[AT] OT - Question about chain

[charlie hill]

Steve,  I use both and both have advantages and disadvantages.
I will offer that the kind of nylon straps I use do not stretch
like nylon rope or the snatch straps that are designed to stretch.
Please don't operate under the mis-conception that chains won't
come flying at you when they break.  I generally throw an old coat
or something over my tow lines or run them through an old tire
if I think they are in danger of breaking.  That absorbs the energy and
stops them from flying.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Steve Offiler
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 7:34 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Cc: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] OT - Question about chain

Chain for me.   I have seen nylon strap break, and when it is stretched, it 
stores a tremendous amount of energy.  It is a GIANT elastic band.  I 
watched it narrowly miss a man's head, and if he wasn't so lucky, it would 
have easily decapitated him.   When a chain snaps, it flies a bit, but 
mostly heads for the ground.   Substantially less drama because it doesn't 
stretch much therefore doesn't store much energy.

I have broken chain more times than I care to admit.  I typically use 
"trucker chain" which is the higher-grade 5/16".  It works fine with my 23HP 
Ford 1520 (1991, Japanese-built).   But when I got the JD 440 crawler, I 
sort of neglected to upgrade my chain, and snapped 2 or 3 while trying to 
get a job done.  I now use 3/8" chain with the crawler.

SO

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 26, 2013, at 3:41 PM, Len Rugen <rugenl at yahoo.com> wrote:

> When you put tension on a tree with a chain, as soon as it moves a little, 
> the chain goes slack.  I have some 2" wide nylon webbing, my tractor will 
> probably stretch a 50 ft. piece 10 ft or more.  When the tree is cut, it 
> gets a good 10' tug from the stretch.
>
> If you're pulling a tree/log and it catches a stump, you will break a 
> chain before you can react, nylon will give you enough time to clutch.
>
> DO NOT mix nylon and chain, don't use metal hooks on nylon.  I know some 
> come that way, but take some precaution so if something breaks, the metal 
> hook doesn't become a nylon powered projectile.
>
>
>
> Len Rugen
>
> rugenl at yahoo.com - May also be used when responding as 
> rugenl at prairiehome.k12.mo.us
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tuesday, November 26, 2013 2:01 PM, Stephen Offiler 
> <soffiler at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Why?  Please explain.
>
> SO
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 2:08 PM, <Recentjester at aol.com> wrote:
>
>> nylon straps are the way to go
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 11/26/2013 1:07:15 P.M. Central Standard Time,
>> meulenms at gmx.com writes:
>>
>> Hi guys,  I need to upgrade the rag tag bunch of chains I have around the
>> place and  I'm looking for some input.  I generally use the chains to
>> pull on  trees that are hung up on others and to dangerous for me to cut.
>> I have  some 1/4 grade 30 chain  that I have pulled on hard enough to
>> deform,  and some 5/16" grade 30 that has held up well, but I only have a
>> short  piece of that. I'm looking at 1/4" grade 43 high test that has a
>> working  strength of 2600 lbs twice the 1/4 grade 30. I use either my
>> Massey 255 or  my pickup depending where the tree is.  Do you guys think
>> the 1/4"  grade 43 is enough or should I bump up to 5/16" $$. Any input
>> would be  appreciated.
>> Thanks,
>> Mike  M
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