What size chain should I use to pull large trees

[stevenf]

I'm planning on hooking up a chain to my drawbar and pulling large trees with my 90hp M9000. What size chain are ya'll using I sure don't want the chain to break and go zinging past my head very often. I asked the dealer and he said get something I can handle easy but 3/8" doesn't seem very stout on the end of several thousand lbs of tree hooked to the back of the tractor with a chain and dragging it for several hundred yards or more. I've heard that when chain breaks it usually just drops as there is no elasticity to it but when it hits me upside the head I don't think it'll matter what I've heard or not so I figured I'd ask the pros.
Steve

 

[KubotaSteve]

I'm not sure what size chain you would need but I think I would go with at least 1/2" of a quality chain. I've had chains break on me before. The first one was a smaller chain pulling something and it snapped and fell to the ground. On the second one I was using a Massery Ferguson 135 and was popping the clutch trying to jerk a loose stump out and the chain snapped (5/16") and came flying up under the tractor and barely caught my heel, not quite sure how but it did. Have you thought about using a strap or checking out the chokers on Baileys website?

 

[_RaT_]

If you jerk on a 3/8" chain with your tractor your far more likely to break it then simply pulling on it. A 3/8" chain is quite stout and even a M9000 will have trouble breaking it. I prefer 3/8" because it is far easier to carry then the next size up. Get a high grade 3/8" chain. Chains do tend to fall to the ground rather then fly through the air like nylon or even steel cable can when they break.

 

[eee]

I have actually stretched chains before...

 

[Nasty135]

stevenf, disclaimer I AM NOT A PRO!
When I pull a tree or some other heavy object that is already on the ground,I usually use my boom pole with 5/16" chain ,the boom pole is just to barely lift that end off the ground so it doesn't drag or hit something causing more stress on the chain than is already there...But obviously I'm on a much smaller scale than you are so 3/8" chain would probably be good,any more than 20' of 3/8" would be quite heavy to handle /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif...Also on mine one end has a hook and the other end has a ring so that when you run the hook through the ring it cinches down tight and won't slide off. I have other chains up to 3/8" with hooks on both ends and they are much more difficult to use because you have to wrap the chain around the object at least twice and then pray the hook won't come loose during your pull. Of course always keeping the front wheels on the ground /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Most of my pulling I don't want to tear up the yard if I can help it,That may not be a concern for you? Thats part of the reason for the boom pole, the other is manuverability you can back-up and set it pretty close to where you want it.
TOO Much excess verbage?? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[SkyPup]

High grade 3/8" maxes about 5,500 to maybe 7,000 at most and low grade 3/8' is about 1/2 that or maybe 2,500. That is too small for your log towing.

High grade 1/2" is about 12,000 working limit and 5/8" is about 18,000.

I would take the total weight of your loaded M9000 and double that as to what size chain you need because you will be limited to the amount of force you can produce on the chain by your traction. If your tractor weighs 6,000 lbs you'll need a 1/2 inch chain, if it weighs 9,000 lbs you'll need the 5/8".

I kind of think that a <6,000 lb 3/8" high grade chain is too little for your purposes..... think about it this way -> if you used this chain to hoist up a large tree trunk into the air, would you stand under it without worry? If not, get a bigger chain, at least 1/2" or 5/8"

 

[Henro]

StevenF,

I know you asked about chains, but have you viewed the recent thread in this forum about skidding logs?

Looks like a pair of logging tongs might be safer and better for the purpose.

I have no experience with skidding logs so take this as a suggestion from left field somewhere... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Richard]

I'm sure if you do a search on chain, you'll find enough to keep you busy for a couple cups of tea.

That said, Here is what I got. I got the 3/8, grade 100 square link. It's the third one down.

I have had pulled entire trees around, rootball and all /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif It has so far, been more than up to any task I've put to it, including what I've inferred you to be planning.

If you go this route, the square link puts a real BITE on the tree and won't slip. I might also suggest you look into their choker end on one side. Once I get the choker end around a tree and tighten it up, I can usually pull as hard as I want/need to and rest comfortable that the tree will usually snap in two, before the chain slips off. I use to use a rounded chain with a slip hook and must admit more than once, got up/down to RECHAIN the darned tree/stump/other.

Bite is nice /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just as an aside, my understanding is Pewag has a new 120 grade out.

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[btolle]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( I sure don't want the chain to break and go zinging past my head very often.)</font>

If you are concerned about breaking a chain or cable drape an old blanket over it. The blanket will absorb the force.

I use 5/16 grade 70 chain (rated working load 4,700#) but I only have 21HP.

BTW, Harbor Freight sells a 20' grade 70 chain for $33.95 but TSC sells it for $26.99.

Edited to remove information about tow straps, they are dangerous, see my post below.

Bill Tolle

 

[rdln]

I was driving to work tuesday morning and got stuck waiting for a train. While sitting behind a ford pick-up my headlights shined on his tailgate and noticed a strange pattern of small dents, they formed a c-shape. It looked like the work of a autistic vandal using a ballpeen hammer, I took two sips of coffee and then it dawned on me that it was caused by a chain flying into the tailgate. A foot higher and the driver would have had a new necklace.

A dangerous combination is a tug-em strap and chain.

 

[SkyPup]

Whatever you use, DO NOT use a nylon "Snatch-'Em" strap even if it is rated at 20,000 or 40,000 pounds.

A close friend (veterinarian) lost his entire right hand to one when it snapped and took it off his arm. He was dragging his horses water bucket across the pasture with his JD tractor using a nylon snatch-em strap when it snapped. We took him to the hospital and they asked if we had his hand so they could try to reattach it and we said no, it flew off 200-300 yards down the pasture and we later found it covered with ants (too late) .... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[stevenf]

skypup now thats just gross! OK ya'll convinced me don't be playing around with a over 6000lb 90HP tractor with a 3/8" chain.
I have to relate my new story about going to get 1/2" system 7 chain good for 11,300lbs. I went to Alamo Iron Works a very large San Antonio Metal supplier a while ago after calling and confirming that they had 1/2" sys7 in stock. I went to the counter ordered 30' and paid them and they turned the order back into the shop to have it cut and brought up (now bear in mind when I called them they said they had 58' instock so 30' wouldn't be a problem. This pimply faced kid comes out of the back with a bag and said he had my chain ready was it OK if he gave me 32'. I thought about it, figuring theres a catch but said OK! why? He says he had to rummage around a little bit but the closest he could come up with was 32' = one piece 12', two pieces 4', one piece 5' and lastly one piece 7'. Then he smiles and said I can cut off 2' of one of them if you don't want it but I didn't know which one to cut. I'm sure I turned a little red at this point and the manager came over to keep me from killing him and informed me that they would call their supplier and have a single 30' piece delivered to me as soon as it gets there tommorrow.
Steve /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[beenthere]

Hmm? I wonder what 32' of ½" chain in a bag would weigh? Was the 'pimply-faced' kid carrying that bag?

 

[slowzuki]

32' of 1/2" chain weighs a lot. I know cause I drug a bunch of it around last winter doing some logging.

Don't use 1/2" chain unless your logs are 4ft diameter. Your arms will thank you.

If you are working with lots of small logs say 12" or less, buy a 3/8" or 1/2" cable of good grade. Buy an appropriate number of chokers to grab the number of logs you want in each twich. I prefer chain chokers, they are 5/16" or so usually. Get the slide rings and stopper for the main cable.

You hitch up each long and pull, they all group together and ride along. The 8000lb or so 4wd tractor I used last winter would pull 1x3ft diameter x 40 ft long spruce in snow or about a dozen 12" x 30 ft long ones.

DON'T TRY AND YANK THEM OVER STUMPS! You can damage the tractor and you will break your line no matter no strong.

Line up your skids, if you are using a tree as a bumper make sure the butts of the logs are past it before pivoting because cables don't reverse well!

If you need to skid over a stump, cut it slopped so the logs don't fetch up.

 

[DocHeb]

At least you didn't get home, dump out the chain, and find it is really five pieces!

 

[stevenf]

beenthere 32' of 1/2" system 7 chain weighs about 76lbs. And the kid was a very big kid probably 18 or so with enough hardware in his face to have to avoid magnets or it'd rip half his face off his eyebrows,ears,nose and tongue woulda come right off. You really had to be there to see the look on the customer service guys face when James the pimply-faced kid said he didn't know which one to cut the two feet off of. It was hard to be mad, I figured any second somebody'd jump and say surprise your on candid camera.
Steve

 

[btolle]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( Whatever you use, DO NOT use a nylon "Snatch-'Em" strap even if it is rated at 20,000 or 40,000 pounds.)</font>

He is right. A "snatch" strap will stretch and build up kinetic(?) energy.

Highland Group Industries "Vehicle Recovery Straps

Heavy duty tow straps designed to free stuck vehicles. Made with Power Web webbing with the ability to stretch up to 20%, then recoil back to "pop out" a stuck vehicle."

The vet was probably using one of those, it may have hung on something and when it broke the stored up energy was tremendous. Sort of like a rubber band that is stretched too tight and breaks.

Chain or aircraft cable is probably best because it will not stretch or store up energy.

Bill Tolle

 

[penokee]

stevenf
I use cable chokers rather then chains when skidding logs with my AC H3 crawler. At the landing it's easy to pull the cable from under the log. Planning to do some skiddding with my L3130 and trying to figure out a good/safe way to do it. Got some good advice on that procedure today from this Board.
penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[rambler]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm sure I turned a little red at this point and the manager came over to keep me from killing him and informed me that they would call their supplier and have a single 30' piece delivered to me as soon as it gets there tommorrow.
Steve /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif )</font>


Thank you so much for my chuckle of the day! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm not sure what is right, I don't want to advise someone into an unsafe situation.

I use 3/8" chain with my 85 hp tractor. I tend to not jerk anything, as I am usually pulling a stuck (combine, tractor, implement, fill-in-the-blank) out of the mud, but have pulled a few logs & such as well.

You said you plan to pull trees - do you mean out of the ground, or do you mean pull logs on the ground? If pulling trees out of the ground, you need to have a longer chain. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

--->Paul

 

[Deerlope]

I been skidding logs all my life, Get some gr70 or gr100(best) in 5/16 or 3/8 and that M9000 will never break it with a steady pull. I am using a L3830 useing 1/4" gr70 skidding 24" dia stuff. Its hard to break a chain with a steady pull but snapping it , they break easy. I have seen them strech on a steady pull.