What to do with a broken chain

[California]

Dave, I'm with DMW. Consider the weight of that useless scrap. It's heavy so it will be tiring to carry or wrap around an object, etc.

For $20 get 35 ft of 1/4" chain. (Today's HF ad). A length cut similar to the old chain will weigh half as much and will do all the tasks you might do with that clunker. Save your back.

The only application I would use the proven-bad chain for, is where abrasion resistance is the only requirement. Maybe to pull a levelling drag behind your disc? I use scrap chains to lash down pier blocks, ballast, on my disc. I wouldn't trust these for anything more demanding.

And I like 3RRL's idea to cut it up for a mower guard.

 

[MrJimi]

If you don't use it, you have 2 spare hooks. If you do use it and drop it in a can of paint to mark it, you have to buy 2 more hooks.
I would keep and use it for light duty.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I'm in with the gang that says use if for the abrasion dragging situations. Or chaining the steering wheel hard over for theft prevention on your toys. Another good use is in your gutter downspouts to run the water down. Another thought is cut it and make it look like a dog collar attached to a dog house with Brutus on the front.. Scare away any folks that don't want to be eaten..

 

[shane]

I'm in with the gang that says use if for the abrasion dragging situations. Or chaining the steering wheel hard over for theft prevention on your toys. Another good use is in your gutter downspouts to run the water down. Another thought is cut it and make it look like a dog collar attached to a dog house with Brutus on the front.. Scare away any folks that don't want to be eaten..

Man, I have not seen a chain used for a gutter downspout in thirty years. I had forgotten all about that. The school I went to had them. Kids used to climb them and get on the roof.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Man, I have not seen a chain used for a gutter downspout in thirty years. I had forgotten all about that. The school I went to had them. Kids used to climb them and get on the roof.

Did you get in trouble a lot in school? Anyone on the roof at our school would have gotten their butt whacked..Can't do that anymore. I still see the chain used on some of the homes around here. Beats cleaning down spouts...

 

[Richard]

I've debated (if I were you) if I'd keep that chain or not... I'm 55/45 torn on replacing it. If it broke once when you need it, can you deal with that if it did it again?

Get some of this Grade 100 Square-Link Choker Chain - G70 & G100 Chains - Labonville Inc.

This stuff works great if you are trying to choke a log. The square edges help bite into the log.

I had our IH 880 with 10' heavy duty Rhino pull mower on the back side of the farm 2 years ago. As I was cutting the tall forrest of grass that was back there I said to myself..."don't forget there is a little stream full of sticky mud here somewh...... DANG!"

I had driven right into the muck. This stream is the drain ditch on the side of the road BUT is also a natural creek so it is always wet and muddy.

I tried to drive out but the rear wheels just spun in deeper. Finally they were up to their axel. I couldn't go forward or reverse. Having the 10' mower dragging behind me didn't help at all. I got on cell phone, called my neighbor (wifes cousin) and asked him to drive Brutus over to this side of farm (full sized JCB backhoe/loader)

He came over...as did his father and his brother in law...they all wanted to see what I'd gotten myself into THIS time...

I drove the backhoe around the water and got to the street. Backed the hoe to a proper distance from the tractor, slung my 25' gr 100 chain above to the front of the tractor and to my backhoe bucket.

He put tractor into gear and I commenced to not only help pull the tractor/mower out of the muck BUT was able to force the front end of the tractor to slide my way instead of the way it was trying to slide in the muck.

My cousin in laws, brother in law..(got that straight), shook his head it total disbelief. He later confided in me that he (who sold steel as a living) knew there was NO WAY that little chain was going to drag that entire tractor and mower out of the muck without breaking.

It really is a stout little chain. Seems since it's an alloy, its a lot lighter than other chains similar in size.

 

[J_J]

If anyone is interested, and you find chain with yellow or orange fittings, you will know it is lifting chain. Here is some data on lifting chain.


Lifting chain is designed for use with hoists, cranes, winches, and other material handling equipment. It is also used in rigging slings and for lashing. There are two standard grades for lifting chain: grade 80 lifting chain and grade 100 lifting chain. Other grades of lifting chain may also be available from some suppliers.

Grade 80 lifting chain is made from alloyed steel and is specifically designed for overhead lifting applications. This grade of lifting chain has a good strength-to-weight ratio and excellent durability. Grade 100 lifting chain is also made of alloyed steel, but is hardened and tempered for superior durability and fatigue resistance. Most Grade 100 lifting chain is made of Herc-Alloy 800, a heat-treated alloy with very high strength. Although many types of chain fittings are available, Grade 80 fittings should not be used with Grade 100 chain

The end fittings are painted yellow for Grade 80, and orange for Grade 100.

http://www.beaver.com.au/wire_rope_wire_rope_slings/working_load_limit_charts.pdf

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a five gallon bucket of broken chains, odd sized chain, small chain and chain parts. I had a good chaing that I could pull any sized tree with, but then my dad got the idea to pull a stump out of the ground using it with the dozer. The chain lost. It was a good chain, but it was never the same again.

I now have a new one from Home Depot that is just slightly bigger, but works great. I drag allot of trees to the burn pile, and if I have enough power to pull them, I know the chain will hold up to the job.

I think it's time for a new chain and for lifetime of use, I'd buy it from another source then Harbor Freight.

Eddie