What size chain do I need?

[Dadof3]

Hi fellow tractor lovers.This is a great forum for learning about our equipment and much more.I'm excited to be a member.
Now for my delemma.What size log chain is best for me? I currently have a hodge podge of old ungraded 3/8 chain. I would like to get some lighter chain of known quality. I Was thinking of getting some 5/16 G7, but why not get 1/4 G7. Would the chance of breaking it make it an unsafe choice?
I have a Kubota L39 that get's babied. Typical chores include activities like light construction, log skidding, transport,barnyard material handling, etc.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[jpm1]

Welcome Dadof3, glad you found us! To be honest with you I use any chain that i might have in the shop. I have a few chains from harbor freight that i abuse greatly, a collection of 1/2" chains, a couple of campell 1/4" chains and one 3/8 canadian chain which stays on my skidding winch. I really haven't broke any in a long time. I also have an aray of cables which i totally dislike using unless its absolutely nessary. I aquired mine at farm auctions mainly, and dad had a few. I use what ever is the cheapest. Heres a picture of my winch on the mahindra and some of my chains. . .John :thumbsup:

 

[oldballs]

I'd say the 5/16th would be good for most chores and not be too heavy. As to the 3/8th...it's good to have around even if it is not graded, and it can come in handy. For around the homestead, who cares if it is graded or not....probably won't ever break....or make any differance if it did. IMO.

 

[piller]

Welcome to TBN!

Yes, chain is heavy. I just looked and found the following for a 20 foot length of grade 70 transport chain with grab hooks:
1/4", working load limit 3150 lbs, weight is 14.1 lbs
5/6", working load limit 4700 lbs, weight is 21.6 lbs
3/8", working load limit 6600 lbs, weight is 31.4 lbs

Hope this helps.

 

[SandburRanch]

Make life easy and get a good 1/4" grade 70 short link chain. The 75 hp New Holland, with loaded tires and wheel weights, pulling this 6 inch dia. walnut stump is no match for a good 1/4 inch chain.

 

[LD1]

I am going to go the other way on this and say you need at least 3/8" G70 minimum for any pulling you might do.

The 3/8 you have currently is probabally grade 43, and is only a little stronger than the 5/16G70 chain. 5400WLL vs 4700WLL

But you have a big, heavy, and strong backhoe. I woundnt even fool with the 1/4 chain. And only use the 5/16 stuff for light work, like maybe lifting a mower deck off a trailer, etc.

Mut when it comes to pulling, MOST tractors are at least capable of drawbar pulling with a force at least equal to the machines weight. And your machine is 7000lbs:confused2: And with the weight distribution, it will probabally exceed that in a drawbar pull.

And if you ever hook the chain onto the BH to use its hydraulics to move things, you are capable of almost 6000lbs of force with the bucket.

I have a L3400, that only weighs ~3600 with FEL. And I use 3/8G70 chain because I dont like breaking chains. I have broke GOOD 5/16 G70 chain with just sheer pulling force. Pulling a log, chained to 3PH and 3PH raised up for max traction (weight on rears). NO jerking at all. Just a smooth pull and the chain let go.

Of course all of this is just my opinion. The 5/16 will work for most light stuff. Like just pulling a vehichle, light lifting, etc. But if you are going to be dragging logs, yanking stumps, etc, you can either get the 3/8 chain now, or later.

 

[Craig Clayton]

All the above members chain calculations and specs are very correct. I have a large collection of chain, wire rope,nylon slings and nylon rope.

At the plant we have a 20 Ton crane that I use whenever I need to lift anything.
To give you a rough idea this crane spans about 80' from rail to rail, it travels about 500' in length and has enough cable to lower the hook 9 floors straight down.
Everyone has been tested to operate the crane but only a few really do the basement lifts.
We bring the electric motors up 9 floors from the basement through a designed shaft.
These motors are 2000 HP and weigh around 9 Tons and have 4 lifting bollards one on each corner.
I will only work with a few people because when you stand at the hand rail and look down 9 floors it is very hard to judge distance. You can not judge the distance between 6' or is it 6" off the floor. I have a command of all the hand signals but you really need only a few ( your ground man tells you what he sees by his hand signals ).
We have radios but with a ground man who you TRUST, hand signals never fail.
If you have a signal man that is waving like he is swating flies ( all stop, get another signal man).
Once the motor is lifted 6" off the ground and ALL movement is out with no swinging and swaying I push the up button.
The motor is a snug fit in the hoist way, it can not touch the sides.

OOPS WE DROPPED IT, DOES NOT APPLY.

When I am lifting I watch the lift like a hawk. My ground man is now blocked from my view and I only watch the motor as it passes through each floor on the way up.

We have another expert who moved an electric 2000 HP motor and damaged a high voltage terminal lug, it cost $10,000.00 for that Oops ( boss was miffed ).

For home I lift with the good stuff but it is all used, for pulling I use the ugly stuff because pulling over and under rocks is nasty on nice chains.

I had a technical instructor that was studying hand signals on the subway on the way home. He then realized that people were thinking he was suffering from a mental condition, he shut the book and sat there quietly for the duration of the trip.

Here is one that is not in the manual
Hold up your left hand and make a OK sign ( first finger and thumb)
Sight through this with one eye
With your right hand first finger gesture to come here
This means ( come here you ______ ) not a polite term.

I can not show any pictures of the inside cranes.
I did post pictures of the plant from the outside but I not sure if I go hunting that all this typing might not drop.

The picture of the boom hoist in my profile is me, I am keeping the tire down.

Craig Clayton

 

[Craig Clayton]

I found the pics of the outside of the plant from the scissor lift.
Sorry sbout the size, they got compressed.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/construction-equipment/182033-85-foot-elevated-platform-pics.html

As a follow up ( Never saddle a dead horse )
This is a little rule when you are putting on Crosby clips on wire rope.
I found a simple clip, I hope it loads

[ame="http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXzFaILg50U"]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXzFaILg50U[/ame]

Craig Clayton

 

[Dadof3]

Thanks for all the great insight. I guess I'm trying to make "one size fit all" and it just won't work. I will probably keep my old rusty 3/8, but use new 5/16 G7 for most chores. I'm assuming 1/4 G7 is too light to be safe.

 

[LD1]

Thanks for all the great insight. I guess I'm trying to make "one size fit all" and it just won't work. I will probably keep my old rusty 3/8, but use new 5/16 G7 for most chores. I'm assuming 1/4 G7 is too light to be safe.

By "for most chores" I assume you mean general light duty stuff??

Lifting things off trailers and out of trucks? Pulling a vehichle out of a ditch? etc.

Because for me, "most chores" that I use my log chains for are dragging logs to be bucked into firewood. And if you plan anything of the like, 5/16 is too light for your machine IMO.