carr Lane offers several options for configuring a standard L-Handle Ball Lock Pin, as well as additional L-handle product families for applications requiring different operating characteristics.

Standard Two-Ball Configuration: Standard L-Handle Ball Lock Pins use two locking balls to provide positive retention while maintaining quick push-button release.
Optional Four-Ball Configuration: L-handle pins can be ordered with four locking balls instead of two for more distributed ball-pullout force. Add -4BALL to the part number. Example: CL-4-BLPL-1.50-4BALL.
Attached Cable Assembly: An optional cable assembly can keep the L-handle pin tethered to the fixture, machine, or equipment when removed. Carr Lane’s standard CL-82-KA-12.0 cable assembly uses #2 cable, is 12" long, and includes a terminal at the free end for a #10 or M5 attachment screw. Add -C to the part number. Example: CL-4-BLPL-1.50-C.
Nylon Lanyard: An optional 10” lanyard provides another way to retain the pin near the application and reduce the chance of a loose pin being misplaced. Add -NL to the part number. Example: CL-4-BLPL-1.50-NL.
Alloy Steel or Stainless Steel: Standard L-Handle Ball Lock Pins are available with either an alloy-steel or stainless-steel shank. Stainless steel provides an alternative for applications where increased corrosion resistance or stainless construction is preferred.
Inch and Metric Sizes: Carr Lane offers standard L-handle pins in both inch and metric configurations, with a broad selection of pin diameters and grip lengths.
Special Grip Lengths and Custom Configurations: In addition to standard sizes, special grip lengths up to 12" (300 mm) and other made-to-order features are available. Carr Lane’s Part Configurator can be used to specify standard or special BLP Ball Lock Pins.

General Dimensions (Inch)

The Basic Part Number shown here must be completed on the Pricing & Availability screen with a suffix for grip length (2-place decimal inch) and for any desired option, such as stainless steel material (-S) or an attached cable (-C). For complete part numbers of stock grip lengths in each diameter, see tables at the bottom of this page.

Part No.	A DIA Nominal	A DIA Actual	B	C	D DIA	E	F	G DIA	H	J	K DIA	L	M	N DIA	P DIA	R DIA	S
CL- 3-BLPx-x.xx	3/16 (#10)	.1885/.1870	0.219	0.245	0.22	1.26	0.78	0.47	1.75	1.5	0.22	1.26	0.89	0.47	0.82	0.57	1.13
CL- 4-BLPx-x.xx	1/4	.2485/.2470	0.29	0.275	0.22	1.26	0.78	0.47	1.75	1.5	0.22	1.26	0.89	0.47	0.82	0.57	1.13
CL- 5-BLPx-x.xx	5/16	.3110/.3095	0.375	0.315	0.22	1.26	0.78	0.47	1.75	1.5	0.22	1.26	0.89	0.47	0.82	0.57	1.13
CL- 6-BLPx-x.xx	3/8	.3735/.3720	0.438	0.35	0.27	1.47	0.94	0.59	2	1.62	0.27	1.47	1.02	0.59	1	0.69	1.13
CL- 7-BLPx-x.xx	7/16	.4360/.4345	0.508	0.365	0.27	1.47	0.94	0.59	2	1.62	0.27	1.47	1.02	0.59	1	0.69	1.13
CL- 8-BLPx-x.xx	1/2	.4985/.4970	0.592	0.445	0.39	1.61	1.06	0.75	2.25	1.88	0.39	1.61	1.08	0.75	1.31	0.82	1.33
CL- 9-BLPx-x.xx	9/16	.5610/.5595	0.666	0.495	0.39	1.61	1.06	0.75	2.25	1.88	0.39	1.61	1.08	0.75	1.31	0.82	1.33
CL-10-BLPx-x.xx	5/8	.6235/.6220	0.75	0.565	0.50	1.81	1.06	0.93	3	2.5	0.5	1.81	1.25	0.93	1.56	1.01	1.33
CL-12-BLPx-x.xx	3/4	.7485/.7470	0.886	0.655	0.50	1.81	1.06	0.93	3	2.5	0.5	1.81	1.25	0.93	1.56	1.01	1.33
CL-14-BLPx-x.xx	7/8	.8735/.8720	1.044	0.745	0.71	2.07	1.25	1.3	3.5	2.9	0.71	2.07	1.49	1.3	2.16	1.41	1.9
CL-16-BLPx-x.xx	1	.9985/.9970	1.217	0.875	0.71	2.07	1.25	1.3	3.5	2.9	0.71	2.07	1.49	1.3	2.16	1.41	1.9

General Dimensions (Metric)

The Basic Part Number shown here must be completed on the Pricing & Availability screen with a suffix for grip length (in millimeters) and for any desired option, such as stainless steel material (-S) or an attached cable (-C). For complete part numbers of stock grip lengths in each diameter, see tables at the bottom of this page.

BASIC PART NO.	A DIA (mm)	A DIA ACTUAL (mm)	B (mm)	C (mm)	D DIA (mm)	E (mm)	F (mm)	G DIA (mm)	H (mm)
CLM-5-BLPx-xx	5	4.96 / 4.92	5.38	6.22	5.5	32	20	12	44.5
CLM-6-BLPx-xx	6	5.96 / 5.92	7.06	6.99	5.5	32	20	12	44.5
CLM-8-BLPx-xx	8	7.96 / 7.92	9.42	8.00	5.5	32	20	12	44.5
CLM-10-BLPx-xx	10	9.96 / 9.92	11.91	8.89	7	37.5	24	15	51
CLM-12-BLPx-xx	12	11.96 / 11.92	14.40	11.30	7	37.5	24	15	51
CLM-16-BLPx-xx	16	15.96 / 15.92	19.00	14.35	12.5	46	27	23.5	76
CLM-20-BLPx-xx	20	19.96 / 19.92	24.08	20.19	12.5	46	27	23.5	76

Material

For standard steel pins, the shank is manufactured from heat-treated 4130 steel with a zinc-plated yellow-chromate finish. Stainless steel versions use a hardened 17-4PH stainless steel shank with a passivated finish. Both configurations use an aluminum-alloy L-handle and stainless-steel components for the spindle, collar, spring, ring, and locking balls.

Click here for detailed material and finish specifications.

California residents click here for Prop 65 information.

L-Handle Ball Lock Pin Applications

L-Handle Ball Lock Pins are particularly useful when an application requires positive locking, quick release, frequent manual operation, and good leverage without the two-sided clearance required by a T-handle.

Common applications include:

Fixtures with Limited Side Clearance: The handle projects in only one direction, making it easier to incorporate into fixtures where adjacent components restrict available space on one side of the pin.
Production Tooling: The L-handle provides useful leverage for pins that are inserted and removed repeatedly during production, setup, or tooling changes.
Jigs and Workholding Fixtures: Quickly locate, align, or retain removable fixture components while providing a positive mechanical lock during operation.
Frequent Changeovers: Push-button release combined with the offset gripping handle supports fast removal and installation during fixture, tooling, or product changeovers.
Machine and Equipment Assemblies: Secure removable or repositionable components that need to be positively retained but accessed without tools.
Applications Adjacent to Other Components: The one-sided handle profile helps reduce interference when the pin is installed near structural members, tooling components, guards, or other equipment.
Gloved Operation: The extended L-handle provides a substantial gripping point and leverage when operators are wearing work gloves.
Harsh Industrial Environments: The handle shape provides good grip characteristics where dirt, moisture, gloves, or other operating conditions can make compact push-button designs more difficult to manipulate.
Repeated Manual Actuation: The leverage provided by the L-handle can reduce operator effort when ball lock pins must be actuated multiple times throughout a production shift.