Hi, First a warning, then a question. I recently got ripped off by an ebay seller going by the name unclemonkeygocom. I would advise staying away from his auctions. I bought a Yale KEL Series 1/2 ton electric chain hoist. His description said it looked complete except for the electrical pendant control. The picture hid the fact that the top hanger hook or bracket, all but a foot or two of load chain, and the load hook were all missing. His defense is that he is not familiar with chain hoists. Dah! Even a complete idiot might notice if there are no hooks on a chain hoist. He did give me what amounted to a 25% refund, but that is the best he would do.
Now the question. I can solve the top mounting hook/bracket and I can get by with a non-swivel clevis type load hook if I have to, but the load chain seems to be a problem. I was able to download a manual from the web (Yale now apparently belongs to CM.) The specified load chain is 5/16 diameter and the pitch on the inside of the link is 0.790 inch. Problem is that all of the general purpose or transportation grade 5/16 inch chain I have been able to find has longer links. I do not really know for sure, but since the chain has to match up with what is effectively a square wheel, I doubt if the hoist drive mechanism is very tolerant of significantly different chain link pitches. Genuine Yale replacement chain is $15.94 per foot and a generic equivalent from a place calling itself Hoist Warehouse is $14.35 per foot (plus shipping in either case.) At this price even a modest 10 foot lift (12 feet of chain) will be more than double my present investment/loss. Anybody know a source for something close to the specified size chain at a reasonable price? Anyone have a dead hoist with serviceable chain? If I decide to cut my losses, does anybody need any used parts for a Yale KEL series chain hoist?
Thanks for your thoughts, Mill