What to do with a broken chain

CurlyDave · Jun 22, 2008

One of the things I forgot to mention about the tractor rollover incident from a couple of days ago is that I managed to break a HF, grade 43, 3/8" chain in the process of righting the Ford 4000,

Essentially the Ford FEL bucket had jammed itself about 6" into the ground in the initial turnover and we wrapped the chain around the "lower" FEL arm near the bucket and then onto the grab hook on my bucket.

As I lifted and pulled the FEL of the Ford, the chain broke. The section in use was only about 4' long, and things "jumped" quite a bit when it broke, but there was no damage other than the chain breaking. I suppose keeping the length of chain under tension short is a good way to limit stored elastic energy.

Anyway, should I discard the remainder of the chain? Or, is it still good?

My cheapskate heart wants to say it is fine, just pull the pin from the grab hook on the chain, and put it on the longer unbroken length (about 13') and learn to make do with a slightly shorter chain. But part of me says it only cost $20 and it isn't worth rising my life over.

Skyco · Jun 22, 2008

I'd keep it and try to always remember it is for light duty non critical stuff in the future...maybe paint so it sticks in your mind.

RedDirt · Jun 22, 2008

I'd keep it too and use it for non critical pulling stuff like tree roots, not overhead lifting.

BTW Dave, We use to have 40 acres in Tiller, not too far from you. Lovely area.

Mike058 · Jun 22, 2008

The breaking strength of new chain that size is over 16000 pounds. It didn't sound like you were lifting that much. Probably that link that broke got damaged somewhere along the line. I'd inspect the rest of the chain for old damage. If it were me, I'd keep it for lifting logs with the FEL, in situations where, if it broke, the sudden loss of weight wouldn't put me a "delicate situation". I think that's the biggest worry. I'd never use it to hold something up over someone(even new chain), but that sudden loss of weight and balance could be a problem.

3RRL · Jun 22, 2008

I'm with the other guys in keeping it, but inspect it for other bad links which might have gotten ground down over use or pinched, etc. I used and old chain to turn into a chain guard for my brush hog mower. Chains are just to handy to discard if you look them over carefully. I've made really short lengths into lift straps using grab or slip hooks too.

LoneCowboy · Jun 22, 2008

Bet that 16000lb rated chain that broke while lifting less than 2000lbs was made in china.

J_J · Jun 22, 2008

There is a label on lifting chain. I believe it has to do with the safety factor. Ordinary chain is not supposed to be used for lifting, but many people do it. Some or most of the chain will say somewhere [ NOT FOR LIFTING ]. If you acquire a used chain, you will not know the purpose of the chain. Of course keep the chain for other use. A chain used for the wrong purpose could be life threatening. That's my story, and I am sticking to it.

Found this.

Lifting chain is designed for use with hoists, cranes, winches, and other material handling equipment. It is also used in rigging slings and for lashing. There are two standard grades for lifting chain: grade 80 lifting chain and grade 100 lifting chain. Other grades of lifting chain may also be available from some suppliers.

Grade 80 lifting chain is made from alloyed steel and is specifically designed for overhead lifting applications. This grade of lifting chain has a good strength-to-weight ratio and excellent durability. Grade 100 lifting chain is also made of alloyed steel, but is hardened and tempered for superior durability and fatigue resistance. Most Grade 100 lifting chain is made of Herc-Alloy 800, a heat-treated alloy with very high strength. Although many types of chain fittings are available, Grade 80 fittings should not be used with Grade 100 chain

Egon · Jun 22, 2008

Ain't no way to inspect a chain for over stressed damaged!!

Me, I'd use it for mundane things!

CurlyDave · Jun 23, 2008

I think I just answered my own question. But first,

LoneCowboy: Of course it was made in China -- I got it at Harbor Freight. I suspect I put a lot more load on it than 2000 lbs. My loader can lift 2000 lbs or so, but I was also dragging with the chain, so the combined force could easily have approached 6000 lb.

J_J and others: To me, at least, there are three kinds of lifting.

One kind is where someone is actually under or even near the lifted object. This calls for the special lifting chain, and I never do this kind of a lift. Lifting with an FEL, not only could a chain fail, but a hydraulic failure could produce injury or death. If someone is standing next to something I am about to lift, I shut down the engine and tell them I will not lift it until they move away. A lot of guys think I am a weenie for doing this, but I haven't killed any of them yet.

A second kind is where a chain failure could cause my tractor to upset. I try hard not to do this kind of lift. I don't think I have ever done this type of lift.

The third kind is a lift where a failure could cause the object being lifted to drop, with little chance for injury or tractor upset. This is the only kind of lift I am willing to do. And, I always do it with the shortest possible chain length.

As for that piece of chain, it is going to be retired. I don't quite know how yet (I don't want to just throw it in a recycle bin, someone is liable to pull it out and use it.), but the thing I keep thinking of is that another one costs ~$20 at HF.

It is just not worth taking a chance over $20.

DMW · Jun 23, 2008

Once a chain breaks, it seems like it breaks again every time you use it. A few years ago I scrapped about 200' of various chain sizes. None of it was over 10 feet long without a replacement link. Send it to a scrap yard, or years from now you'll wonder why its been sitting there unused, taking up room for so long. It might be a good time to switch to 5/16 gr70. Lower WLL, but the breaking strength is higher than 3/8 Gr43. The coating makes it rust resistant and easier to inspect for wear, and it looks good

The lower weight also makes it a lot nicer to use.

Dennis

California · Jun 23, 2008

Dave, I'm with DMW. Consider the weight of that useless scrap. It's heavy so it will be tiring to carry or wrap around an object, etc.

For $20 get 35 ft of 1/4" chain. (Today's HF ad). A length cut similar to the old chain will weigh half as much and will do all the tasks you might do with that clunker. Save your back.

The only application I would use the proven-bad chain for, is where abrasion resistance is the only requirement. Maybe to pull a levelling drag behind your disc? I use scrap chains to lash down pier blocks, ballast, on my disc. I wouldn't trust these for anything more demanding.

And I like 3RRL's idea to cut it up for a mower guard.

MrJimi · Jun 23, 2008

If you don't use it, you have 2 spare hooks. If you do use it and drop it in a can of paint to mark it, you have to buy 2 more hooks.
I would keep and use it for light duty.

Treemonkey1000 · Jun 23, 2008

I'm in with the gang that says use if for the abrasion dragging situations. Or chaining the steering wheel hard over for theft prevention on your toys. Another good use is in your gutter downspouts to run the water down. Another thought is cut it and make it look like a dog collar attached to a dog house with Brutus on the front.. Scare away any folks that don't want to be eaten..

shane · Jun 23, 2008

Treemonkey1000 said:
I'm in with the gang that says use if for the abrasion dragging situations. Or chaining the steering wheel hard over for theft prevention on your toys. Another good use is in your gutter downspouts to run the water down. Another thought is cut it and make it look like a dog collar attached to a dog house with Brutus on the front.. Scare away any folks that don't want to be eaten..

Man, I have not seen a chain used for a gutter downspout in thirty years. I had forgotten all about that. The school I went to had them. Kids used to climb them and get on the roof.

Treemonkey1000 · Jun 23, 2008

shane said:
Man, I have not seen a chain used for a gutter downspout in thirty years. I had forgotten all about that. The school I went to had them. Kids used to climb them and get on the roof.

Did you get in trouble a lot in school?

Anyone on the roof at our school would have gotten their butt whacked..Can't do that anymore. I still see the chain used on some of the homes around here. Beats cleaning down spouts...

Richard · Jun 25, 2008

I've debated (if I were you) if I'd keep that chain or not... I'm 55/45 torn on replacing it. If it broke once when you need it, can you deal with that if it did it again?

Get some of this Grade 100 Square-Link Choker Chain - G70 & G100 Chains - Labonville Inc.

This stuff works great if you are trying to choke a log. The square edges help bite into the log.

I had our IH 880 with 10' heavy duty Rhino pull mower on the back side of the farm 2 years ago. As I was cutting the tall forrest of grass that was back there I said to myself..."don't forget there is a little stream full of sticky mud here somewh...... DANG!"

I had driven right into the muck. This stream is the drain ditch on the side of the road BUT is also a natural creek so it is always wet and muddy.

I tried to drive out but the rear wheels just spun in deeper. Finally they were up to their axel. I couldn't go forward or reverse. Having the 10' mower dragging behind me didn't help at all. I got on cell phone, called my neighbor (wifes cousin) and asked him to drive Brutus over to this side of farm (full sized JCB backhoe/loader)

He came over...as did his father and his brother in law...they all wanted to see what I'd gotten myself into THIS time...

I drove the backhoe around the water and got to the street. Backed the hoe to a proper distance from the tractor, slung my 25' gr 100 chain above to the front of the tractor and to my backhoe bucket.

He put tractor into gear and I commenced to not only help pull the tractor/mower out of the muck BUT was able to force the front end of the tractor to slide my way instead of the way it was trying to slide in the muck.

My cousin in laws, brother in law..(got that straight), shook his head it total disbelief. He later confided in me that he (who sold steel as a living) knew there was NO WAY that little chain was going to drag that entire tractor and mower out of the muck without breaking.

It really is a stout little chain. Seems since it's an alloy, its a lot lighter than other chains similar in size.

J_J · Jun 26, 2008

If anyone is interested, and you find chain with yellow or orange fittings, you will know it is lifting chain. Here is some data on lifting chain.

Lifting chain is designed for use with hoists, cranes, winches, and other material handling equipment. It is also used in rigging slings and for lashing. There are two standard grades for lifting chain: grade 80 lifting chain and grade 100 lifting chain. Other grades of lifting chain may also be available from some suppliers.

Grade 80 lifting chain is made from alloyed steel and is specifically designed for overhead lifting applications. This grade of lifting chain has a good strength-to-weight ratio and excellent durability. Grade 100 lifting chain is also made of alloyed steel, but is hardened and tempered for superior durability and fatigue resistance. Most Grade 100 lifting chain is made of Herc-Alloy 800, a heat-treated alloy with very high strength. Although many types of chain fittings are available, Grade 80 fittings should not be used with Grade 100 chain

The end fittings are painted yellow for Grade 80, and orange for Grade 100.

http://www.beaver.com.au/wire_rope_wire_rope_slings/working_load_limit_charts.pdf

EddieWalker · Jun 26, 2008

I have a five gallon bucket of broken chains, odd sized chain, small chain and chain parts. I had a good chaing that I could pull any sized tree with, but then my dad got the idea to pull a stump out of the ground using it with the dozer. The chain lost. It was a good chain, but it was never the same again.

I now have a new one from Home Depot that is just slightly bigger, but works great. I drag allot of trees to the burn pile, and if I have enough power to pull them, I know the chain will hold up to the job.

I think it's time for a new chain and for lifetime of use, I'd buy it from another source then Harbor Freight.

Eddie