Length of chain

   / Length of chain #1  

Richard

Elite Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2000
Messages
4,813
Location
Knoxville, TN
Tractor
International 1066 Full sized JCB Loader/Backhoe and a John Deere 430 to mow with
If your hooking something up to your chain to drag it, be it a tree /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif, vehicle /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif, wife/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif or a NON-ORANGE TRACTOR /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif what is a good length to have?

I'm looking at buying a length and as I started to pick up the 3/8 chain, realize that 100 feet will weigh a ton (not contemplating THAT length) and 10 feet is to short.

Is 3/8 the best all around? Would you get heavier?

(I just broke uncle in law's 3/8" chain he has had for decades) /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif

Probably should have mentioned, I'm looking at the square link chain in the Labonville catalog as per some Cup owners old comments/conversation.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Richard on 11/14/00 08:44 AM.</FONT></P>
 
   / Length of chain #2  
Richard, your chain needs to be about the same length as a rope./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif It doesn't matter which length you get; you'll always need another length./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Of course, if you're going to pull something down like a tree, just be sure the chain is longer than the tree is tall. I think my chains are 4', 10', 12', 15', and 20' lengths, and sometimes have to use more than one. And I also have a 50' cable with a slip hook on one end and a loop on the other. And good quality 3/8" chain is all I ever need with my little tractor; maybe yours is big enough to consider 1/2" chain, but I doubt you'll need anything heavier than the 3/8".

Bird
 
   / Length of chain #3  
I have several different lengths of chain. I have two 3/8" lengths, one 15 ft. and the other 20 ft., with hooks on the ends. I also have a couple of 7 ft. chains that used to be one 15 ft. length, but broke. I just put hooks on the ends and the short lengths make great bridles for towing wood sleds, etc. Between all of these, I seem to usually have enough chain. I'm running a B7100, so am somewhat limited in what I can actually pull or drag around.

Now, with BRUTUS, I don't know if you're going to need a larger chain or not. If you plan on pulling stumps, dragging some logs, etc. a 3/8" chain will probably work. You could start with a 20 or 25 ft. length and always get another later, if necessary.

Bob Pence
 
   / Length of chain
  • Thread Starter
#4  
I don't ever expect (nor plan) to ever pull trees over with Brutus, or "anyone" else /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. Chain would be used strictly for pulling that with is already in FULL contact with terra firma.

Brutus is strong though, I have taken two full length pine trees and speculated if I could pull them to fire pile. Hooked chain up to both at the trunk and surprisingly easily dragged them to their demise, Brutus didn't even grunt.
 
   / Length of chain #5  
Richard - By "some Cup owner", I would assume you mean Harv, except that he's not yet known for being a chain nut. (Give him time.) Therefore, since choice #1 is out of the running, I humbly accept that you must've been referring to me.

As Bird says, no matter what length chains you get, they'll be the wrong length - so the best choice is to have a selection of various lengths. The chain I use most is 16' long. You can do a lot if all your chains have grab hooks on both ends. All except the choker chains, that is. The chains you actually use to skid logs with, and other tasks where you want the chain to cinch up around the object, require a choker hook or, at the very least, and slip hook. I prefer grab hooks on both ends of everything but the choker chains because it makes it easy to hook chains together, form non-destructive loops, etc.

As for the type of chain, I'd suggest you get not get the square link chain except for use as choker chain, unless you want a single "do-everything" chain, which isn't likely to be satisfactory. Labonville sells a regular round link 3/8" chain that's about as high in strength as the square link chain, but a little cheaper. You can use the round link chain with grab hooks on both ends for everything but choker use, and the square link chain with choker hooks on both ends for logs. With a choker hook on both ends, you can grab two bundles of logs and pull them with a grab link from your regular chain placed in the middle. If you only want to drag one log, you can still grab the choker chain anywhere it's convenient with the grab hook.

Also very handy from time to time are the "chain shorteners" I've mentioned before: two grab hooks connected by 3-5 links of chain.

As for the size of the chain, I don't think you're going to break too many G70 or better 3/8" chains. There's a huge difference between grades of chain that are available. Your average joe decides what size chain he wants based on the size of it ("well, that looks strong enough..."), then buys the cheapest stuff he can find in that size, not realizing that, often, the good stuff one size down is way lighter, a lot easier to use, just as strong, and not much more expensive. If your beast does manage to break a G70 or better 3/8" chain, I'd sure like to hear the story. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkC
ChalkleySig2.gif
 
   / Length of chain #6  
Mr. R, here is the best setup I have found to use. These are always kept on the tractor. I have two short 3/8 chains, one 3 foot and one six foot. The best is a 1/4 cable 10 foot with a 12 inch length of chain with a grab hook on each end. This cable is used for light duty pulling and by far the most used. It is light weight and takes up very little room, and easy to store on the tractor. Two high strength 20 foot chains are also around. Most one likely in the truck tool box. Also have two 50 foot 1/2 or 5/8 inch cable with loop ends. The old cable is very easy to come by form crane or other heavy equipment companies that have to change out the cable every so many hours for over head lifting. These you can usually pick up for carring them off.
 
   / Length of chain
  • Thread Starter
#7  
I think the dim light just brightened a bit. Right now, my primary concern is dragging these trees to burn pile. Soooo, don’t necessarily get ONE chain to do everything, but possibly two. One “round” with two grab hooks say, 20 feet as general-purpose chain. Another that could be say 10 feet with chokers on each end. Go to offending trees on ground; maneuver them such that they are somewhat near each other. Slip choker chain on each one so that they are connected with each OTHER via chain. THEN use second chain attached to Brutus to hook onto this chain and drag away... (Does this infer that I could drag TWO wives with this method???) /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Up to now, I’ve been wrapping/draping and otherwise trying to thread the single chain to grab both trees, sometimes successful, sometimes losing one tree on way, sometimes losing both trees on way to fire. I can see where this might help some. I have also learned better control of loader to push trees rather than drag them. Since I’m on uneven ground however, I usually end up with some ground clippings in the bucket. I find dragging the trees best way to keep dirt/fire separate.

I like the idea of the chain shorteners. I would have typically viewed a 6” length of chain as worthless and yet again have had the rheostat turned up a bit.
 
   / Length of chain #8  
Just a hot tip for all the chain lovers out there... Quality Farm has a 3/8 X 14' chain in the latest flyer for $35 (I think). Grab hook on one end, slip on the other. I bought one of these this summer and have gotten a lot of use out of it. I know it's not the super high grade chain, but for dragging a few trees around and other lighter jobs it has worked well for me.

BTW, loved the tip about two grab hooks on few links of chain. Guess where I'm headed this weekend!?! I saw a clever device (also at Quality) the other day. It was a lift ring but elongated into a grab slot at one end. I could see using that on my loader hook to grab the middle of a chain. Anyone have one of these?

Rob
 
   / Length of chain #9  
I would like to get a couple of grap hooks welded to my FEL bucket but all I can find at my local stores (HD, Quality F&F, Ace hardware, etc.) is grab hooks with a clevis on the other end.
Can anyone guide me to a source for grab hooks that will lend themselves to bolting/welding onto my FEL bucket?

Also, what would make up the "choker chain" someone mentioned - just a chain with slip hooks on both ends?

WVBill
 
   / Length of chain
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Bill, I’m not sure what you mean with the hook having the clevis on the other end, so that said, I’m holding the Labonville catalog in my hands. If you would like to email me your fax number, I’ll copy the page with hooks/chain and fax it to you right away. I’m of course, presuming you’re at a fax machine. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

In same catalog, I’m also noticing they have another hook, called a choker hook. Instead of being a slit used to “lock” onto the chain, the “slit” looks to be an actual circle that presumably is large enough to allow chain to slide through. It has a slot on it that the chain would pass through sideways.

You can email me at ralbrigh@bellsouth.net
 
 
 
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