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Chaining down Excavator Properly

gabelmatt

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Messages
35
Location
Ontario
Occupation
Mini Excavator Owner/Operator
Hey Guys, I live in Ontario and I have 5 tonn mini excavator and I was wondering if anyone else in Ontario has one and what is the proper way of chaining it down. I just have a tandom trailer that i pull behind my pick-up.Any input would be great.
Thanks
 

adv.wastewater

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
64
Location
Blount County Alabama
You have the excavator I want! I am waiting until next spring to buy mine though. I have a 7,500 lb machine now. Anyways, I run a chain over the blade and under the arms that connect the blade to the machine than back over the blade to my trailer. (kind of worded confusing) than on the oposite end of the machine of the blade my machine has a chaining eye that I run a chain through. Not sure if the 305 has that. If not you can lay your boom down and put a chain over your bucket. You want to endup with a chain holding the machine from going forward, and a chain holding the machine from coming back. And when the chains are tight obviously they will prevent the machine from going sideways. How do you like your machine so far? What size bucket are you using and what do you mainly use it for?
 

heavylift

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
1,046
Location
KS
it should have labels on it... green with a hook...

most of the time when it moved around on big plant jobs... it's one chain across the blade...

But DOT likes enough chains and boomers that it outweighs the load your hauling..
 

gabelmatt

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Messages
35
Location
Ontario
Occupation
Mini Excavator Owner/Operator
You have the excavator I want! I am waiting until next spring to buy mine though. I have a 7,500 lb machine now. Anyways, I run a chain over the blade and under the arms that connect the blade to the machine than back over the blade to my trailer. (kind of worded confusing) than on the oposite end of the machine of the blade my machine has a chaining eye that I run a chain through. Not sure if the 305 has that. If not you can lay your boom down and put a chain over your bucket. You want to endup with a chain holding the machine from going forward, and a chain holding the machine from coming back. And when the chains are tight obviously they will prevent the machine from going sideways. How do you like your machine so far? What size bucket are you using and what do you mainly use it for?

I love the new machine.Just got it back yesturday from Cat, they were putting my new hyd. pin grabber on it.I have a 62" ditching bucket,24" tooth a 16" tooth and a 48" hyd tilt bucket for it. Mainly I use it for utility trenching. The odd drive way, I have a post hole auger for it too so I get the odd job for it too.
 

insleyboy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2008
Messages
191
Location
Monroe Michigan
Occupation
Operator 25 years, was laborer for 7 years
Mdot requires a chain (seperate chain mind you) on each corner of a machine. Plus one on each implament. So on a mini that is 6. The 4 corners, with a seperate binder. Then one on the blade and one on the bucket. I got a 300 dollar ticket few years ago for only 4 chains on a case 580 backhoe. Each US State has different interpretations, so you may want to check Ontario law gabelmatt.
 

-NICK-

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
180
Location
california
Occupation
Driver
Well not quite a excavator but Ive been chaining down like this for a while now.Keep hearing a about chp dot not wanting or allowing chains on tracks and I have got enough tickets in the last few years for stuff that I had to fight.So this seems to be the way to make everybody happy.
 

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-NICK-

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
180
Location
california
Occupation
Driver
Well not quite a excavator but Ive been chaining down like this for a while now.Keep hearing a about chp dot not wanting or allowing chains on tracks and I have got enough tickets in the last few years for stuff that I had to fight.So this seems to be the way to make everybody happy.
 

dporter

Active Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2010
Messages
39
Location
midland, ontario
Occupation
landscape, project manager
In Ontario the laws state under 10,000 lbs only 2 chains are required. however an additional chain is required for every 10 feet in excess of 10 feet. Also a separate chain is required for every attachment.

One chain to rear, one on front and the bucket must be placed on the deck and be chained separately.
 

Vantage_TeS

Senior Member
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
495
Location
Calgary, Alberta
Occupation
HE Operator. Surprise?
Well not quite a excavator but Ive been chaining down like this for a while now.Keep hearing a about chp dot not wanting or allowing chains on tracks and I have got enough tickets in the last few years for stuff that I had to fight.So this seems to be the way to make everybody happy.

Well that's sort of silly, the load of the chain is still applied to the track chaining like that. If the hook could bend or rip a pad off then so could the side pressure on that chain!

But as we all know trying to tell THEM that is about the same as this: :Banghead
 

Corona Kid

Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2009
Messages
12
Location
Henderson, Nevada
I got checked by the Boys at the NB 15 Cajon scales with a Volvo EC460 on the 7 , 2 15k Binders on each corner (to the track pads) 1 across the stick . "looks Good, Have a Nice Day"
 

-NICK-

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
180
Location
california
Occupation
Driver
Its just too bad they all can't agree on what makes them happy.:beatsme
 

norite

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
483
Location
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
I have seen lots of big excavators cross chained front and rear from the pads down to the deck, wouldn't work too well for a rubber tracked mini-x though.

I like the way Nick does it, seems to be superior to depending on the pad bolts which have had their heads skidded over rock etc, or even the pad itself which may have a crack in it and is ready to break off.
 

bigbob

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
191
Location
Lee,NH
I have 3 excavators, a 311 CU, 307, and just bough a 305C CR. I quizzed the cat salesman on how to chain down the 305. Cat has a sticker on the front of the machine explaining how to do it. It is not in compliance with the DOT's rules, I have been pulled over 7 times concerning chaining equipment down. The last time I laid into the officer verbally, have not been pulled over since.
Getting back to the 305. Cat recommends chaining to the ends of the blade and to the hole in the center frame. This does not meet DOT standards since you are chaining to an implement. You cannot chain to a rubber track and I also disagree about chaining to a steel track pad. It is not what I consider the Frame.
BTW, I asked the cat salesman to find out about how to chain down the 305 so it meets DOT standards. He still has not gotten back to me!
 
Last edited:

cummins05

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
430
Location
Edmonton
I have 3 excavators, a 311 CU, 307, and just bough a 305C CR. I quizzed the cat salesman on how to chain down the 305. Cat has a sticker on the front of the machine explaining how to do it. It is not in compliance with the DOT's rules, I have been pulled over 7 times concerning chaining equipment down. The last time I laid into the officer verbally, have not been pulled over since.
Getting back to the 305. Cat recommends chaining to the ends of the blade and to the hole in the center frame. This does not meet DOT standards since you are chaining to an implement. You cannot chain to a rubber track and I also disagree about chaining to a steel track pad. It is not what I consider the Frame.
BTW, I asked the cat salesman to find out about how to chain down the 305 so it meets DOT standards. He still has not gotten back to me!

I would imagine the Cat salesman does not want the liability of telling you how to chain down your load to DOT standards.

What I did was took a picture of my truck with two skid steer loader's and one small mini ex on the trailer.
Took that to the weigh scale and asked them to write out how by the book how to secure every machine bucket sweeper shovel and broom on the unit.

To my surprise they did might work for you.

I also saved myself a ticket turns out the spread on the unit was to close and I had to rent a longer trailer to run into BC
 

SONIC

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2010
Messages
5
Location
minnesota
chaining down heavy machinery

Well not quite a excavator but Ive been chaining down like this for a while now.Keep hearing a about chp dot not wanting or allowing chains on tracks and I have got enough tickets in the last few years for stuff that I had to fight.So this seems to be the way to make everybody happy.
do you have any other photos of chaining down an excavator
 

Deeretime

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2009
Messages
344
Location
High River Alberta
Occupation
superintendent
Phone your local scale and they will provide you with a sheet showing how and where they want stuff tied down. Here are some things that I have learned in alberta

All chains and straps must have a load rating of 25% or more of the machine or unit you are tieing down. if not you have to add more tie downs. Chains and boomers must have a load rating Tag at all times

if it is 500lbs or over 4m long it requires 2 straps

if the machine articulates each end must be cross chained on 4 corrners + any G.E.T's (buckets rippers blades) The only exception is if it is equiped with a manual articulation lock

if your machine is 5 T or less the boom doesnt need to be tied down

Cannot carry attachments in the machines bucket or the box of a gravel truck


This one is retarded I spent 10hrs at a scale in edmonton for this ! old style snap boomers must have a manual lock to hold them closed... if not you get stuck like me so dont be cheap buy rachet boomers
 

Deeretime

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2009
Messages
344
Location
High River Alberta
Occupation
superintendent
yup I took some of these a while ago to put into our manual. (weather you guys agree or not it is my company's interpretation of our transport specks!)
 
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