Rusty Chains

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Steel Eagle, Mar 9, 2014.

  1. MJ1657

    MJ1657 Road Train Member

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    You reminded me of something from growing up with that post. When I was a kid I would hook my dads rusty chains behind my pedal bike and race up and down the driveway polishing his chains.
     
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  3. Elvenhome21

    Elvenhome21 Heavy Load Member

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    take a 5 gallon bucket fill with vinegar soak chains in it for a day or 2. make sure to move the chain around a couple times thru the day. All rust will be gone, it wont attack the metal, just the rust. Then dump out vinegar, dump a box of baking soda in the bucket and fill with water to just above the level of the chains, and let sit for 20-30 min to neutralize the PH. chains with be dull grey when you take out. Then you have to coat them with something to prevent them from rusting again.
     
  4. mc8541ss

    mc8541ss Road Train Member

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    Used to get it all over me also. As time goes on it will become second nature to hold them away from you therefore only your gloves will be a mess.
     
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  5. passingthru69

    passingthru69 Road Train Member

    Ok, I'll be the smart arse. Use them enough and they won't be rusty
     
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  6. terrylamar

    terrylamar Road Train Member

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    Or use a wire brush, piece of sandpaper, gravel on the side of the road, whatever you can find to clean the rust off so it can be read.
     
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  7. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    This, along with TerryLamar's advice to replace the cotter pins and carry spare hooks/pins has been my experience also.

    I've never been tagged for $3,000 (yikes, that is harsh) but NYSDOT got me for not having enough securement one time because they could not find the GR 70. Placed me OOS until I replaced it with another chain then he let me go. No money but lots of CSA ponits. When I got back to the yard I looked for the mark on all my chains and put a red zip tie on the marked link closest to each hook. Had to clean some of them up with a wire wheel to see the mark. The links closest to the hooks seem to stay visible longer, probably because they don't spend most of their time rubbing against each other and against the headache rack.

    I have been checked by the man on a few times since and now I tell him look for the link with the red zip tie.
     
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  8. terrylamar

    terrylamar Road Train Member

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    I carry extra cotter/split pins, pins, grab hooks, slip hooks, twin clevis links (to attach two chains together), different size shackles, different size and length chains. You never know what the next load will be, so, be prepared. On the other hand, you don't want to carry so much equipment that you can't load anything either.
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2014
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  9. Semi Crazy

    Semi Crazy Road Train Member

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    Stop making love to your chains! I hold mine out away from my body because obviously you will get dirty if they touch you.

    It builds up your arms holding them out further. The bigger your belly, the more of a work out you'll have!
     
  10. chrisevans2645

    chrisevans2645 Bobtail Member

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  11. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    Coveralls or bibs work too.
     
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