Load Chain and Bottom Hook

Load Chain Inspection (all models)

Over time, the load chain will wear or elongate. This can cause damage to the hoist, breakage, or non-engagement of the load sheave.

Do not operate the hoist with a twisted, kinked or damaged load chain. Do not splice the load chain. Check the chain for excessive wear or stretch. Failure to comply may cause serious injury.

To inspect the load chain for wear:

1.Test the hoist under load in both the lifting and lowering directions, observing the operation of chain and sprockets. Chain should feed smoothly into and away from the sprockets.

2.If the chain binds, jumps, or is noisy, make sure it is clean and properly lubricated. If the trouble persists, inspect the chain and mating parts for wear, distortion, or other damage.

3.Clean the chain before inspection. Examine for gouges, nicks, weld splatter, corrosion, and distorted links. Slacken the chain and move adjacent links to one side, looking for wear at the contact points. If you see wear or suspect stretching, measure the chain as follows:

•Select an unworn, unstretched length of chain (i.e. at the slack end).

•Suspend the chain vertically under tension and, using a caliper type gauge, measure the outside length of several links about 12 to 24 inches.

•Measure the same number of links in used sections and calculate the percentage of the increase in length.

4.If the length of used chain exceeds 2-1/2 percent of the unused chain, replace the chain.

Do not add to the load chain. Replace the entire chain. Failure to comply may cause serious injury.

Load Chain Removal (all models)

Remove the old load chain as follows while referring to Figure 11:

1.Remove the split pin (A) and the pin stopper (B) on the chain anchor C), allowing the end of the chain to fall free.

2.Pull the hand chain (Fig. 5) until the load chain is completely removed from the gear assembly.

Attaching Load Chain to Load Chain Sprocket (all models)

Install the new load chain onto the load chain sprocket as follows , referring to Fig. 10:

1.Position the load chain sprocket by rotating the hand chain wheel so that the wide and narrow grooves show.

2.Insert the load chain into the sprocket grooves so that the chain will wind up and back over the sprocket. Welds must face away from the sprocket.

3.Rotate the hand chain wheel so that the load chain falls six to eight inches at the back of the sprocket.

Figure 10

Referring to Figure 11:

4.Insert one end of the chain link (D) into the chain anchor (C).

5.Insert the pin stopper (B) through the chain anchor (C) and chain link (D) and secure with the split pin (A).

Figure 11

Continue with Load Chain and Bottom Hook Installation on the following page, proceeding to the section that applies to you, 1- and 2-Ton hoists or 3- and 5-Ton hoists.