Pull from the front or the rear?

[MossRoad]

All this talk about pulling and using chain. Isn't that dangerous no matter where you pull from? There was a guy around here pulling on a stump with a chain. It broke and came through the back window of his truck and killed him. I use a chain maybe to lift with but to pull I use a nylon choker or a 9/16 cable with 3 clamps on each end.

I'd think a nylon choker and a cable would have way more whip action when tenstioned, then broken, than a chain would.

 

[Walkin Horse]

I think not as easily broken as a chain. I like to lay a horse blanket across the cable when pulling. I've never broke a chain myself but have heard that not the best to pull with.

 

[WranglerX]

Somewhere on site is discussion on nylon tow straps vs snatch straps... Either can release with great intensity and cause injury... A cable also can cut like a sword.... Chain?... Have tracks up tailgate of my pickup where a link gave way under strain and slapped back of truck....

Any tow device when over stressed can cause damage or injury if stresses to point of failure.... JUst think a little about what you are doing....I uses term of "situation awareness" in a discussion and got jumped on by self appointed expert, but yes you have to be aware of whatever you are doing and limitations of devices you are using....

Dale

 

[MossRoad]

I've broken straps, ropes and steel cables. I've never broken a chain. I'll say "yet", though, as anything's possible.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I've broken straps, ropes and steel cables. I've never broken a chain. I'll say "yet", though, as anything's possible.

I have broken several chains in my life. Have only had one do anything crazy. The fact that they are made from rigid material limits the amount of energy stored.

 

[AndyMA]

This thread has some factual info, a bunch of hysteria and some nonsense.
Yes, you should try to pull from the fixed belly mounted drawbar most of the time,
that is your most stable pulling point. Can you use a 3 point drawbar? Certainly
they have been used many times, can they be more hazardous? Most certainly.
Any tractor can and will rear up in the air under certain conditions,
1) good traction
2) a hard pulling load
If the pulled load exceeds your tractors pulling capacity but you have traction and power your tractor will rotate the front up,
an unmoveable load with enough traction and enough gearing will lift any tractors front end. Usually traction is lost and the tractor will spin out and stop lifting the front end.
One problem with pulling from 3points is that there is no upward travel stops, under hard pulls when the front starts to lift which it will because you can pull harder with the higher hitch once rotation starts the 3 point hitch will abruptly jump allowing rapid rotation and rear over turning.

When any heavy pulling is done using the lift arms there should be a travel limiter used to prevent the lift arms from uncontrollable lifting.

A chain down to the fixed drawbar or solid limiters from the top link attaching pin point on the tractor.

The statement about if you have power and traction and the pulled load exceeds your tractors pulling capacity is just plain wrong

If you are pulling from a drawbar below the rear axle the front will be forced down not up

Draw the force vectors

We did hundreds of times in engineering school

Up violates the laws of physics

Andy

 

[Threepoint]

The statement about if you have power and traction and the pulled load exceeds your tractors pulling capacity is just plain wrong

If you are pulling from a drawbar below the rear axle the front will be forced down not up

Draw the force vectors

We did hundreds of times in engineering school

Up violates the laws of physics

Andy

Andy, this certainly makes sense if the pulled load is level with or above the tractor's drawbar. But might it make a difference if the pulled load is below the drawbar? For instance, a not-uncommon situation where the pulled load is a vehicle that has slid off the road, down a slight incline and is well stuck in a muddy ditch. Tractor is on the road, pulling from a D-ring clevis on the drawbar. :scratchchin:

 

[California]

Trailer tongue weight is another vector to include in the analysis.

 

[AndyMA]

Your right with the load is at some downward angle. You need to calculate moment arms and unless you have extended the drawbar in a rigid fashion the moment arm is very short

A much more likely scenario is for the load to suddenly release like a broken chain

These are all things studied in Statics,Dynamics and Kinematics courses

Andy

 

[California]

Thinking back to my friend's father - locked brakes on a heavy trailer is going to add another downward force at the hitch too.