Chinese chain ?

pennwalk · Nov 8, 2007

In another thread a poster said about Chinese chain-

I'm scared to buy a chain at harbor freight. How many people have bought things there that actually held up very long? I'd hate to have a chain break on me and come whipping through the back window.

Has anyone actually had a Chinese chain fail on them? Does it mean anything that it is stamped grade 70? There are tons of posts warning against Chinese chain What's the truth and what's myth?

Chris

smitesmash · Nov 8, 2007

a friend of mine has a portable mill. one time he went to Wally World to get some chain, and used that to skid out some logs behind his pickup. when the logs were in position, he found that the chain woudl no longer bend with out some persuasion. the links were soft enought o pull together on themselves and you could use that chain as a stick.

He told me that he eventually wore away on that chain skidding some fruitwood trees down some portland or. streets.

JerryK · Nov 8, 2007

Be carefull when using their nylon straps, too. I bought a couple 2"X20' straps w/hooks that were supposed to be rated for 5 ton. That may have been the failure value on the strap itself, but the hooks started opening up with about 1.5 to two ton on them. [I bought them to help span across my yard about 200 feet to pull a tree down with a come-along.]

Farwell · Nov 8, 2007

With all of the Chinese products in the media lately that are health/safety related I would be concerned about using any of their products where safety is a potential issue.

Kendrick · Nov 8, 2007

agreed there. there are plenty of sub products that are not properly listed on the pack. the hooks on the strap are a good example.

Red55 · Nov 9, 2007

I was told By a trucker friend of my that DOT will not accept and will fine you

if your load (chains) don't have "made in USA' stamped on them. Got me thinking about the tooth paste deal (antifreeze) how long before made in usa is stamped on imported chains?
-Ed

Skyco · Nov 9, 2007

There will soon be a town in China named USA

Wasn't there some old joke about that back when Japanese stuff was considered poor? They named a town Usa so they could say "Made in USA"

PS- I doubt DOT could legally enforce the Made in USA thing....if it meets the specs it should be "good enough" for them

I own a number of HF's chains...haven't had a problem with any of them yet.

Youare · Nov 9, 2007

Just yesterday I had to repalce a 20+ year old cast iron wood stove. There were two stoves that I was interested in. The thing that swayed me was when I asked where the castings were made. When the salesman said they came from China that was enough for me to make up my mind. The other stoves castings are made in Denmark from recycled engine blocks and train parts.

Now, it could be that the China castings are fine but, the recent press on product quality from China made me shy away from that particular wood stove. There was only a $150.00 price difference on a $2,000 stove with the China product being the less expensive.

When it comes to chain I have found you basically get what you pay for, the cheaper the price the cheaper the product. There are many times the less expensive chain will function quite nicely but when it becomes a safety issue a few bucks more is worth it.

Randy

JerryG · Nov 9, 2007

I have used HF Grade 70 chain for some time and have never had a problem with it. I know that it is as hard to cut as American Grade 70 chain but I don't know if that really says anything or not.

curly · Nov 9, 2007

pennwalk said:
In another thread a poster said about Chinese chain-

I'm scared to buy a chain at harbor freight. How many people have bought things there that actually held up very long? I'd hate to have a chain break on me and come whipping through the back window.

Has anyone actually had a Chinese chain fail on them? Does it mean anything that it is stamped grade 70? There are tons of posts warning against Chinese chain What's the truth and what's myth?

Chris

I haven't had a chain break, but read on this forum in several places that chains don't snap back when they break...like some things do...because of the links they just kinda fall down.

Wayne County Hose · Nov 9, 2007

Grade 70 chain is grade 70, no matter where it's made. The only way DOT could do anything is if it is a fact that there are no grade 70 or better chains manufactured anywhere but the U.S.A., which I highly doubt.

I find this whole Made in China thing hilarious. The American public wanted less expensive products. Well, now you have them.

JerryK · Nov 9, 2007

Grade 70 chain is Grade 70 chain, but chain marked 'Genuine Jinma Grade 70 chain', might just be marked like that and not be what you assumate. [ Sorry, just couldn't help getting JINMA into the conversation ]

2manyrocks · Nov 9, 2007

I looked at my chain. There is no labeling at all on the chain and the hooks are just marked "forged china hightest" whatever that means. Maybe there was some label on the package they came in, but there's nothing on to say who made it, what it is, or where it came from. If it breaks and causes some major injury, the first thing the seller's lawyers will say---prove it came from us. Even if you could prove who made it, lots of luck successfully recovering anything from China. Maybe that's why all this stuff just says made in China cuz they don't wany anybody to really know just who made it.

dsgsr · Nov 9, 2007

I made the statement in another thread once, that if it was from china it was junk. You mark my words, it's just going to be junk until they are forced to evolve into todays world.

David

MrJimi · Nov 9, 2007

If you want some real serious chain click here and fasten your credit card down
Jim

have_blue · Nov 9, 2007

pennwalk said:
Has anyone actually had a Chinese chain fail on them? Does it mean anything that it is stamped grade 70?
Chris

It's all in the grade. All DOT grade 70 chains must be made to the same specs.

The failed chains are probably the very weak "proof" grade, or maybe grade 43, which is a little bit more chewy than grade 70.

I have destroyed proof, damaged grade 43, but never once even dented grade 70. I would love to have a bucket of 5/16" grade 80, but dang, that stuff is expensive. I have a 6' long, 1/4" grade 80 choke chain that has uprooted many a tree, and must be 30 years old. Not a nick in it.

Kendrick · Nov 9, 2007

MrJimi said:
If you want some real serious chain click here and fasten your credit card down
Jim

got any more jimi? thats a nice site would be nice to find some comealongs etc. maybe some heavier ratchet sets to. mmmm 120 grade chain!

MrJimi · Nov 9, 2007

Kendrick said:
got any more jimi? thats a nice site would be nice to find some comealongs etc. maybe some heavier ratchet sets to. mmmm 120 grade chain!

Ask and you shall receive, Click here for serious lever hoist!! Just click on HOME on that site
Jim

AndyMA · Nov 11, 2007

2manyrocks said:
I looked at my chain. There is no labeling at all on the chain and the hooks are just marked "forged china hightest" whatever that means. Maybe there was some label on the package they came in, but there's nothing on to say who made it, what it is, or where it came from. If it breaks and causes some major injury, the first thing the seller's lawyers will say---prove it came from us. Even if you could prove who made it, lots of luck successfully recovering anything from China. Maybe that's why all this stuff just says made in China cuz they don't wany anybody to really know just who made it.

I guess we all know that "forged china hightest" means absolutely nothing. It is a useless garble of words.

Andy