Chains for Lifting Objests With FEL

mathey · May 4, 2005

Home Depot sells a 5/16" x 20' chain with clevis hooks for $40. Its in the hardware aisle near the rope and such.

To make mine more useful, I cut it into one 10' piece and two 5' pieces and added clevis hooks onto the "new" ends.

I have 2 bucket hooks welded onto the top edge of my bucket in line with the loader arms...you could get by with just the chain, but the hooks on the ends are about $5, and they are very handy, so why not?

BarryinMN · May 4, 2005

I use 3/8" cheap stuff from Harbor Freight. Have several I think 14'. The longer 20' lengths get tangled much easier. My lawnmower can stretch & snap 1/4" chain dragging a RR tie when it gets snagged on something. Shock loads & WLL are not the same thing. A sliding hook (large opening) on one end will help choke down & hold stuff like loose brush

I agree with others if you buy a lifting sling or something similar US certified is the only way to go.

surfran · May 5, 2005

You can also get 20' with 2 grab hooks at Tractor Supply for around $28 of the 5/16" Grade 70 or $38 for 3/8" same 20' configuration with hooks. Of course this is also Chinese made not USA so you can decide yourself.

I bought the 5/16" for holding down my tractor during transport. Even had them cut it into 4 5' lengths. Then bought the extra grab hooks needed and I was off /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You can also buy it online from CargoSupply on EBAY for an ok price. I bought my Ratchet binders from them and was going to buy the chain until I found it at Tractor Supply for less money with the shipping figured in. They are in Oregon so shipping may not be as bad for you.

The cutting by the TSC was also a nice bonus as it saved me time!

Good luck,

KiotiOrange · May 5, 2005

I purchased 5/16" grade 70 chain at TSC for binding my tractor to the trailer for transport. While there I went ahead and picked up an extra 16' section to use for pulling things around with the tractor. I also attached three offroad tow hooks to the top of the bucket for anchor points.

My real preference for moving things (stumps) with the FEL is to tilt the FEL down around the stump, use a 30k lb tow strap hooked on one side hook, then around the stump, up to the middle hook, around the stump again, and a final drop of the other strap end loop onto the other side hook. I can tilt the bucket to carry/support the stump and take the slack out of the strap.

Advantages of the strap over chain are it is lighter, more compact, more flexible, and it stretches instead of breaks if it needs to (not that it has needed to).

Just my $.02

KiotiOrange

Dargo · May 5, 2005

You are using your chain for situations that do not risk your personal safety or risk your equipment. Also, it does not sound like you are coming close to any type of load limit for your application. Yes, I'd use any chain I have laying around for what you describe.

I know I sound radical about Harbor Fright, but there is a reason that nearly everything they sell is the cheapest priced item available. I will still buy "disposable" took kits for my off road vehicles and such there. You know, the kind you use, break, and bury. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Hopefully you are able to make your repair before you break every Pittsburg wrench. Sorry, but don't tell me that Pittsburg wrenches are quality or won't break. I know I'm a fairly strong guy, but I'm not Mr. America. I've broken every Pittsburg wrench I've had when really pulling hard on them. And, I'm not talking about cheating and using something other than my bare hands either. Both the boxed end and the open end will shatter. Believe me. But, now I'm off the subject. I went on my Harbor Fright rant because the original poster was going to use chains for "lifting objects". Never with a Harbor Fright chain. (and yes, I can spell freight)

Jagmandave · May 5, 2005

I partially agree with Dargo about Harbor Freight, some of their stuff is cheap cheep chepe! But if you're just a little bit carefull, they also have good buys on lots of good stuff. I've had a drill press and a lot of other stuff from them that's worked just fine - and still does. Just look at the quality before you buy............
As to chain, is ANY of the stuff you can buy today made in the USA? How can you tell? Is it labelled as such?

Adirondaks · May 5, 2005

I have 3/8 chain that I used for log skidding 20 years ago. It was the best chain I could buy . 30 feet.
Last Saturday I needed to raise my shooting range backstop. It fell down from a tree falling on it. It is 6 12 x 12 RR ties 6 feet long nailed together with 2 2 x 10's. I rapped the chain around the third tie from the top. The other end was connected to a short length and that to the FEL hook. I raised the FEL up to tighten up and then used the bucket crowd to raise the whole mess up vertical. It raised the tractors(JD4410) right rear wheel a foot off the ground. I never intended to lift anything when I bought this chain but you never know. I like being on the heavy side instead of the light side. I would like to have a chain that can be used to pull the tractor with BH and FEL out of any mess it gets in.

JRP · May 6, 2005

Well, deep subject. Here's my 2 cents:

1. I have 68 hp and have not yet broken 1/4" grade 70. The key is the metalurgy of grade 70. Much stronger than 43 or proof coil. The smaller chain is much easier to handle.

2. 2 16' and one 8' is very good. Get hooks for chain rated for grade 70.

3. Weld 3/8 grab hooks. Works for 1/4, 5/16, or 3/8. I buy my grab hooks from Harbor freight and have no problems yet. There are thirteen welded on my tractor right now.

4. You should store your three chains so they are at your fingertips when you step off the tractor. Grab it with one hand, even with with gloves. See attachment.

PineRidge · May 6, 2005

JRP very handy looking chain boxes. I might just add one or two myself. Yours look to be stout enough to do the job and take a licking too.

Green4Me · May 6, 2005

I got to agree. 1/4 grade 70 will handle any cut loader. 3/8 is just too heavy to lug around. As far as quality goes, you can get a bad link in a 3/8 just as well as a 1/4. I have no problem with HF. You gotta figure that China has the most high tech, the most modern manufacturing facilities that American Industry can provide. I figure that if they wanted me to buy American they wouldn't have turned their backs on American workers.