****** block for chain or tow strap?

[Jawn]

I was moving a dead truck on my property and needed a way to pull it away from the vehicle I was pulling it with. I ended up disassembling a come-along and using its cable and pulley like a ****** block. Afterwards, I started looking at ****** blocks online but they're all made for wire rope as far as I can tell, none designed for a chain or tow strap to go around them. Does such a thing exist, or if not is there a good reason they don't exist?

I am half tempted to make one if they don't exist... for the next situation like this. Just need a sufficiently heavy duty large diameter pulley wide enough for 1/4" to 3/8" chain, or maybe even a wider one to handle a 3" or so tow strap.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Scrap out an old chain hoist, and use the matching chain and pulley.

 

[zendriver]

is there a good reason they don't exist?

Maybe because chains are generally used for load securements and wire cables for used for pulling?

 

[kctyphoon]

Look at cable placing sheaves / rollers / pulleys.. they will be wide enough for a web strap. I wouldn't use chain. Not to mention that chain gets heavy, which is why it's probably not used by anyone. Why use something that's 5x the weight and takes up 4x the room and doesn't roll up when u don't need to, and winch lines make turns much easier.

https://www.comstarsupply.com/aeria...ment-and-tools/universal-stringing-block.html

Pros use winch lines to pull.. Even synthetic winch line is available now.

 

[kctyphoon]

Maybe because chains are generally used for load securements and wire cables for used for pulling?

Chain is indestructible and easy to grab & tension. It doesnt fray or splinter.

 

[zendriver]

Chain is indestructible and easy to grab & tension. It doesnt fray or splinter.

Yes, that why they are generally used for load securement, not lifting for pulling.

That's what wire rope is for, in most cases.

 

[2oolhound]

****** blocks are made for long lengths of cable. Chains would get too heavy in those lengths. Think winch line going through an A frame (tow truck) etc. 200' to pull a car out of a ditch. If you have a 1" dia. cable the groove in the pulley where the cable lies has to have near a 1" groove to support the bottom third of the cable exactly or the cable will crush itself under load. The sheave in the block is sized for specific cable. To find a pulley wide enough to support a strap you'd need to find a block for very wide cable but that would be huge. There are blocks called tommy moore blocks used in the logging industry with 3" and wider pulleys inside so splices ect will fit through when you are stringing lines. These would be perfect for straps.

For your application pulling loads short distances BDT/NWMN's idea to scrap an old chain hoist would be the closest solution but it would be a ***** to deal with slack and binding when you start to take the load on it. I'd forget about chain and go with cable or strap. Cable would be the most common thing to find the gear for.

 

[lbpd716]

^^

Exactly what 2oolhound said.

Depending on the surface you are moving the vehicle, skids can be a godsend.

Thank the lord I have access to a wide variety of tow trucks!

 

[Jawn]

****** blocks are made for long lengths of cable. Chains would get too heavy in those lengths.

True, but two or three 20 foot chunks would not be so bad. I could pull the 20 feet through, re-set and pull another 20 feet, rinse and repeat as needed.

There are blocks called tommy moore blocks used in the logging industry with 3" and wider pulleys inside so splices ect will fit through when you are stringing lines. These would be perfect for straps.

I found some of those online, but holey carp they are not cheap.

For your application pulling loads short distances BDT/NWMN's idea to scrap an old chain hoist would be the closest solution but it would be a ***** to deal with slack and binding when you start to take the load on it. I'd forget about chain and go with cable or strap. Cable would be the most common thing to find the gear for.

If I come across an old chain hoist, maybe I'll do that... or I guess I could get maybe a 50 foot section of cable with eyes on each end and a suitable ****** block for the next time this need comes up.

 

[manwithtools]

Look at synthetic rope vs steel cable. Cable will be a pain to store if not wound tightly on a winch. Synthetic rope can be found that is just as strong as cable, but can be coiled up like rope for easy storage. Trying to find / use a ****** block for chain or strap is going to be a pain and expensive as you are discovering.

 

[Jawn]

Synthetic rope can be found that is just as strong as cable, but can be coiled up like rope for easy storage.

Just looked that stuff up... that's totally alien to me. Did not know there was such a thing as synthetic rope with that kind of strength. Looks like they sell 50' chunks as extensions for not too bad a price... and ****** blocks for rope/cable are not expensive. That might do it.

 

[manwithtools]

Glad to help, that's what's on my winch. It's nice because it doesn't tear your hands up.

Just looked that stuff up... that's totally alien to me. Did not know there was such a thing as synthetic rope with that kind of strength. Looks like they sell 50' chunks as extensions for not too bad a price... and ****** blocks for rope/cable are not expensive. That might do it.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[jayoldschool]

I use wire on my winch, chains to hold down cars on the trailer, and a strap to pull stuff. The strap has never let me down.

 

[matt_i]

On a double-reeved chainfall or electric chain hoist you'll find this with a crane hook (usually). It has cast pockets in the drum/sheave which are sized to the pitch of the chain so it proceeds thru in an orderly manner without twisting, etc.

However....they are also made so both of the reeved chains are parallel to each other. If you were planning to use this with an included angle between the two chain lengths then it wouldn't work with the parts I mentioned above. Part of the housing is a sort of guide which prevents the chain from twisting as it goes thru.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Yes, that why they are generally used for load securement, not lifting for pulling.

That's what wire rope is for, in most cases.

In general principle; I agree.. But there are tasks where things may be a bit different::

I have four devices called a chain hoist that were specifically built for lifting.

I have a bunch of various cable winches whose manufacturers state their device is not intended for lifting.

My favorite smaller overhead hoists are small cable hoists with a safety brake. It is easy to mistake these for a common boat trailer winch. They can be bolted to a vertical beam, with a cable running thru a pulley that is bolted to an overhead beam.

My tow straps range from small to rated for pulling semi trucks.

My ratcheting tie down straps see more use than My 10 chain binders.

Can't leave out the rope hoist that is properly called a wire stretcher in some areas.

My cargo sling doesn't get used much, but it does come in handy when I don't want to leave chain marks on a load.

At times; I have pulled out over 250 feet of winch cable to retrieve a vehicle.. Sure wouldn't want to drag out that many chains for a hookup.

I flat out refuse to use a vehicle winch cable hooked to a tow strap.

When towing a disabled machine a short distance, I will generally use a chain OR a tow strap. Chains are easier to hook up to many machines where sharp edges would damage a tow strap OR a cable.

I will not jerk on a stuck vehicle while using a chain or cable, that is what I have tow straps for.

I have never seen a wrecker equipped with chain, rather than cable, on it's winches.

I bought extra cable winches and hoists to mount on My three cherry pickers. The usual chain holds the load; while the winch line can be used to stabilize or level it.

If I have to move a machine an inch or two in any direction; as long as there are anchor points, a couple chains and a ratcheting chain binder will usually move it, slow and easy. The pull ram on My porta-power works even better.

It is easier to adjust the length of a chain; the grab hook will fit any link in the chain. If I caught anyone hooking a grab or slip hook around one of My cables; I would likely hang them with it.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Does such a thing exist, or if not is there a good reason they don't exist?

A chain setup would be too heavy. A strap would be cumbersome and the strap would likely fold over on itself. Both are great for straight pulls but you can not get any mechanical advantage that way.

Now a days, more and more people are using synthetic "winch" cable. Much lighter and easier to deal with compared to steel cable.