using a chain

[goodoleboy]

I use a chain with cleavis hooks to pull out trucks in the mud and rocks in the ground with my truck. whats the safest way to pull with a chain? Ive never had one "break loose" but it scares the crap out of me if one ever does break.
Keep in mind I attach the clevis hooks properly to the chain.

 

[Soundguy]

If you are talking about chain snap back, I think it is on everyones mind just a bit any time a chain is used under tension.

I'd laid a big thick moving blanket over a chain before, hoping to drain off some of the energy in case it did break.

One cool thing I've seen but not done is to get some old used fire hose from a fire station, and run your chain thru it.. should absorb energy pretty well, and have the side benefit of not scratching up the paint on your tractor if you use the chain to bind it to the trailer.. etc.

I'm sure you will get other good iteas as well.

Soundguy

 

[boustany]

I generally use a fairly long chain and don't worry about it. My understand is, unlike wire rope, a chain doesn't store up any tension.

I've had one break, and the chain more or less droped to the ground, with the broken end coming back a couple feet. I suspect that even that is because I hit the brakes as soon as the break happened, so I went back a bit and stopped and the end of the chain moved in my direction because of that, not tension.

Wire rope scares me so much I wouldn't use it for pulling, except in a dire emergency. That stuff gets nasty

 

[beenthere]

boustany
I think you have it right, and similar to my experience when pulling with a chain.

However, some have said they have had different experiences, and I think it is not the chain that causes the 'flying' problem, but what the chain is hooked to. If whatever the chain is hooked to stores up energy, and breaks loose, then the chain may get some momentum. For the most part, a chain doesn't store energy. It will stretch and the links will bend, but the links don't spring back to original (for the most part).

Now, we're no talking about jerking on a chain to get something to move, as that is not smart and is mis-use of equipment and can result in various problems. IMO

 

[boustany]

Exactly - a wire rope becomes a potentially lethal 'flying nightmare' when it breaks, but a chain just sort of drops. Obviously, if something heavy broke off while under way, and you hit the brakes, or whatever, that could hit you, but the chain itself is not the problem.

 

[Mark4510]

I like that idea of the old fire hose. I will have to see if I can find some and then give it a try.

Mark

 

[bczoom]

For most things, I've substituted the use of chains for tow straps. If you get the right ones, they're just as strong but a lot lighter (important for me as I get up there in years) and less dangerous.

 

[QueBota]

Don't know if they are the same thing as tow straps. We like to use the nylon recovery straps. They typically have loops at both ends and can be up to 4 inches wide and rated up to around 50,000 pounds. The work like a giant rubber band and are very good at freeing stuck vehicles. We usually use small sections of chain at the attachtment points to prevent damage to the straps.

Dave

 

[Soundguy]

I've seen chains fly, and nearly kill people.. but I think it was due to the machine applying the force, that jerked the chain once it broke, and the 'pulling' machine lurched forward suddenly.. not the chain itself storing the energy. I think a covering over wire rope would be mandatory for piece of mind..

Soundguy

 

[beenthere]

I don't mind if you use such straps, but if anything lets go that those straps are fastened to (bumper, broken hook, etc.) you will have tremendous energy built up in that stretched strap. Not my idea of fun, and I wouldn't touch one ever again. Pulled a boat lift out once with a very heavy nylon rope. The rope didn't break, but the steel bar the rope was hooked to let go, came by us instantly and penetrated a house wall that was the old fashion kind with wood siding, wood sheathing, etc. Pretty sobering thoughts went through our minds.

The 50,000 lb test may be enough, but it better be just as strong on both ends.