Tough one....logging/RR item

[lumbercamp]

I found this along a 100+ year old logging railroad grade. It is 13 1/2" long. There are 2 ferrules that may have held a piece of wood on the shaft, a washer, another ferrule and a square nut. I have no idea.

[taz42o]

Probably had a spring between ferrules, part of spring loaded linkage or latch.

[creskol]

It looks like an older leveling link off of a three point hitch from a tractor.

[Tubecity]

It seems to be too small to have been used as a part of the air-brake system to either stop
or control descent on a loaded rail car. But what about some sort of connecting rod to control
steering ? Obviously the knuckle or clevis end was attached to another part by a pin that held
the arm or part to that side.

[Tony in SC]

It's some type of "clevis" from a piece of old machinery, farm equiptment, etc. That set up was used alot. Tony

[johnnyi]

To me it looks like a crudely made jury rigged lever. I agree with lumbercamp that there was once a wood handle between the two main tapered furrels, and the rest of the spacers were added to take up the slack. Although there is no pivot hole, the bar is offset from the fork enough that the edge of the fork itself may have rocked against a stationary surface to engage or disengage a linkage atached to the existing fork hole. No idea what machine it went on though, although I've seen similar type engaging levers on the ends of larger burr mills and shell grinders.