Just ordered hooks, what paint and straps/chain to get?

Paint: I personally love the JD paint. While it is expensive, it really covers well and just has a better shine than the other stuff I have tried. But, these are hooks and will get all scratched up...

Chain: Any 5/16" or 3/8" chain will work, but 3/8" is overkill, heavier, and it cost's more. I like to use G70 "transport" chain. TSC sells it by the foot but, lots of other places carry it as well-even Horrible Fright sells it.

Straps: I have a new product that will be ready in about a week or two. It is for holding a Clevis/Shackle and will work very well for straps, slings and ropes.

Waiting Patiently

Kennyd said:

Straps: I have a new product that will be ready in about a week or two. It is for holding a Clevis/Shackle and will work very well for straps, slings and ropes.

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:good2:

Thanks for the feedback. Should have the hooks today or tomorrow. Trying to get out to TSC to see what they have in a 5/16" chain and what in hooks that I can build myself. I saw online that TSC has some JD spray paint and I might check that out. Not sure when I can get to dealer and I'm sure they are going to get scratched quite a bit.

I have this SpeeCo Drawbar Grab Hook which says on the SpeeCo website it will take 5/16" to 1/2" chain. If I have to buy my own hooks for the chain, which ones do you suggest to use for dragging logs, brush, etc?

TSC will have generic 5/16" grab hooks like this:

That you can add to a chain to make in any length you need. I thing I bought a 20' pre-made chain and cut it in half and added two of those to make two 10' sections.

You can also put 2 of those hooks together with 3 links of chain to make a "double-ended" grab hook that's handy for shortening long sections of chain temporarily.

Great info Kenny, thats what I was looking for. One last, probably stupid question, whats the difference between a grab hook and a slip hook? and what are they used for differntly? see this link for the selection of Grade 70 items at TSC:
http://tsc.tractorsupply.com/search?zone=4&env=&w=grade+70

NukeThemTillTheyGlow said:

Great info Kenny, thats what I was looking for. One last, probably stupid question, whats the difference between a grab hook and a slip hook? and what are they used for differntly? see this link for the selection of Grade 70 items at TSC:
http://tsc.tractorsupply.com/search?zone=4&env=&w=grade+70

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They are just what the name implys. the grab hook like the one in the pic and what Kenny sells grab the chain between links and stays in place. A slip hook has a wide throat and hooks around the link allowing the hook to slide till the chain becomes tight around a object like a log, another name for this is a choker chain.
Hope this helps.:drinks:

has15 said:

They are just what the name implys. the grab hook like the one in the pic and what Kenny sells grab the chain between links and stays in place. A slip hook has a wide throat and hooks around the link allowing the hook to slide till the chain becomes tight around a object like a log, another name for this is a choker chain.
Hope this helps.:drinks:

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:thumbup1gif: Took the words right out of my mouth!

Took me a while to get the paint (JDG spray can from JD) and a few coats on the hooks. Had to travel for work too, but was able to spend some quality time at TSC. Made my own "logging chain" by going with the G70 5/16" "transport" chain (5400 lb), then went with the 3/8" slip and slider hooks as they had a higher load rating than the 5/16" hooks and it exceeds the chain vs. the 5/16" were less than the chain.

Got the holes drilled today and hooks on. Look great. Spent most of my afternoon fighting the FEL hydralics that I could not connect due to high pressure in the one circuit so no testing the hooks or logging chain like I had planned.

Pics when I get a chance.

I was looking for chain and found the yellow zinc 20' 5/16" grade 70 premade with hooks under for about $38.00 at Home Depot. TSC is asking $65 for theirs. The extra hooks at HD are cheaper too. Any reason this is not as good and the TSC chain?

To tell you the truth, this seems like overkill for a chain to use with a small tractor on bucket hooks. I am thinking 1/4" chain would be fine. However if I were using it trying to pull up a stump or something, I am not sure how much strength I would need.

jimed1 said:

I was looking for chain and found the yellow zinc 20' 5/16" grade 70 premade with hooks under for about $38.00 at Home Depot. TSC is asking $65 for theirs. The extra hooks at HD are cheaper too. Any reason this is not as good and the TSC chain?

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As long as it's grade 70, it should have the same working/ breaking strength. The corrosion resistance might be a bit different, but for use on the tractor that's really a non-issue.

jimed1 said:

I was looking for chain and found the yellow zinc 20' 5/16" grade 70 premade with hooks under for about $38.00 at Home Depot. TSC is asking $65 for theirs. The extra hooks at HD are cheaper too. Any reason this is not as good and the TSC chain?

To tell you the truth, this seems like overkill for a chain to use with a small tractor on bucket hooks. I am thinking 1/4" chain would be fine. However if I were using it trying to pull up a stump or something, I am not sure how much strength I would need.

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Sounds fine to me...

1/4" chain probably is fine for 99% of what we do, but the extra safety factor of the 5/16" is reassuring especially since the it does not cost that much more.

jimed1 said:

I was looking for chain and found the yellow zinc 20' 5/16" grade 70 premade with hooks under for about $38.00 at Home Depot. TSC is asking $65 for theirs. The extra hooks at HD are cheaper too. Any reason this is not as good and the TSC chain?

To tell you the truth, this seems like overkill for a chain to use with a small tractor on bucket hooks. I am thinking 1/4" chain would be fine. However if I were using it trying to pull up a stump or something, I am not sure how much strength I would need.

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I have a set of the Home Depot 5/16 chain, and I think another set is from Harbor Freight. I bought it because it matched up with the ratcheting load binders I had. I agree that 5/16 is probably overkill for anything my 2520 will try to pull or lift. Heck, you could probably lift two bare 2520s up off the ground with one 5/16 chain.