HOW TO INCLINE A VERY OLD CABLE CHAIN ELEVATOR

barryjam2016 · Mar 6, 2016

I just bought a very old 40 foot JD chain elevator (see photos). I think it may be a JD 3 or 300. The name plate is totally rubbed off. The elevator trough sits on an undercarriage which is anchored to the elevator trough on the load end. The trough is inclined by cranking a cable which pulls two posts backward, which in turn pull up a pipe under the front of the elevator. The pipe slides along the bottom of the trough lifting the front of the elevator up. So I know how it works, but I'm having trouble trying to figure out where the undercarriage should be positioned (bolted) in order to be able to incline the trough 16 feet. I need it that high to reach a point above a tank that I am filling. There are adjustments for the length of the vertical posts (anchoring the cables), the length of the undercarriage and the width of the wheelbase.

So is there some kind of mathematical way to determine how high the posts should be extended and how much everything else should be adjusted in order to incline the discharge end 16 feet or is it a matter of just repetitive attempts until you find something that works? Are there any "best practices" for doing this? Right now, where the undercarriage is, when I try to incline it all, the rear end (the feed end) wants to lift off - so I know I have to move the undercarriage forward.

Does the feed end have to be anchored to a weight or connected to a tractor so it doesn't lift off? Would I be better off just building something to hold the discharge end up where I want it? Is the unit going to stable without being braced and anchored down? It can't rest it on top of the edge of tank, because the tank moves.

Also, one last question. This unit has "55" chain. How do the chain links come apart? Is there a specialized tool for disconnecting and reconnecting the links or is it done some other way with hand tools - what's the procedure?

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

Barry

bcp · Mar 6, 2016

It probably had an engine or motor mounted, providing more weight on the lower end. Without that, the axle would likely need to be several feet farther back.

I think there are tools to make the chain easier to separate, but I've never used one. Kink or fold the chain until one link's side lines up with the slot in the next link, then tap it apart sideways.

That doesn't look much like Tempe.

Bruce

flyerdan · Mar 6, 2016

The chain will come apart by hand; if you look at pic 4, if there was slack where you could lift the chain and fold the links inward they slide apart. It will be pretty evident once you see it.
Judging from the unsupported poles for lifting, it appears that the winch is just to get it to the correct level and it should be supported on both ends, at least that's how it looks to me.
I would imagine that it's pretty well balanced with a tad more weight on the top end. They were probably used by crews that would just horse them into position while raising, and let the heavier end rest on the barn loft while they shored up the feed end and hooked up the drive.
If you can't support the top end on the tank, you might have to whip up an A-frame type support for it, like one of those movable chain hoist cranes, although not as heavy.