Should any welder be able to shorten a chain for me? Hoist hand chain too long....

[SmallChange]

I bought a perfectly nice little 1 ton chain hoist from HF for only $59 and am very pleased with it. The plan is to use it in the barn to help changing implements. I used it on a 340 lb weight yesterday and could hardly believe how easy and precise it was.

But the hand chain is quite long. It will be difficult to hang the hoist high enough to keep the loop of chain from dragging in the dirt and transporting it up overhead and into the works. I'm pretty sure a temporary link wouldn't fit through the chain pulley, though it might be worth getting one to try.

If that doesn't work, and if I take the hoist to whatever welder I find in the neighborhood, should they be able to splice the loop back together minus a few feet? Or is there a better approach?


Thanks!

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would just take a hack saw, cut thru one link and twist it slightly, just enough to remove it from the chain. Remove the excess chain again using the hack saw (a 1/16" thick cut off wheel on a 4.5" grinder would work also) to cut thru a link in the desired location. Use the link removed and fasten the two ends back together making sure the chain is not twisted. Put the two ends together using the twisted link, use two sets of channel locks to twist the link back straight. There really is no need to weld the link back together since there is very little pressure on the pull chain.

 

[Professor Marvel]

is there a reason you can't just cut off what you don't want?

 

[WranglerX]

is there a reason you can't just cut off what you don't want?

Its a loop... Which end do you cut?

Dale

 

[Professor Marvel]

I got you
I was thinking of a chain come a long
sorry

 

[jeff9366]

A Sawall or another brand of reciprocating saw, with a "thick metal" or diamond grit blade, cuts chain quickly.

 

[k0ua]

I bought a perfectly nice little 1 ton chain hoist from HF for only $59 and am very pleased with it. The plan is to use it in the barn to help changing implements. I used it on a 340 lb weight yesterday and could hardly believe how easy and precise it was.

But the hand chain is quite long. It will be difficult to hang the hoist high enough to keep the loop of chain from dragging in the dirt and transporting it up overhead and into the works. I'm pretty sure a temporary link wouldn't fit through the chain pulley, though it might be worth getting one to try.

If that doesn't work, and if I take the hoist to whatever welder I find in the neighborhood, should they be able to splice the loop back together minus a few feet? Or is there a better approach?


Thanks!

That is precisely what I did with mine. It was an easy TIG weld.

 

[SmallChange]

Thanks! I think I might use Gary Fowler's method, but then ask a welder to weld that cut closed, as k0ua says. Making the job that small might mean they'll do it while I wait and save me a trip.

I don't weld or have a welder. I think about learning and buying one, but probably need a better excuse than this job. I have my irons in enough fires as it is....

 

[BukitCase]

If you wanna feel even better about your hoist

http://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/230_ITEM_1_TON_CHAIN_HOIST_1560920186.1011.png

I just called my local HF and asked to be sure - bring in your receipt and that coupon, and they will do a "price adjustment" - in this case, worth $20.

That particular coupon expires on 7/1/19, so not much time to decide... Steve

 

[RandyT]

When I purchased my hoist several years ago I had the same issue with the chain too long. If you look at the chain in the loop there may be one that isn't a welded loop, but instead has an open gap that can allow it to be opened to open the loop, and then cut out the section of chain that you don't need to shorten to the correct length and then put the split link back in and straighten it to go through the loop hoist mechanism again.