Preventing tractor back flip

[tmajor]

One of the most recent towing experiences with my NAA, involved a huge chunk of concrete barn wall.

I had the chain "under" the concrete, so as to keep the leading edge up, out of the dirt and to add weight on the tires. Hooked to the draw bar, all I could do was spin. I put the 3pt draw bar on, raised it slightly, which gave me the traction needed to move it, however the front was starting to come off the ground. Once I got started across the field, I had to raise or lower the 3pt, as the conditions changed. At times, there was a thin line between "enough traction" and "front off the ground". Lowering the 3pt, would immediately drop the front.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I believe, this can happen with "chain", also. I was getting my truck pulled out of a snow bank, when the chain broke. The chain flew back, took out the bug deflector and the windshield. It seems, like it should have just fallen on the ground.

Yes, the effect is common to everything real. Materials stretch elastically as they take load - up to their elastic limit, at which they begin to stretch plastically and energy is lost. Stronger steels stretch further in the elastic mode and therefore can store more energy. The weakest cables use steel as strong as that of the strongest chains.

What you saw bears a little analysis. There are 2 sources of flyback energy; the elestic tether, and stored energy in the vehicles themselves. When you pull very hard on something that starts to come but doesnt, and then release pull you see it jump back a little. This is even more pronounced on vehicles with a suspension. That fall back "jump" adds to tether rebound. You saw both things added together in whatever proportion. Being very supple, chains fly straight and land in a dense lump - a bad combination. A cable tends to break in a progression, releasing some energy before it fully separates, and then snarls up a bit as it travels. That moderates the danger of the larger amt of stored energy.
larry

 

[RoyJackson]

I believe, this can happen with "chain", also. I was getting my truck pulled out of a snow bank, when the chain broke. The chain flew back, took out the bug deflector and the windshield. It seems, like it should have just fallen on the ground.

I've found that running a chain through an old section of firehose (you might be able to get some from your local volunteer fire house) lessens any spring back. Would work for cable too (which is more dangerous if it parts and snaps back...cable can kill you).
Personally, I use a tow strap rather then chain (except for the times I'm skidding a tree trunk). Although they can part too, they're less likely to do serious damage or injury.

 

[Short Game]

Sure. Nothing in our world is completely inelastic.

You never met my dad.

 

[xtn]

A cable tends to break in a progression, releasing some energy before it fully separates, and then snarls up a bit as it travels. That moderates the danger of the larger amt of stored energy.
larry

I think that is subjective, and depends on where you are standing.

 

[RoyJackson]

I think that is subjective, and depends on where you are standing.

I've seen the damage a cable can do (including an old Navy video of a cable slicing a flight deck crewman in two).
Parted cable exposes strands that are very sharp...they also tend to stretch more then chain, hence more stored energy, before a catastrophic failure.
If one does inspect their cables (good idea to do this on occasion), it's harder to determine wear or strands breaking as they may be internal strands.

Chain links tend to stretch or the welds break. It is easier to inspect (also a good thing to do) them for wear and stretching. If one does break under tension...well, at least you won't (probably) be sliced in half.

This isn't armchair engineering, BTW. We used both cable (which is referred to as wire rope) and chain in the Navy quite a bit.

 

[xtn]

I tried so hard to join the Navy. Was all signed up for Nuke school. **** doctors killed my progress the morning of the swear in.

 

[Short Game]

I am probably in a statistically more vulnerable position running my winch than if I were trying out for the tractor back-flipping team. I guess that is why Warn winches control switches come with such a long lead. When that cable is making popping noises and I see the dust coming out of it, it can make me a little nervous.

Submarines, diesel electric, baby!

 

[RoyJackson]

I am probably in a statistically more vulnerable position running my winch than if I were trying out for the tractor back-flipping team. I guess that is why Warn winches control switches come with such a long lead. When that cable is making popping noises and I see the dust coming out of it, it can make me a little nervous.

Yeah, you are. You definitely want to inspect the cable for strands breaking, rust (if it isn't stainless cable), kinks (which really reduce the strength).
I'd also want to stand behind something like a tree (since an ATV is too small) when using a winch.
It's not that many cables part...but if you're the unlucky soul nearby...well, it can be unfortunate.

Submarines, diesel electric, baby!

Jeez, you must be about 90 years old if you served on one of those old smoke pots.

 

[Short Game]

Jeez, you must be about 90 years old if you served on one of those old smoke pots.

More like, "in."

I don't feel a day over 80. And what's this about smoking pot?

Before the nukes were quieted, and before the spy satellites, we had a mission. If I told you what that mission was, I'd have to kill you. Well, maybe if you put the bamboo splinters under my fingernails, I would tell.