[AT] OT - Question about chain

[Steve Offiler]

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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