Pulling with a chain

Stan in Oly, WA · Sep 28, 2015

Once on this site, somebody suggested a method for making it safer to pull with a chain when it will cause great strain. It involved adding a length of something flexible, like a tie down strap or a bungee cord, to the chain in an auxiliary position---not as part of the pulling force---so that if the chain broke, or some other connection gave way, the flexible item would keep the chain from snapping back violently. Can anyone describe how to do this?

Thanks,

Stan

jon f mn · Sep 28, 2015

Throw a blanket over it so it drops to the ground.

rustyfarmall · Sep 28, 2015

Best bet is to use a chain with hooks strong enough to NOT break, and never jerk on it.

Charles in Aus. · Sep 28, 2015

I have worried about this as well , particularly when using wire rope for pulling logs . Sometimes the log is just too far away and a chain long and strong enough for the job would weigh more than the log !
Blanket idea sounds practical , any refinements on this ?

Mike(NEOhio) · Sep 28, 2015

I beg to differ. I used to work in an automotive stamping plant. Turning over a punch from a quarter panel draw die (about 15 tons) using both hooks on the crane. An eye bolt broke and about 30 feet of 3/4 chain went vertical almost its full length. Steve says chains don't stretch. Each link stretches a tiny bit but it adds up. That being said, most of the tractors we talk about here would not put enough strain to be dangerous.

Oregon Tractor Jack · Sep 28, 2015

Chains can fly and be very dangerous when you jerk them. I witness this happen once. The operator of the tractor was trying to pull a stump with a tractor. He would back up a couple of feet then go forward at full throttle. He did that about 3 times when the chain broke right at the stump. The chain flew directly back at the tractor. It missed the operator's head by inches. When it finally came to rest, the chain was laying across the drivers shoulder. I will never, ever jerk any chain or wire rope. If it doesn't want to move, then find another way to move it.

JML755 · Sep 28, 2015

I did some work in a Ford Stamping plant in Michigan. Pretty nerve wracking seeing those dies moving overhead and watching them being flipped, sparks flying everywhere from the chains. The sirens on the cranes just added to the excitement. I'd always stand next to the remote control crane operator. I figured he knew where it was safe. :shock: :lol: There was a guy there who just walked around the plant all day with a cane, limping. He had got caught between a die and a hard place. Was on the payroll but didn't have to do much.

MF294-4 · Sep 28, 2015

A young farmer was killed a few years ago around here from a chain or hook breaking when they were pulling a stuck tractor. Don't remember any details about it. My brother had a hook break and come through the back window of a backhoe and hit the front window. I garrantee he wasn't jerking it. Know another kid that went to pull his buddy's chevy pu out with a strap and he did jerk it and the hook on the frame of the pu broke and went through his back window. I personally know of too many close calls not to be very cautious when a chain is used. Chains will stretch too. I have a chain that the links are elongated. When you use force, the out come can be unpredictable. Just my experience.

w1ebb · Sep 28, 2015

It is always best to cover a chain that is being used, with a canvas tarp or something similar to weigh it down to keep it from flying, and possibly hurting/killing someone, or damaging equipment, should the chain break.

Mf294-4, it was kind of you to remind us of chain safety! Thank you!

Good fortune!

Scott

w1ebb · Sep 28, 2015

Hi Steve,
I may have misunderstood you, but chain will stretch! 15 years ago when I bought a big double wide mobile home, the single axle rwd tractor truck could not pull its half of my new home up my hill. The movers came to the rescue with the GMC dually 454 4wd to assist the Mack to get my new home up the hill, but they needed another 20 feet of chain to get the GMC on top of the hill to have some leverage on the Mack. I got my 20 ft 5/16 chain out and we put it between the two trucks. Once the first half of my home was on top of the hill, the guy went over to unhook my chain and he dropped it immediately! It was screaming hot and every link was stretched! It was a good thing that the truck with the 2nd half of my home was a big conventional Army truck with FWD!

Good fortune!

Scott

ObsoElitist · Sep 28, 2015

In the late 60s our family along with a few more from our area were on our annual Easter campout in Baja. A whale had washed up, and after many hours of trying to push it back the Mexican cops decided to shoot is with their 38s and then drag it up the beach. Dad helped out with his 63 Travelall. He hooked the chain around the tail and pulled, and I was watching from the back window. The chain snapped, and luckily went up and over, leaving a line of dimples in the International from bumper to bumper.

Married2Allis · Sep 29, 2015

With all of the talk about stuff from china probably not a bad idea to avoid chain from TSC or Harbor Freight. I like to use wire rope, it can fly too but seems a bit stronger.

showcrop · Sep 29, 2015

Yes, the chain will stretch a tiny bit, and anything that you lay across it will slow it down but only in proportion to its weight. A heavy coat or even a tree branch, if it is all you have.

Billy NY · Sep 29, 2015

Anything you can to dampen the release if it were to snap. I've mentioned it more than once on here, about one that snapped and a link hit an upright of a dozer I was operating, like a bullet, it left a dent in it. 2 jerks doing something they should not have, the results were very close to my head, I took offense to it and settled it soon after, eventually left the job because of it and other similar things, one snapped chain started it, along with 2 fools with no common sense.

Wire rope is stronger as has been said, but you do not want to be near that when it fails, and thats what these fools should have been using, we had a set for each D8, and when something big got stuck, thats what we used to rig and pull it out, same as a heavy lift and I have seen chains snap when lifting precast concrete manhole sections. Both need close inspections before use, I have found chains with all kinds of deformities in the links, those should be discarded.

dpendzic · Sep 29, 2015

I use wire rope for heavy pulling--have found that usually one strand will break and you can spot it unraveling before the rest of them break--iron workers and dock builders generally always use wire rope slings for lifting

NoNewParts · Sep 29, 2015

(quoted from post at 19:15:42 09/28/15) I have worried about this as well , particularly when using wire rope for pulling logs . Sometimes the log is just too far away and a chain long and strong enough for the job would weigh more than the log !
Blanket idea sounds practical , any refinements on this ?

throwing something over the cable or chain helps.
in the woods, tree tops, brush, logs, anything to absorb energy.
very long chain pull in the woods...or pulling over a tree,
don't go straight.
chain going around another tree so you are at an angle to what you are pulling.
I even do that winching a deer up a hill with my 4-wheeler winch.
right angle, cable around the side of a tree, down to the deer, winch it up.
No way I'm going to sit in the seat running the winch(counterweight) looking directly at that cable in a straight line to my head.

loggers do it routinely. walk in the woods after its been logged, you will see the deep cuts in trunks of trees from cables.

MKinON · Sep 30, 2015

I've seen 20' chains whip back 30' and that was with a steady pull. There is a lot of force at work there. We too always drape another chain, or two if it's long, over it and make sure nobody stands in the line of pull. MK

RC Brooks · Sep 30, 2015

What's happening is stored energy. Not much stretch, but the stored energy is tremendous.

Some people make sandbags to throw over chain and/or winch cable. Blankets can also work.

A good rope wound around the chain (with some slack) the full length, secured at either end can also work. It just prevents a whip like effect and direction a broken chain to the anchor points.

Charles in Aus. · Sep 30, 2015

(quoted from post at 15:04:32 09/30/15)
Some people make sandbags to throw over chain.
A good rope wound around the chain (with some slack) the full length, secured at either end can also work.

Great advice , and it answers Stan's question as well .

T in NE · Oct 4, 2015

When a series of hard steel 3/8 inch rods are bent
into loops and they stretch 5% they can spring back
wickedly.
I've seen a 20 foot grade 70 stretch that much and
come back.

Pulling with a chain

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