SWL for a chain block?

[richard at home]

Picked up a big, very heavy, chain block. Alas the SWL number has gone!

The chain in 10mm Grade 80.

It's made by Morris. Kone - who bought Morris don't want to know, when I asked for info.

Given it's size 240mm across and 210mm deep, I am thinking it's a 5 tonner?

[richard at home]

Photo of said chain block.

[rash_decision]

It looks kind of like a 3 tonner to me, but hard to be exact front the picture.

That said, it’s not good for any weight without the appropriate identification and safety test cert....................

Not meaning to sound arsy, but working in the oil a and gas industry, I have first hand experience of these pieces of kit, be careful and never stand or put yourself under the load. 👍🏻

[richard at home]

rash_decision said:

It looks kind of like a 3 tonner to me, but hard to be exact front the picture.

That said, it’s not good for any weight without the appropriate identification and safety test cert....................

Not meaning to sound arsy, but working in the oil a and gas industry, I have first hand experience of these pieces of kit, be careful and never stand or put yourself under the load. ????

Not standing under any slung load goes without saying!

My estimate of 5t came from looking at the chain and size of a George Taylor chain block. The 3t has 7mm chain and is much smaller. The only one with a 10mm double fall of chain is the 5t model.

[CAPP0]

Again not to be alarmist but is it possible the load plate was removed because there's something wrong with it and it was scrapped?

What do you plan to use it for and can you afford to lose what's hanging and what's underneath? I'd be doing at least some basic testing first - does it lift, does it hold, and does it actually release again (you don't want your lovely V8 engine swinging 6ft off the floor and you cant get it down again!).

[finishing touch]

Just lift, say 5 tonne with it (standing back).

Unhitch.

Write " SWL 2.5 tonne" on it. Simples



(apologies for getting technical)

[rash_decision]

richard at home said:

rash_decision said:

It looks kind of like a 3 tonner to me, but hard to be exact front the picture.

That said, it’s not good for any weight without the appropriate identification and safety test cert....................

Not meaning to sound arsy, but working in the oil a and gas industry, I have first hand experience of these pieces of kit, be careful and never stand or put yourself under the load. ????

Not standing under any slung load goes without saying!

You would think!!! I’ve seen some real ridiculousness around lifting operations! I wasn’t suggestion you personally, it was just a friendly reminder.

I once seen a picture on a forum of a guy changing the engine in an old MG, and was mentioning the chain block was a 1.5T, but had it hung off a 4x2 timber beam above the car, with a span of about 4M garage width!

It looks slightly older, you do get heavier chain and double fall 3T. I’d adopt 3T, you’re unlikely to be going anywhere near that at home anyway, are you?? Using it in a professional capacity would obviously be a no no.

I’m it sure how much a local place would charge to test it for you? I do know though, a few years ago when I was hauling a load of stuff out our tool container for test, anything without legible I.D. on it was immediately binned.

[Zarco]

finishing touch said:

Just lift, say 5 tonne with it (standing back).

Unhitch.

Write " SWL 2.5 tonne" on it. Simples



(apologies for getting technical)

[richard at home]

I'm aiming to lift 2 tons so I think it will be fine...

If I had a 3-5 ton weight kicking about, I would try it!

[tapkaJohnD]

Even a 3-5 ton weight wouldn't answer your question!
Safe Working Load means SAFE. The failing load will be 10 TIMES that, when it was new.
Loading it will tell you that it won't fail (or it will!) at that load, but not by how much it is 'safe'.
John

[honestbob]

Slightly off topic but I was asked to load test to destruction an axle stand of Chinese origin rated at 1.5 Tonne.

It stood up to 5 Tonnes ok then at 5.5Tonnes the legs started to fail by the folded steel section opening up but

not letting go suddenly.

[richard at home]

tapkaJohnD said:

Even a 3-5 ton weight wouldn't answer your question!
Safe Working Load means SAFE. The failing load will be 10 TIMES that, when it was new.
Loading it will tell you that it won't fail (or it will!) at that load, but not by how much it is 'safe'.
John

Well given that I dont want to do a destructive test, If it lifts 5 ton ok, it should be fine with 2. All a bit academic really as I dont have any handy dead weights of any size!

I am sure its a 5 ton hoist. Will it lift 2 ton? Only one way for me to find out. It has to lift a 2 ton engine pack about 2m vertically and then lower it again.

[GreenV8S]

richard at home said:

a 2 ton engine pack

Not your average DIY job then!

[finishing touch]

One of the easiest "known weights" for a test lift would be a truck/lorry. As the axle weights would be known a simple strap under the chassis would suffice.

A lesser weight might be a car on a car trailer. My trailer goes 450k. Stick an MX5 on top and you have 1.5 Tonne. (or greater dependant on car)



My main worry would be what you use as a gantry to mount the chain block onto.


Paul G

[finishing touch]

Or:-


Dependant on where in the country you are, a friendly farmer with a teleporter might assist.

I borrowed one one to extend a powder cement tank by a metre. It worked a treat as a crane.

Usually find them parked outside supermarket cash machines these days.


Paul G

[richard at home]

finishing touch said:

One of the easiest "known weights" for a test lift would be a truck/lorry. As the axle weights would be known a simple strap under the chassis would suffice.

A lesser weight might be a car on a car trailer. My trailer goes 450k. Stick an MX5 on top and you have 1.5 Tonne. (or greater dependant on car)



My main worry would be what you use as a gantry to mount the chain block onto.


Paul G

My Gantry is a monster! (it came with the chain block). I have a 5 ton travelling dolly on it and the cross beam is adjustable in height by big jacking screws built into the uprights.

So far I have lifted 800kg without any hint of strain. There was hardly any difference in the chain block from being unloaded. Yes that's a long way off 2000kg but it's a start!


My initial plan was to use a tele handler but the farmers round here are very money orientated, so I'd be looking at hundreds of quid, assuming the lift went without any hitches (an hour to get it out and an hour to get in back). The gantry and chain block has cost me £400 and I hope to recoup that when I'm done with it. It's also already come in very handy when I had a big machine delivered and the lorry driver wouldn't risk backing into our drive....