[AT] OT - Question about chain

[k7jdj at aol.com]

I have used all the mentioned and have broken most.  All pose risk.  I make every effort to not have anyone near operations that involve heavy pulls.  As to the strength of chain,  there are several grades and strengths.
Only marked chain should be used.  High test (grade 43) has a breaking strength of 3 times the working load and Transport chain (Grade 70) has 4 times the breaking strength of the working load. You can Google chain strength and see the specifics.  Using some old rusty damaged or unmarked chain to pull much more than a stuck riding lawnmower is dangerous.  The original post was about chain. Several good points have been expressed about nylon ropes, straps, cable etc. and they have merit.  

Anyone remember Farmer's post about the time his wife towed a tractor for him with a near new station wagon?  Very detailed and amusing. I think I have that post saved somewhere. 

Gary
Renton, WA 



 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Al Jones <farmallsupera at earthlink.net>
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Tue, Nov 26, 2013 6:57 pm
Subject: Re: [AT] OT - Question about chain


Those big nylon "snatch ropes" are pretty popular around here.  They are real 
handy when a big tandem poultry litter truck mires down to the axles and all you 
have is a 100 hp tractor to pull it out.  Hook on and then put the tractor in a 
field gear--or higher--and take off. Don't let up until the tractor comes to a 
dead stop or the stuck truck comes out.  The rope takes up the shock when the 
rope comes tight, and then the slingshot effect causes the rope "pull" for you.

I have heard horror stories of chains snapping in a heavy pull, slingshot-ing 
through the back glasses of tractor cabs, etc.  The rope I mention usually has a 
big loop in it--no metal involved in the rope itself.

As far as securing tractors on trailers, I prefer chains.  When I haul my Cub 
sometimes I cheat and use a strap, but it's about the only thing I strap.  When 
I haul my Super A and fast hitch disk or plow, I will use a strap to sort of 
stabilize the implement, but the tractor itself gets chains.

Al


-----Original Message-----
>From: Ralph Goff <alfg at sasktel.net>
>Sent: Nov 26, 2013 9:16 PM
>To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Subject: Re: [AT] OT - Question about chain
>>Here we like the big nylon ropes. I forget the rating but I have used 
>them to pull loaded semis out of mud with my 170 hp Magnum. Stalled the 
>Magnum one time but the rope never gave. The stretch factor gives a 
>tremendous advantage. Kind of a slingshot effect that moves the stuck 
>vehicle out of the hole. I've heard of guys snapping links in the grade 
>70 chain though. I guess with 400 hp 4 wheel drive tractor trying to 
>pull a loaded combine out of the mud it was beyond the limits of the chain.
>Ive also got a big nylon strap type. About a 50 footer. I haven't used 
>it enough to tell if it has much of a stretch factor like the ropes but 
>it rolls up nice and compact and is light to carry. No steel, just 
>braided loops of nylon to hook up with.
>
>Ralph in Sask.
>
>_______________________________________________
>AT mailing list
>http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at

_______________________________________________
AT mailing list
http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at