What size chain do I need?

[Case485Guy]

For folks like me that have using chains for over 40 years now I pretty well know what size of chain I need to use for the task. I know that if I use a chain that is too small I can break it and get a piece of chain through the back of my skull. If the chain is too large I know that I am lugging around a lot more chain weight than I need to. And then there is those that have the chain charts.

That was my thought process until I got into the industry. When you actually are involved in the "Test to Destruction" of grade 30 to grade 100 chain and see the failures of the different size chain vs the grade, its an eye opener to say the least.
Just like reading that the chinese 3/8" grade 70 chain at Harbor Frieght is a good chain, well maybe it is.But when you see what that type of stuff does when you "Pull to Destruction" might change your tune. Have seen it break well before the WLL was ever reached and on repetitive tests. This in a test bed enviroment and each tested was charted for a customer we had. Another example was that 1/2 Galvanized chain broke before 1/4" grade 100 alloy chain...never would have believed that 1/2" chain would brake before a 1/4" chain but I was there and saw it. I had been flatbed trucking for 15 yrs or better, haul oversized and loads in excess of 150k. I was set in my ways on the chain I used.
As they say knowledge is power, charts are there for a reason.

 

[SPYDERLK]

That was my thought process until I got into the industry. When you actually are involved in the "Test to Destruction" of grade 30 to grade 100 chain and see the failures of the different size chain vs the grade, its an eye opener to say the least.
Just like reading that the chinese 3/8" grade 70 chain at Harbor Frieght is a good chain, well maybe it is.But when you see what that type of stuff does when you "Pull to Destruction" might change your tune. Have seen it break well before the WLL was ever reached and on repetitive tests. This in a test bed enviroment and each tested was charted for a customer we had.

Working Load Limit has a normal safety factor of 4x before the GR70 chain breaks. Shoulda been a whole lot of suing going on regarding that chain.
larry

 

[easygo]

I have to disagree. A 7000lb 4x4 backhoe will indeed tax and break a 5/16 chain if he is pulling to his full ability. Unless of course he is pulling uphill on ice

My neighbor cuts trees every day with a 10,000 lbs cable skidder with chains on all four tires. Most of the logging chains he uses are 5/16 and a few 3/8. Never said he broke a chain and some of the logs are 80-90ft long and 30-40" at the butt end. The heavier the chain the more pain it is to work with when you have to lug it around in the woods. Ice or no ice I'm pretty sure if a log is heavy enough to break the 5/16 grade 70 chain it would be too much weight to pull with that L39 anyway. Besides. Who in the right mind would go logging with a backhoe attached?

 

[LD1]

I was wondering about using nylon webbing with load limits towards the 3000# range. Is there a problem using nylon instead of chain if you use common sense?

NO problems with nylon, just be mindful that they store energy. So it is not a good practice to mix using the sling with a chain. Because if either break, it will fly a long ways really quickly:confused2:

For folks like me that have using chains for over 40 years now I pretty well know what size of chain I need to use for the task. I know that if I use a chain that is too small I can break it and get a piece of chain through the back of my skull. If the chain is too large I know that I am lugging around a lot more chain weight than I need to. And then there is those that have the chain charts.

Thats kinda how I am.

I guess for me, the differece in weight of a 3/8 vs 5/16 isnt enough of a savings for me to warrant using the smaller chain. I can lug my pair of 16' 3/8gr70 around all day. no issues at all.

And after seeing 1/4 and 5/16 chain break more than once, I dont like using it. I still keep the 1/4 and 5/16 chains around, they are shorter. (I imagine they probabally started off as 20' chains) But the short ones are nice when unloading a mower or bushhog off the trailer rather than fumbling with a 16' 3/8 chain.

But anytime I am pulling logs with anything (truck, tractor, etc) it is the 3/8 chain for me. But to each his own.

 

[dex3361]

I have bought several 5/16 G70 chains from HF in twenty foot lengths cut them down to make shorter working lengths. They are on sale next month for $20 for 20 ft with two grab hooks. I use them on my car/tractor trailer, leave them out in the weather and no rust! Well worth the money. For most lite lifting I keep some short 1/4 chains hung from the grill guard. Here is a link to the sale coupon http://images.harborfreight.com/hftusa/itc/7851/images/147.jpg

I bought a few of these from HF today and they honored the coupon without question. $20 for 20' 5/16 G70 chain is a good deal.:thumbsup: