Chinese chain ?

pennwalk · Nov 8, 2007

In another thread a poster said about Chinese chain-

I'm scared to buy a chain at harbor freight. How many people have bought things there that actually held up very long? I'd hate to have a chain break on me and come whipping through the back window.

Has anyone actually had a Chinese chain fail on them? Does it mean anything that it is stamped grade 70? There are tons of posts warning against Chinese chain What's the truth and what's myth?

Chris

smitesmash · Nov 8, 2007

a friend of mine has a portable mill. one time he went to Wally World to get some chain, and used that to skid out some logs behind his pickup. when the logs were in position, he found that the chain woudl no longer bend with out some persuasion. the links were soft enought o pull together on themselves and you could use that chain as a stick.

He told me that he eventually wore away on that chain skidding some fruitwood trees down some portland or. streets.

JerryK · Nov 8, 2007

Be carefull when using their nylon straps, too. I bought a couple 2"X20' straps w/hooks that were supposed to be rated for 5 ton. That may have been the failure value on the strap itself, but the hooks started opening up with about 1.5 to two ton on them. [I bought them to help span across my yard about 200 feet to pull a tree down with a come-along.]

Farwell · Nov 8, 2007

With all of the Chinese products in the media lately that are health/safety related I would be concerned about using any of their products where safety is a potential issue.

Kendrick · Nov 8, 2007

agreed there. there are plenty of sub products that are not properly listed on the pack. the hooks on the strap are a good example.

Red55 · Nov 9, 2007

I was told By a trucker friend of my that DOT will not accept and will fine you

if your load (chains) don't have "made in USA' stamped on them. Got me thinking about the tooth paste deal (antifreeze) how long before made in usa is stamped on imported chains?
-Ed

xlr82v2 · Nov 9, 2007

I've got a couple of the 5/16" chinese chains that I bought from the travelling Cummins road show a few years ago. They feel a little "lighter" than my USA made chains. I've put a lot of use on them skidding logs, etc. They've worked just fine for me, I don't have enough tractor to break one. I'm quite sure that they aren't as strong as a good USA made chain, but, I can verify that 35hp isn't enough tractor to break one.

I'd say that for the 5/16 chain, if you've got 40hp or less, I wouldn't worry about breaking one, unless you abuse it by jerking it. But, that holds for any chain, including USA chain.

HF just had a sale on 14' of 3/8 chain for $12 a couple of weeks ago, I picked one of those up just to have. Just like guns and tools, you can't have too many chains.

Skyco · Nov 9, 2007

There will soon be a town in China named USA

Wasn't there some old joke about that back when Japanese stuff was considered poor? They named a town Usa so they could say "Made in USA"

PS- I doubt DOT could legally enforce the Made in USA thing....if it meets the specs it should be "good enough" for them

I own a number of HF's chains...haven't had a problem with any of them yet.

Youare · Nov 9, 2007

Just yesterday I had to repalce a 20+ year old cast iron wood stove. There were two stoves that I was interested in. The thing that swayed me was when I asked where the castings were made. When the salesman said they came from China that was enough for me to make up my mind. The other stoves castings are made in Denmark from recycled engine blocks and train parts.

Now, it could be that the China castings are fine but, the recent press on product quality from China made me shy away from that particular wood stove. There was only a $150.00 price difference on a $2,000 stove with the China product being the less expensive.

When it comes to chain I have found you basically get what you pay for, the cheaper the price the cheaper the product. There are many times the less expensive chain will function quite nicely but when it becomes a safety issue a few bucks more is worth it.

Randy

JerryG · Nov 9, 2007

I have used HF Grade 70 chain for some time and have never had a problem with it. I know that it is as hard to cut as American Grade 70 chain but I don't know if that really says anything or not.