Pulling Safely

[budlite]

Seen a couple references in the forums the last day or two on using a blanker or tarp thrown over a chain/cable to dampen said chain or cable should it snap under pulling stress. I have wondered what would be a safe way to prevent a backlash from a snapped chain, but a blanket or tarp doesn't seem adequate to what I figure the forces involved would generate. Is this really true? Is there a more foolproof measure, other than not pulling in the first place?

 

[MMagis]

On the extremely rare occasion that I’ve snapped a chain, the weight of the chain itself made it simply collapse to the ground. I can’t promise you that will always happen, but people sometimes over think things.

 

[nwngunner]

a chain with all the links will not store energy like a cable will. A chain should just fall to the ground. When i winch with my truck pulling a tractor out i always take a moving blanket and wet it down so its heavy. To try and make sure if it snaps it just falls.

 

[MasseyWV]

I agree that a cable is far more dangerous than a chain if it should snap. However, it is possible for a chain to snap back under the right circumstances, so I always use a moist blanket as a damper, which has saved me from severe injury on at least one occasion when a chain snapped as I was pulling a stump.

 

[bcp]

Years ago, I was trying to roll a large fir stump a dozer had already removed. I had about 30 feet of 1/4 chain hooked to the front tow hook below the bumper of an Isuzu Trooper. The stump rolled a bit then stopped suddenly. The chain snapped near the stump and the rest of it recoiled over the hood of the Trooper, breaking the windshield. Examination showed the broken link was rusted on most of the surface of the break, so full strength was not available.

Chains can recoil and fly through the air like a cable.

Bruce

 

[Soundguy]

i've slipped chains and cable thru fire hose when pulling...

 

[kebo]

^^^^ Sometimes it's a good idea to raise the hood up when doing this sort of stuff. It's not always possible or feasible to winch or pull with the hood up, but it can possibly prevent a shattered windshield. So, if you are some distance from home, it's probably better to drive back with a dented hood than a windshield all busted up.

 

[rsewill]

Cable is still going to be a problem with a tarp or blanket. Good quality chain should just drop because it doesn't stretch. Just make sure your cable is heavy enough so it doesn't break. I have seen guys wrap a chain around the midpoint of a cable to take the energy out of the cable if it snapped but I think this was just what they happened to have on hand.

 

[pjbci]

Good quality chain does not just drop. In 25 yrs of pulling large tractors, combines, dozers, and 18 wheelers from the mud, I have broken more grade 70 chains than I can count. All but one of them recoiled safely underneath the machines. The one other time it came thru the back glass and into the cab of my 180hp tractor with me. I still dont know why this time was different but it was a painful and expensive experience. I will probaly try the blanket nxt time.

 

[Soundguy]

only time i've pulled with a chain was using my big tractor to pull a dump truck out of a stall.. it snapped and whizzed back on both sides, making a riiiing sound when it hit the dump bed... from then on I used fire hose or a blanket..