Log chain - HF vs. TSC

[Putter]

If I a pulling with a length of chain or cable, I throw a heavy moving blanket over the chain near the midpoint. Read somewhere that this will stop any whipping back. Anyone else do this? You guy that have had breaks are very lucky. I'm sure there would be no time to duck.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I'm sure some of you will call this ridiculous, however,
an old farmer near me said that he makes a nick in his chains
with a triangular file on the link nearest his tractor. When I
asked him why, he said that if he is going to run the risk of
breaking a chain, he didn't want a long loop taking his head
off, so he put in a sacrificial link.

I guess whatever floats your boat.

Bill

Very smart! Bound to be pretty effective unless there is a more compromised situation elsewhere in the hookup. Hooks and sharp bends are an issue. Thats why the close coupled nature of the short link chains is so much more rugged in abusive use.
larry

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have a couple of them and so far so good from HF. That being said I I were to buy today I would get the 20' Grade 70 5/16 chains from Lowes for $30. Get 2, have them cut them in 1/2 and you are all set to secure a tractor for transport. Some spend the extra money on 4 more hooks which is fine but you really dont need them if you use for boomers.

Chris

 

[JB4310]

I'm sure some of you will call this ridiculous, however,
an old farmer near me said that he makes a nick in his chains
with a triangular file on the link nearest his tractor. When I
asked him why, he said that if he is going to run the risk of
breaking a chain, he didn't want a long loop taking his head
off, so he put in a sacrificial link.

I guess whatever floats your boat.

Bill

I wouldn't call it ridicules, not sure what I'd call it, no guarantee it would break at the nicked link though, unless you really compromised a link.

It's that shock load that makes it easy to exceed the chains rating, I rarely find myself needing to jerk the chain, but of course on occasion...

Does chain really fly as bad as stretched cable or those widow maker nylon straps ? I've never had it happen to before.

JB.

 

[ayelvington]

Chances are the TSC and HF chain come from the same factory in China. Unless you see a brandname product at TSC, you might as well save your money and go with HF.

The only (only) benefit of TSC is the return policy or travel distance (if it applies).

I get my brand name pet food at TSC....

 

[Diamondpilot]

In the tractors tool box I carry a 20' tow strap and a 10' piece of G70 1/4" chain. It does what I need most times.

In the shop I have 3 3/8" x 14' chains and they are nice for the tough pulls but heavy.

I also have 2 15' 1/4" chains. One has grab hooks on both ends like all my chains but the other has a grab hook on one end and a open hook on the other. Its great for pulling logs. Harder you pull tighter it gets. I did break it once 6 links from the end. I would guess it was from previous damage.

Like I said before, Lowes has the best deals on G70 chain in 20' lengths and 5/16" diameter. This will be more than enough for 95% of the owners on this site. Its made in America also.

While I am a American I do not think that always equates to quality. 2 worst vehicles I have owned out of about 20 were GM's made in America. Worst marine engines I have had were Mercury's, 2 of them, made in America. One 300HP and the other 330HP. Both were junk compared to the Suzuki's, Hondas, Volvo's, Johnsons, ect I have owned. Worst small engine I have ever had was a Briggs, made in America. Replaced it with $99 HF engine that can sit for a year and start second pull each time. Go figure???



Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Old farmer buddy of mine carries a heavy wool blanket with all his chains. He says he puts it mid span on any chain, strap, cable, ect. It will slow down the recoil if something lets go. In a pinch he has used the bed mat, floor mats, jacket, ect.

Chris

 

[SPYDERLK]

I'm sure some of you will call this ridiculous, however,
an old farmer near me said that he makes a nick in his chains
with a triangular file on the link nearest his tractor. When I
asked him why, he said that if he is going to run the risk of
breaking a chain, he didn't want a long loop taking his head
off, so he put in a sacrificial link.

I guess whatever floats your boat.

Bill

I wouldn't call it ridicules, not sure what I'd call it, no guarantee it would break at the nicked link though, unless you really compromised a link.

It's that shock load that makes it easy to exceed the chains rating, I rarely find myself needing to jerk the chain, but of course on occasion...

Does chain really fly as bad as stretched cable or those widow maker nylon straps ? I've never had it happen to before.
JB.

Hi strength chain has much more elastic stretch than low strength chain. This elastic stretch stores the energy beyond the point that the regular chain starts to give and if it finally lets loose it has more to give back by flying. Both chains of like size act the same until the weaker gives plastically. At that point, if both were released they would rebound the same. The stronger one is still stretching like a spring tho, and if taken to its elastic limit or beyond, has a lot more energy to release. ... Another source of springback comes from the elasticity of the tractor itself. Everything, particularly the tires wind up in a hard pull. If the chain breaks or releases at the load that bit of stored energy comes to play as well. The thing that makes a chain dangerous is not so much that it stores a lot of energy in comparison to other tension members, but that its denseness delivers an intense blow -- and it is so supple that it can easily wad up [collapsing without dissipating much energy like a cable would] and become a real hammer.
larry

 

[wolc123]

When I busted the 3/8 chain pulling the Suburban out of the mud hole, it wasnt that bad. No where near the "nightmare" situation that some may have you believe reading these posts. A chain dont stretch much, therefore dont store a lot of energy, and its heavy weight prevents it from flying around wildly after it breaks. In my case,the only way I knew the chain broke was that the tractor just kept going as I released the clutch rather than lugging to a stop in a foot or so as it did each time the chain held. I just hooked what was left of the broken chain with a bolt and kept pulling the truck out, a foot or so at a time. I suspect that the number of folks who have been injured due to broken chains is very small compared to straps and cables.

 

[SPYDERLK]

When I busted the 3/8 chain pulling the Suburban out of the mud hole, it wasnt that bad. No where near the "nightmare" situation that some may have you believe reading these posts. A chain dont stretch much, therefore dont store a lot of energy, and its heavy weight prevents it from flying around wildly after it breaks. In my case,the only way I knew the chain broke was that the tractor just kept going as I released the clutch rather than lugging to a stop in a foot or so as it did each time the chain held. I just hooked what was left of the broken chain with a bolt and kept pulling the truck out, a foot or so at a time.

At about what point in the span of the loaded chain did the break occur?
larry