Hi, trainzkid88.
Yep, chains do tend more toward falling to the ground BUTTTTTTT - - - if itza link that breaks, where is that link likely to end up???????????????????

Once saw a 7,000# rated lifting chain break 'coz the bloke in the towed truck selected 'backwards' when he shoulda had oughta selected 'forward'. Yes, the chain was not very 'aerodynamic' - - - - - - but they could not find the link that broke. And there were a good few people watching too.

Your welcome Grant.

Grant: If you are relying on ACME Rigging and Supply out of Ukiah, CA; do not be surprised if they have a specifications book for the winch! I have had the route salesman come out and impress me with the information they have available. They supply all of my cutting edges, transport chain/binders and various types of wire rope. Hope this helps. JM

Juiceman, yes, I am going to ACME rigging. I dont have a winch , so it will be just straight pull, but I am surprised by the drawbar spec. I will probably ask them to spec it for a D4 6U since I hope to get that one running later this winter. For now I am using a D2 5U. I am doing a fuel reduction program and will be pulling bundles of brush and sometimes large logs out of the woods into a clearing for burning. Due to PINE BEETLES I have some pretty big downed timber to burn. The old Cats are going to actually be working instead of just looking like yard art.
A question about length of cable. I have a choker that is about 12 foot. I find it short enough to be awkward at times. What typical length do you use if pulling something like logs?
Thanks, Grant.

ACME rigging is very good, and they do have the specs and parts for the older Cat winch lines and chokers, not cheap if you get a proper winch line with a shackle and hook. Chokers are sized to what you are pulling and without a winch to spool it, you will often have the wrong length, so best to have a few different length chokers.

My father owned a sawmill and when I left school I spent many years helping out with logging of hardwood and softwood. When there was no winch we only ever used chains. We used 1/2" chains on the D8 and it would pull logs with it all day unless you hit a stump then it wouldn't even feel it break. Had a ring on one end and an open hook on the other. Always had the ring at the log end.
Used two 55 horsepower tractors for snigging pine logs, We had four hooks set up on a back blade and then four chains with bite hooks on one end only and that worked very well. I tried out a safety hook for snigging once and it worked extremely well except every now and then a stick or rock would jam up the release lever.. You had the best of both worlds with it as you could use it to choke the log and you didnt't have to feed the entire chain through it like a ring.

I think the D6 had at least a 3/4 wire rope on the its winch and the D8 had a 1-1/4" rope on it s winch. Chains will last longer than wire ropes as well.

TK88 my nephew was using his 80hp tractor to pull some logs once and a log hit a stump and the chain snapped close to the log and the rest of the chain flew forward and broke every window on the tractor except a couple of small ones down near the feet. How it didn't hit my nephew is anyone's guess.

Hi, Grantj.
If you have to have a choker made up, while the 1/2" might handle what the D2 can pull, I think I'd be inclined to go to 5/8" and consider having a snotter installed on the 'business end'. Snotters distribute the bend in the rope over a longer distance thus helping to eliminate pulling the choker around the smaller radius of a hook or shackle. See the link below:

cdn.manomano.com/cable-choker-gladiatox-...33161-16482131_1.jpg

Just my 0.02.

Yes, I talked to my logger friend and he recommended 5/8. He said that he finds 16 foot or maybe 18 foot to be most useful. I am going to have one made up tomorrow. I am not sure what you mean by snotter. The photo looks like what I have seen before. I have only heard that term as part of a sailing rig on a gaff rigged sailboat. Oops, I did not notice that there is no eye in the end of the cable. How would that attach to a cable or chain? I am slowly learning. Thanks, Grant.

Hi, Grantj.
The round 'lump' on the end of the rope 'plugs' back into the sliding piece after you have wrapped it around the log - or whatever. As mentioned before, the sliding piece of the snotter has a larger radius than a hook or shackle pin and thus does less damage to the rope.

cdn.manomano.com/cable-choker-gladiatox-...33161-16482131_1.jpg

Just my 0.02.