Attaching chain to draw bar

[Eric_Phillips]

How do you guys attach a chain to either the belly draw bar or a draw bar on the three point? I was wanting a shackle that the chain would slip through. The problem I keep running into is if the opening is big enough to fit over the draw bar the pin is too big to fit in the hole.

 

[texasjohn]

I have a trailer ball on my tractor drawbar. Hook the chain around the trailer ball. Weight will keep it on the ball.

I do not recommend, at all, attaching a chain to the 3ph draw bar. It is too easy to mess up the sway bars with a side pull... also,and more importantly, you MUST ALWAYS have the pull down low to keep from turning your tractor over. Use the tractor draw bar... that's what it's for... There are threads on TBN that show videos of what happens when using different chain configurations... net is... tractor draw bar = good.... 3ph draw bar = bad for chaining stuff , easy to upend tractor.

 

[aczlan]

the best way is with a clevis (see here for an example.)
you loop the chain through the clevis and hook it back on itself.


Aaron Z

 

[Eric_Phillips]

Aaron,
That is what I was looking at. What I should have done is measure things before I posted. I was trying to put it on the 3pt draw bar and it just wouldn't fit. The next largest had a larger pin and it would not fit the holes. Well then I measured the tractor draw bar. It is an 1/8" thinner and with a 1" hole. So the clevis I have did work and I dragged out some logs along the fence line. Then tried cleaning out the drainage ditch a little with the FEL. You would have thought that after the first time getting stuck I would have realized it was too wet to work in. No 2 more times before I called it quits. thanks for the help.

Eric

 

[RalphVa]

I bought some bowling-pin-shaped snap hook devices that I use on each end of my chain that I attach to the top of my brush hog. Bought these at TSC. One end of the "bowling pin" will exactly fit over the pins of a Cat I 3ph. In between it and the bigger end is a snap section that folds in to allow you to pass the big end into a link of chain. These things are quite thick, but they won't take the pull of a clevis that others mentioned.

These will snap right into the holes in the drawbar.

Ralph

 

[RalphVa]

Here's a picture, showing both ends of the chain that I use. In the picture, it was functioning as a runaway chain for my Gravely cart attached to the tractor drawbar. The bowling pins gizmos are to the right and left ends of the chain in the picture.

Ralph

 

[Deadman]

You can buy a chain-hook that bolts right onto the drawbar just like that clevice does. Its really nice for chaining logs, cuz you cna hook them super short and pick the whole end of the tree up and drag it wherever you want! Local fleet farm store carried them here.

 

[Charlesaf3]

deanman, any chance you could post a pic?

 

[aczlan]

The bowling pins gizmos are to the right and left ends of the chain in the picture.

if anyone else is looking for these kind of pins, ask for Carabiners.


Aaron Z

 

[texasjohn]

Um... I have and use carabiners for various purposes, but am very careful to never put serious strain on them.... be very careful if you use them.... they are made of various materials, including aluminum, and typically have far less strength rating than similar size chain.... just be careful using them.

 

[scott_vt]

Um... I have and use carabiners for various purposes, but am very careful to never put serious strain on them.... be very careful if you use them.... they are made of various materials, including aluminum, and typically have far less strength rating than similar size chain.... just be careful using them.

Afternoon John,
I absolutely agree, I dont think carabiners and chain along with any serious weight mix very well IMO !

 

[sunspot]

Another name for that clevis is an "Anchor Shackle". A bit expensive in stainless steel.
Bosun Supplies

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a 2 inch ball on my draw bar.

To keep the chain on it so that it doesn't slide around, I figured where the middle of the chain was. Then I made a small loop with the middle of the chain and ran a bolt through the links. I guess the loop is about 6 inches round. I just loop it over the ball and it works great.

Eddie

 

[CurlyDave]

I absolutely agree, I dont think carabiners and chain along with any serious weight mix very well IMO !

True carabiners are mountain climbing tools, and are usually rated for one man's weight, plus a large safety factor. They are built to be lightweight and are not as strong as chain by a long shot.

Even worse, the concept of a carabiner is so handy that there are things called spring clips that look just like a carabiner, but are not safety rated, even for mountain climbing applications. These are the things you will find in most hardware stores. I would not trust them with any serious load.

A removable chain link will serve the same function and can be found with load ratings.

 

[oliver28472]

Eric, Get the biggest clevis that will fit your belly mounted drawbar and weld a 3/8" chain hook on top with the slot at about 45 degree angle. That's what I use. You can use 1/4 to 3/8" chain on it.

 

[3RRL]

I bought a large clevis or anchor shackle for the belly draw bar plate.



My wife's Jinma came with 2 grab hooks welded to the belly plate. I thought that was pretty cool. You can see them just below the PTO shaft. So she can leave the belly draw bar installed if she wants to. That might give you some options for what you want to do.

 

[daTeacha]

The anchor shackle has a pin that screws in place while the normal clevis has a hitch pin run through the hole and in turned pinned with a lynch pin or hairpin clip. I don't see any advantage of one over the other, but have both. There are also twisted clevis's out there which rotate the attachment parts 90 degrees from one another.

 

[AndyMA]

Why not just use the correct part for the job?

tractor drawbar hook from Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[ovrszd]

The anchor shackle has a pin that screws in place while the normal clevis has a hitch pin run through the hole and in turned pinned with a lynch pin or hairpin clip. I don't see any advantage of one over the other, but have both. There are also twisted clevis's out there which rotate the attachment parts 90 degrees from one another.

The two most important advantages to me is the anchor shackle will stand more stress because the ends are held firmly in place by the threaded pin and there is little to no chance of the threaded pin coming undone versus a clipped slide in pin. The anchor shackle is lots safer, stronger and just as easy to use.

 

[oliver28472]

I have seen those but the pin may be too big for Eric's application. He was having trouble with the hole size in the drawbar.