Hay Elevator Chain - How Tight?

[Bill VA]

Got a John Deere 24ft hay elevator Ive been repairing/refurbishing over the winter. Finally got it finished - biggest problem was one side was bent, looked like someone bumped it with a tire.

I digress...

Ive got the thing running and am setting the tension on the elevator chain. Question is - how tight? How much sag do you allow on the underside on the return of the chain? There are wood guides on the underside, however the concern is if too loose, the chain might grab one of those guides and if to tight wear our the bushing in the end sprocket.

How tight is the chain on your hay elevator?

Any sage advice is much appreciated.

Thanks!
Bill

 

[caterpillar guy]

As long as it doesn't slap and flop it is fine. To tight wears the chains and bushings faster and to loose is liable to catch on edges as it flops on the return side. If the slats under the return side are to short just add some longer or more slat to lengthen them. top only bottom will be fine as long as it can't flop and catch the tin work by the sprocket.

 

[Northvale PA]

I pull mine as tight as I can by hand and finger tighten the thrust nuts. That way it has some slack. I use 2 elevators. One has a tendency to spin the bales at the top, grab the string and cut it. So we always need someone to guide them off. Tell us how it goes.

 

[Bill VA]

Thanks for the replies. I tightened the chain to where I thought it should be and then fine tuned it running a few bales across it.

Bill

 

[showcrop]

We used to carry the elevator around to various customers when delivering. The important thing was that the chain could not sag enough to catch anything going back down. Remember that when the bale comes off at the top that the return suddenly slackens a little.