lifting gear-chains

I could do with some advice, I have a MASSIVE beech trunk to lift out of a 10ft wide leat, it needs to be done in one lift. I seem to go through lifting slings pretty quickly as the outer material just tears apart etc- so.. lifting chains,iv been looking at the choker chains on clarks forestry, question is once iv chokered the trunk i want to get the telehandler forks in as close to the trunk as poss, whats the best way of coupling the chains back onthemselves to make a loop for the forks to go through. is there a special coupling that links onto the chain? also what is the purpose of the T bar on these chains.

Or can anyone suggest a better method of lifting gear to liift it out with.

PS its up on the moors, so crane isn't an option. telehandler will do it just want to find better lifting gear than the slings i usually use.

thanks, Matt

The chains you are talking about are for skidding with a winch

This would be more appropriate for your lifting

These aren’t the best example but what you do is cinch the chain around the log then drop a link of the chain into the shortener (the slot hook thing at the lifting eye) to adjust to the desired length.

I am pretty sure Clarks can supply a chain with a forestry hook and a shortener.

Hi Matt, when we are lifting/pulling logs we generally use a set of "Brothers" (2 chains with hooks off of a central ring). If you have a shortening clutch or grab hook in the system you can shorten the chains or create loops. I'm sure Yvonne at Clark would put you straight.

The T bar stops the chain from falling out of the keyhole/slider when used on skidding type applications.

Ahh excellant, those are just what I was hoping would exist. They could be used to choker a log with a winch too couldn't they and then hook the winch around the main ring, pull two logs at a time? But for my current application they will do the job perfectly, cheers guys!!

If you are pulling logs you would be better fitting "Latch type hooks" to the chains as the small spring loaded keepers on normal hooks dont last very long when pulled through the mud/undergrowth.

When choking chains always make sure the the chain is being pulled into the hook when under tension and NOT onto the open side of the hook/keeper.