Used chains anyone?

Regardless of what you think, if you are ever in an accident, especially with injuries or fatalities…..you better have the type of securement THEY want or your life may be changed forever. It’s not just you against DOT, it’s you against the lawyers.

 

That's true, and looking at the chart, since it's NOT a G70 chain, that he wants to mark it as a G70, it now would only count as a G30 WLL chain, because of the illegal marking let alone the damage to the chain by "engraving" it with the fake capability. Although DOT notes the chain grades and allows unlabeled chains to only have the WLL of Grade 30 when unmarked or 'mismarked', the WLL holding the load, had best equal what's needed, meaning for each 3/8" chain you'd need 3 grade 30's to 1 Grade 70, and that's a lot of chains for a heavy load. NOT ADVISED

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Of mild interest, g80 is stronger than g70, apparently unless its 5/16... then g70 is stronger... according to that table.

Seriously, what is going on there? 5/8" is 18 % stronger g80 than g70, but 1/2" is only 6" stronger and then for 5/16, g70 is 5% stronger...

 

5/16” is a little iffy on machinery due to the weight of some of it. But 3/8” or 1/2” G70, you’re not parting that unless something really heavy gets a run at it.

 

That fall solidly under just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s not dumb. My trucks have 400’ of chain on them already. How big is your chain rack? By the time you tied a big crawler tractor on with 30 and made the math on regs you wouldn’t be able to see it for chain.

 

skallagrime I'll let this article speak to it, but as it summarizes, Grade 80 is approved for overhead lifting, just not with transport hooks, whereas Grade 70 is NOT approved for overhead lifting period. I suspect the steel mixture and tempering may only make modest increases in WLL, but may increase breaking strength which is why it's approved for overhead lifting.

There is one more little ditty that the article mentions worth noting and that is, as always, the Commifornia connection, as according to that article for Grade 70:

Grade 70 chain generally features a gold chromate finish so it’s easy to recognize and meet California Highway Patrol and DOT requirements. ​

They apparently make it easier for CA to tag you for not having sufficient WLL, by checking out the chain color.

 

Could be due to the forces on the chain too. When lifting with a chain sling once the initial stress is put on the chain it will remain steady and constant. Now chain down a piece of equipment and head down the highway. Every bump will cause the tension on the chain to fluctuate. You'd probably want your chains to have the ability to stretch and recover so they don't just snap under repeated cycling.

 

Oh i know that overhead lifting requires specific chain ends, but thats not what that particular thing i was confused about is.

G70 is weaker in wll than g80 in all sizes EXCEPT 5/16... then its rated higher? That makes no bloody sense

 

I actully dont use a flatbed anymore. My set is for large chunks of scrap to keep them from moving around and ripping up the floor of my trailer or if it happens again bending my trailer back into place with a comealong. Also useful to yoink other stuck dumps out.

 

Good point and a vaild observation.