Slade
Silver Member
What size chain would be adequate for pulling trees, etc. with the drawbar on a Kubota L5740? Would a Campbell 5/16 inch with a 4700 lb load limit be sufficient?
What size chain?
- Thread starter Slade
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daBear
Gold Member
I do not see what the grade of that chain is on Lowes site. You do not say what size trees and are you dragging them or what? I would think that is a bit light. 3/8 or 1/2" grade 70 is what I would prefer to use dragging heavy stuff.
dknarnd
Gold Member
Slade said:
I use 3/8 for the tractor and 5/16 with the ATV. Although I don't know what grade the 3/8 is I have used it for dragging trees out of the woods, or anything else for that matter, for many years and never have had a failure with it. Now the old 5/16 chain I have around is in two pieces!
Window Geek
Silver Member
What size chain depends on how much you're trying to drag at one time and what conditions are like. If it's big loads over rocky stuff, you'll wear the chain quickly. Get a high grade 1/2" chain.
If you're skidding a few cords a year over level, soft forest duff, one or two 10" trunks at a time, a 3/8" grade 43 chain will last near forever.
Check out these guys below for skidding ideas. I don't own their stuff, but you learn a lot from the pictures. The skidding cone looks like something I'll try, but for now, I just cut and trailer my firewood on the felling site. My chainsaw lasts a lot longer when I'm not cutting through dirt covered bark.
NovaJack
If you're skidding a few cords a year over level, soft forest duff, one or two 10" trunks at a time, a 3/8" grade 43 chain will last near forever.
Check out these guys below for skidding ideas. I don't own their stuff, but you learn a lot from the pictures. The skidding cone looks like something I'll try, but for now, I just cut and trailer my firewood on the felling site. My chainsaw lasts a lot longer when I'm not cutting through dirt covered bark.
NovaJack
SPYDERLK
Super Star Member
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Half inch chain is hugely heavy. Thats bulldozer territory. The work load you quoted for the 5/16 tells me it is a grade 70 chain. Its minimum breaking strength is 19000 pounds. These are tough chains. Iv used them for years. You wont find a tractor under a hundred HP that will come close to breaking one w/o a running start. Iv done jerk pulls with a 6000 lb tractor - straightened 3/8" slip hooks or just stalled the tractor if the load didnt come. Chain didnt give a bit. Iv done steady pulls to the limit of traction with a 11000# tractor. No problem for the chain.Slade said:
larry
Timber
Veteran Member
I have to agree with Larry on this. It will be more work setting you chain than pulling the load. If it is too heavy to drag with that chain than your probably going to have to log up some rollers anyway. I also would invest in a chain block, very handy if you need to pull off a strait line
have_blue
Veteran Member
Agree with spyderlk. 1/2" chain will wear you out. 5/16 gr 70 can hold back a good sized dozer. In fact, I've made a JD 650 just sit there and slip on dry ground. Just make sure your hooks are gr 70 or 80.
Farmerford
Platinum Member
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I am with Bob, Larry, and Timber:
My D3B (over 15,000# drawbar pull) kept breaking 5/16 Gr 43 chain when pulling stumps. So I bought 50' of 1/2" Gr 70. After a week of pulling the 1/2" and struggling to get it around the trunks, I bought 3/8" Gr 70 and the links have never even closed, much less broken. The 1/2" still hangs on the chain rack on the rear of the dozer in case the 3/8 breaks, but I expect it will rust away first.
Most tractors have a drawbar pull a bit under their actual weight, with great variation due to soil type, tread type, etc. If your tractor weighs 5,000#, you might get 4700# on a steady pull, and perhaps half again that much if you jerk it. If you are going to be using it much, I would buy 5/16" Gr 70 for the weight saving over 3/8" Gr 43. The 5/16 may cost a bit more, but in the long run you will get more done (at least if you are an old coot like me).
Also, you will save a lot of re-hooking the chain if you get the slip hook with the restricted throat that keeps the chain from escaping unless it is turned just so. Don't waste your money on the spring loaded catches; they tear off by the third pull.
My D3B (over 15,000# drawbar pull) kept breaking 5/16 Gr 43 chain when pulling stumps. So I bought 50' of 1/2" Gr 70. After a week of pulling the 1/2" and struggling to get it around the trunks, I bought 3/8" Gr 70 and the links have never even closed, much less broken. The 1/2" still hangs on the chain rack on the rear of the dozer in case the 3/8 breaks, but I expect it will rust away first.
Most tractors have a drawbar pull a bit under their actual weight, with great variation due to soil type, tread type, etc. If your tractor weighs 5,000#, you might get 4700# on a steady pull, and perhaps half again that much if you jerk it. If you are going to be using it much, I would buy 5/16" Gr 70 for the weight saving over 3/8" Gr 43. The 5/16 may cost a bit more, but in the long run you will get more done (at least if you are an old coot like me).
Also, you will save a lot of re-hooking the chain if you get the slip hook with the restricted throat that keeps the chain from escaping unless it is turned just so. Don't waste your money on the spring loaded catches; they tear off by the third pull.
