$!#& Chain Hooks

[CalG]

The only time I've ever had grab hooks come loose was whenever it was a royal PIA to reset them.

Like when the grab was 30 feet up the tree.
or
when the circle was around a 2 foot butt log that needed a shovel and a pin just to thread the chain under.

I could throttle that Murphy guy! ;-)

I've got a roll of black iron wire in the shop, I'm gonna put one in the tool kit on the tractor!

;-)

 

[Doofy]

I've never had a grab hook that wouldn't stay hooked? Usually the load, or just gravity, keeps it tight. A case of chain going slack and tight repeatedly?

My biggest problem is slide hooks, especially when you've climbed a tree, at the risk of life and limb, to put a cable around it so you can pull it over, then cable falls off as soon as you've climbed down and put some tension on it! Then you get to climb up again! Grrr!
One day I'll be smart enough to replace it with a hook that has a built in snap on it. I'm more likely to go the baling twine route too. I'd probably wouldn't drill it though.

I gave up climbing trees at about 25. Wasn't worth getting hurt.

 

[CalG]

Not that you would want to do it every few minutes, but that little reverse curve at the grab hook tip is to hold a safety wire, if needed.

View attachment 565776

Bruce

This! ^^^^

Tye wraps work!

 

[Wagtail]

Hmmm.... Found these examples of mousing....

A shackel....

A hook....

Is this hook legitimate for mousing or is it missing latch bar?

Dale

That last (yellow) hook can certainly be 'moused'. It looks like it has been fitted for, but not with, a spring loaded latch... the wee hole could also be used for further mousing the latch.

:mouse:

 

[CobyRupert]

I gave up climbing trees at about 25. Wasn't worth getting hurt.

It's a trade off. Sometimes I'd rather take my chances with climbing a ladder to put a cable on a tree, rather than cutting it without one. With some trees, unless one wants to hire a professional with climbing gear, a cherry picker or a crane and cut it from top down, a cable and a good winch lets you put that tree where it needs to go when gravity wants it somewhere else.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Have you tried hooking it tighter or hooks from the other direction? I have a lot of 5/16 transport chain with 3/8 hooks. They don't fall off often. Maybe weight of chain could provide tension.

I like the mousing. That name is a first for me.

 

[TractorNH]

My biggest problem is slide hooks, especially when you've climbed a tree, at the risk of life and limb, to put a cable around it so you can pull it over, then cable falls off as soon as you've climbed down and put some tension on it! Then you get to climb up again! Grrr!
One day I'll be smart enough to replace it with a hook that has a built in snap on it. I'm more likely to go the baling twine route too. I'd probably wouldn't drill it though.

I have a couple chains with logging choker hooks. I've never had one fall off and they don't have latches. Instead they have a narrower slot that you slide the chain through. To unhook them you have to slide the chain back through the slot but I've never had the chain just fall out.

 

[WranglerX]

Dale, hard to tell just from a photo, but to me that looks like a 3/8" grab hook on a 5/16" chain. :scratchchin: Is that a possibility?

5/16 and 5/16.... Very conscious of chain sizes because getting things to stay "connected" has been top priority... Tired of fooling with chains, just want to get "work" done...

And the whole idea was to make what I have work, I can go out and buy a whole bunch of different hardware, but to what outcome, just having a lot of surplus "stuff" on shelf that takes up space and gathers rust?....

Dale

 

[Doofy]

I have a couple chains with logging choker hooks. I've never had one fall off and they don't have latches. Instead they have a narrower slot that you slide the chain through. To unhook them you have to slide the chain back through the slot but I've never had the chain just fall out.
View attachment 565814

This type of book looks promising. I also have problems with slip-hooks falling off when trying to grab out willows and alder brush. I would spend the extra money to buy a hook that makes my life easier.

 

[WranglerX]

Here is another scenario, all the quick links I want to use, that seem to be correct size always seem to have to large diameter threaded area and will not pass through chain eye... Have resorted to sligh modification of threads on some of the links for ease of use by taking a file and doing light pass on threads to remove some material on link so it will pass through chain eye.... So am I wrong in thinking the load spec of link should be same as chain (or as close as practical), and that the diameter of link body material should be about same as chain link material diameter....



Note file pass is on sides where red lines are, not completely around body of threads, Maybe reduce overall diameter by 1/32 to 1/16 inch that allows link to pass through chain eye if proper oriented, yes it may reduce the holding strength of link, maybe 60-70% of tread are still intact...But it allows me not have to spend hours at hardware/farm supply trying to match chain sizes to hooks and shackles and quick links (replacing all existing hardware) ..

Glad to have all the feedback, never expected to learn so much just to have a chain stay around a log till I could get tension (hook lockup) on it...

Dale