$!#& Chain Hooks

CalG · Aug 6, 2018

The only time I've ever had grab hooks come loose was whenever it was a royal PIA to reset them.

Like when the grab was 30 feet up the tree.
or
when the circle was around a 2 foot butt log that needed a shovel and a pin just to thread the chain under.

I could throttle that Murphy guy! ;-)

I've got a roll of black iron wire in the shop, I'm gonna put one in the tool kit on the tractor!

;-)

Doofy · Aug 6, 2018

CobyRupert said:
I've never had a grab hook that wouldn't stay hooked? Usually the load, or just gravity, keeps it tight. A case of chain going slack and tight repeatedly?

My biggest problem is slide hooks, especially when you've climbed a tree, at the risk of life and limb, to put a cable around it so you can pull it over, then cable falls off as soon as you've climbed down and put some tension on it! Then you get to climb up again! Grrr!
One day I'll be smart enough to replace it with a hook that has a built in snap on it. I'm more likely to go the baling twine route too. I'd probably wouldn't drill it though.

I gave up climbing trees at about 25. Wasn't worth getting hurt.

CalG · Aug 6, 2018

bcp said:
Not that you would want to do it every few minutes, but that little reverse curve at the grab hook tip is to hold a safety wire, if needed.

View attachment 565776

Bruce

This! ^^^^

Tye wraps work!

Wagtail · Aug 7, 2018

DL Meisen said:
Hmmm.... Found these examples of mousing....

A shackel....

A hook....

Is this hook legitimate for mousing or is it missing latch bar?

Dale

That last (yellow) hook can certainly be 'moused'. It looks like it has been fitted for, but not with, a spring loaded latch... the wee hole could also be used for further mousing the latch.

:mouse:

CobyRupert · Aug 7, 2018

Doofy said:
I gave up climbing trees at about 25. Wasn't worth getting hurt.

It's a trade off. Sometimes I'd rather take my chances with climbing a ladder to put a cable on a tree, rather than cutting it without one. With some trees, unless one wants to hire a professional with climbing gear, a cherry picker or a crane and cut it from top down, a cable and a good winch lets you put that tree where it needs to go when gravity wants it somewhere else.

Lelandwelds · Aug 7, 2018

Have you tried hooking it tighter or hooks from the other direction? I have a lot of 5/16 transport chain with 3/8 hooks. They don't fall off often. Maybe weight of chain could provide tension.

I like the mousing. That name is a first for me.

TractorNH · Aug 7, 2018

CobyRupert said:
My biggest problem is slide hooks, especially when you've climbed a tree, at the risk of life and limb, to put a cable around it so you can pull it over, then cable falls off as soon as you've climbed down and put some tension on it! Then you get to climb up again! Grrr!
One day I'll be smart enough to replace it with a hook that has a built in snap on it. I'm more likely to go the baling twine route too. I'd probably wouldn't drill it though.

I have a couple chains with logging choker hooks. I've never had one fall off and they don't have latches. Instead they have a narrower slot that you slide the chain through. To unhook them you have to slide the chain back through the slot but I've never had the chain just fall out.

WranglerX · Aug 7, 2018

Threepoint said:
Dale, hard to tell just from a photo, but to me that looks like a 3/8" grab hook on a 5/16" chain. :scratchchin: Is that a possibility?

5/16 and 5/16.... Very conscious of chain sizes because getting things to stay "connected" has been top priority... Tired of fooling with chains, just want to get "work" done...

And the whole idea was to make what I have work, I can go out and buy a whole bunch of different hardware, but to what outcome, just having a lot of surplus "stuff" on shelf that takes up space and gathers rust?....

Dale

Doofy · Aug 7, 2018

TractorNH said:
I have a couple chains with logging choker hooks. I've never had one fall off and they don't have latches. Instead they have a narrower slot that you slide the chain through. To unhook them you have to slide the chain back through the slot but I've never had the chain just fall out.
View attachment 565814

This type of book looks promising. I also have problems with slip-hooks falling off when trying to grab out willows and alder brush. I would spend the extra money to buy a hook that makes my life easier.

WranglerX · Aug 7, 2018

Here is another scenario, all the quick links I want to use, that seem to be correct size always seem to have to large diameter threaded area and will not pass through chain eye... Have resorted to sligh modification of threads on some of the links for ease of use by taking a file and doing light pass on threads to remove some material on link so it will pass through chain eye.... So am I wrong in thinking the load spec of link should be same as chain (or as close as practical), and that the diameter of link body material should be about same as chain link material diameter....

Note file pass is on sides where red lines are, not completely around body of threads, Maybe reduce overall diameter by 1/32 to 1/16 inch that allows link to pass through chain eye if proper oriented, yes it may reduce the holding strength of link, maybe 60-70% of tread are still intact...But it allows me not have to spend hours at hardware/farm supply trying to match chain sizes to hooks and shackles and quick links (replacing all existing hardware) ..

Glad to have all the feedback, never expected to learn so much just to have a chain stay around a log till I could get tension (hook lockup) on it...

Dale

IchabodCrayne · Aug 7, 2018

DL Meisen said:
Hmmm.... Found these examples of mousing....

A shackel....

A hook....

Is this hook legitimate for mousing or is it missing latch bar?

Dale

It's missing the latch bar. The boss around the upper hole is for the spring to fit around.

CobyRupert · Aug 7, 2018

Caution with those quick links.
The ones I've found always have a very low working load rating compared to the chain's rating.

Example, lots of the 5/16", Grade 70 chains are rated for around 4700lbs working load, where the quick link may be rated for around 1700 lbs.

WranglerX · Aug 7, 2018

CobyRupert said:
Caution with those quick links.
The ones I've found always have a very low working load rating compared to the chain's rating.

I am aware of that.....That is why I try to use largest Quick Link possible that I can still get into my chains...

Dale

Jstpssng · Aug 7, 2018

TractorNH said:
I have a couple chains with logging choker hooks. I've never had one fall off and they don't have latches. Instead they have a narrower slot that you slide the chain through. To unhook them you have to slide the chain back through the slot but I've never had the chain just fall out.
View attachment 565814

I've never had one fall off, but small trees are constantly sliding out. At one time I had 8 chokers for cutting small trees, but to get to the landing with all chains still full was about as rare as a unicorn.

CobyRupert · Aug 7, 2018

Jstpssng said:
I've never had one fall off, but small trees are constantly sliding out. At one time I had 8 chokers for cutting small trees, but to get to the landing with all chains still full was about as rare as a unicorn.

Yep, took me a long time to figure out best way to hook choker chain with an open grab hook around a log. (Should be simple right?) I found that running the hook under the log, away from the direction the cable is coming from, then bringing it over the top of the log and hooking at the top, so gravity keeps tension in both the hook side and cable side helps. Having the open face of the hook facing the far end of the log also seems to help.

But when pulling a jag, and things spin and twist, losing a log or two still happens time to time.

oldtimer 66 · Aug 8, 2018

I received 2 of these logger choker hooks with my Wallenstein winch. The pin on the one end is used to stab under the log and then you can pull the chain thru. Slide the chain thru the hook as TractorNH describes. Really makes it a easy to hook up logs. The chain end and pin then goes into a key hole slider on the cable. You could just as easily connect to your grab hook. Later

sdef · Aug 10, 2018

bcp said:
That's been my experience with bent sheet metal slip hook latches. Grab hook latches are much sturdier. Here's one style.

View attachment 565771

Grab hook latch
Bruce

+1. I replaced all of my slip hooks and grab hooks with this type a couple years ago and chain usage is now easy all of the time. I seem to recall I got them originally from Ken's and then later found them at Northern Tool by the trailer ball mount parts area.

Fallon · Aug 13, 2018

sdef said:
+1. I replaced all of my slip hooks and grab hooks with this type a couple years ago and chain usage is now easy all of the time. I seem to recall I got them originally from Ken's and then later found them at Northern Tool by the trailer ball mount parts area.

Same, have them on most all my chains. Ken's Bolt on Grab Hooks <<Accessories>> is a site sponsor I believe. Those clips can be a pain at times to latch or inlatch, but better than than things falling off.

PhysAssist · Aug 13, 2018

sdef said:
+1. I replaced all of my slip hooks and grab hooks with this type a couple years ago and chain usage is now easy all of the time. I seem to recall I got them originally from Ken's and then later found them at Northern Tool by the trailer ball mount parts area.