Chains attached to loader bucket

[5030]

Robert:

Heater hose also works real well for chain saws. Just slit it lengthwise with a sharp knife. Slip it over the chain and it will grab the bar by itself.

 

[disk_drive_eng]

I use a standard automotive three inch tow strap with factory formed loops at the ends--no hardware--for pulling things or vehicles.

They are much safer than chains because 1) they give a bit, 2) they can be more secure when wrapped around an object, and most importantly, 3) if they do break, there is very little mass and a lot of air resistance = much less energy in the snap back.

Neverthless, one can still get hurt or killed when anything under tension snaps. I like the firehose idea, but one should make sure it is in good condition and not weakened by rot, sun exposure, wear, etc. Be sure when making end loops or tieing it that you know your knots to avoid slippage (and any knot is weaker than the line).

 

[frank_f15]

I DO MORE OR LESS WHAT U DO. i use straps, when possible. they grip better, and if they do break, they are less likly to do do dammage.

 

[JDgreen227]

I have never broken a chain but have snapped a few straps pulling huge rocks, I would rather lose a strap than break a chain. Made one really stupid mistake with a strap a few years back, was trying to pull a large tree limb that had broken off the tree about 8 feet up. The limb was still about half attached to the tree, I went up a ladder and wound the strap a turn or two around the broken end, stuck the hook into the webbing then went down and fastened the other hook to my drawbar clevis and gunned the tractor away.

You can likely guess the result of what happened when the strap stretched and the hook end on the limb came free--I thought somebody had hit my upper back with a baseball bat. NEVER AGAIN will I be that careless. Hey, I just recalled something that happened to a buddy of mine right after my incident, he and his brother were using his full size Olds wagon and a strap to pull bushes out of his front yard, they were big bushes and although the rear wheels were on pavement they needed more traction so my buddy climbed onto the trailer hitch....with the additional traction and the stretch on the strap a bush popped out, just missing his head, and going over the car roof and caving in the side of his brother's van parked across the street. LOL glad I wasn't helping them !!

 

[5030]

I always carry a "snatch strap" in my pickup as well as the car. You can move a pretty big object with a small one.

Just don't use the tie rod as an anchor. I trip to the shop will result.

 

[Lazy]

Hi
HAPPY NEW YEAR

I have some chain 3/8" has C7 marked on the links, any one know what the chain might be rated for? I have had the chains 20 years and pulled about everything you could think of I never gave it much thought untill i started reading the forum. also with all the talk about tying down a load on a trailer to meet the new D.O.T. requirements what about the safety chains on the trailer do they have to be rated the same as the tie down chains? I think I might need to add some larger safety chains to my trailer.

Charlie

 

[DocHeb]

This will work fine until something breaks off the object you're pulling, and the nylon strap slingshots it back towards you. Those nylon straps can store an enormous amount of kinetic energy. The worst thing to do is use a combination of strap from the tractor, attached to chain or cable to get more length to reach the object.

 

[disk_drive_eng]

DocHeb,

You are completely right. One should never attach a strap to anything that could conceivably come off of whatever is being pulled or lifted (or off of the tractor for that matter). I'm amazed that people sell straps with hooks attached to the ends-looks like a great way to get in trouble to me.

I usually wrap the strap around the entire object as many times as I can and then put the loop over something solid (or tie it) just so it doesn't unwrap. The friction of the wrap takes the force, not the loop.

On the tractor end, I similarly wrap around the FEL bucket or the backhoe bucket then put the loop on a tooth. (One must be careful that the bucket is low to the ground to avoid flipping the tractor over. If any doubt use the tractor tow bar).

 

[JDgreen227]

Good advice, yes. I am the fellow who now knows what NOT to do with nylon straps. The TBN safety forum is a very useful source of information, if the dimwit (me) who made the post about getting hit with a strap hook had read the warnings posted here he would have known better. LIVE AND LEARN.