Manual Chain Hoist 1-20 Ton — HSZ Series Hand Chain Block

Technical Specifications — HSZ Series (Standard Lift 3m)

Common Specifications

• Load chain: Grade T (EN 818-7) fine-tolerance hoist chain, manganese steel; hand chain: standard carbon steel
• Brake system: Friction disc one-way self-locking brake with dual pawl anti-drop — locks instantly when pulling stops, load will not slip
• Hooks: Forged alloy steel upper and lower hooks with safety latches, 360° swivel; hook breaking load ≥ 4× rated capacity
• Safety standard: Overall safety factor 4×; factory proof load test at 1.5× rated capacity; working temperature -20°C to +60°C
• Custom options: Extended lift heights 6m / 9m / 12m / 18m; explosion-proof (non-sparking) and stainless steel anti-corrosion models available

Capacity Selection Guide

• 1T–2T: General workshop lifting, pipe installation, mold handling — most common models
• 3T–5T: Heavy equipment, steel structure, large construction components
• 10T–20T: Large machinery assembly, bridge construction, heavy components — multi-fall chain, heavier self-weight

All Clever Lifting HSZ series manual chain hoists are tested at 1.5× rated capacity before leaving the factory. Each unit comes with a safety certificate and operation manual. Custom lift heights and corrosion-resistant options available for specialized applications.

How to Choose a Chain Hoist: Falls, Lift Height and Headroom

Three numbers decide whether a chain hoist will do the job, and two of them are not on the headline specification.

• Capacity and number of falls — a two-fall hoist lifts twice the load of the same single-fall unit, but at half the lift height and with twice the chain. A quoted capacity means nothing without the fall count beside it.
• Lift height — measured from the hook in its highest position to the hook in its lowest. This is not the same as the headroom you have, because the body of the block occupies space at the top.
• Headroom — a 20 t hoist is a tall, heavy piece of equipment. Check the hook-to-hook dimension, not the nominal lift, and make sure the hoist clears whatever is above it.
• Hand chain length — the hand chain has to reach the operator standing on the floor. A 10 m lift supplied with a 3 m hand chain is unusable. Specify the hand chain drop separately from the lift height.

Load Chain: Hoist Chain Is Not Sling Chain

This is a genuine technical distinction that is widely blurred in product listings, including by suppliers who should know better.

• Hoist chain is fine-tolerance chain to EN 818-7 (Grade T). The pitch is held to a tight tolerance because the chain has to mesh with the pocket wheel, link by link.
• Sling chain is medium-tolerance chain to EN 818-2 (Grade 8). It is made for strength and wear resistance, not for running over a sprocket.
• The two are not interchangeable. A length of general Grade 80 sling chain will not run correctly on a hoist load wheel, and fitting it is a defect, not a repair.

For hand-operated hoists the equivalent chain grades are ISO 16877 (Grade TH) and ISO 16872 (Grade VH). When you order a replacement chain for a chain hoist, order it by the hoist model and the chain size — never by "grade 80" alone.

The Slipping Clutch Is Not an Operating Feature

Most HSZ-type chain hoists have a slipping clutch set at roughly 1.6 times the working load limit. It is an overload protection device, and its only job is to prevent a catastrophic failure when something has already gone wrong.

It is set at the factory and must only be adjusted by the manufacturer or an authorised service centre. Using the clutch as a way to judge load weight, or repeatedly pulling into it because the load will not move, wears the friction surfaces and quietly destroys the protection. If the clutch slips on a load you believe is within capacity, stop and find out why — do not wind the adjustment in.

Inspection and Discard Criteria

Before Every Lift

• Chain hangs free — a twisted or kinked chain can jam or fail under load
• No nicks, cuts, gouges, corrosion pitting, or signs of heat or chemical damage; any of these is an immediate reject
• Hooks not distorted, safety latches present and working
• Brake and clutch operate correctly; the block holds the load when the hand chain is released
• Capacity and identification markings legible

Measured Limits

• Chain diameter: withdraw when the worst link's diameter is reduced by more than 10% of nominal (LEEA uses a stricter 8%)
• Pitch elongation: withdraw when a single link pitch has grown by more than 5% (LEEA: 3% across the interlink wear)
• Stretch: unlike sling chain, hoist chain must show no permanent stretch from overload. Any measurable stretch is a reject.
• Hooks: withdraw at 8–10% deformation, or for any crack or twist
• Inspect after at most 50 operating hours in continuous production use, and always after any incident or shock load

Under LOLER 1998, a chain hoist is lifting equipment rather than a lifting accessory, so the statutory thorough examination interval is 12 months, not the 6 months that applies to slings, chains and other accessories. A site examination scheme may shorten that, and severe or outdoor service should.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a chain block the same as a chain hoist?

Yes — they are two names for the same hand-operated lifting machine. Chain block is the usual term in the UK, India, Australia and much of Southeast Asia; chain hoist is the usual term in North America and most of Europe. The HSZ series we build is sold under both names, and the model numbers are identical either way. If you are ordering a replacement or a second unit, quoting the model number (HSZ1 through HSZ20) avoids any confusion.

One distinction worth keeping straight: a chain block / chain hoist lifts vertically and holds the load with a built-in brake. A lever hoist (also called a lever block or pull-lift) does the same job with a lever instead of a hand chain, and is better where there is no room to pull a chain downward. We build the HSZ chain hoist series; ask us if you need a lever hoist and we will tell you honestly whether we can supply it.

What does "2 fall" or "4 fall" mean?

It is the number of chain parts supporting the load. More falls means more capacity for the same chain size, but it also means the load moves more slowly and the hook travels a shorter distance for the same amount of hand chain pulled. A 2-fall hoist lifts twice the load of a 1-fall hoist at half the lift height.

Can I replace a broken load chain with ordinary Grade 80 chain?

No. Hoist chain is fine-tolerance Grade T chain to EN 818-7, made to mesh with the pocket wheel. General Grade 80 sling chain has a different pitch tolerance and will not run correctly. Order the replacement by hoist model and chain size.

How much hand chain do I need?

Enough for the operator to stand comfortably on the floor and pull downward without reaching. Add the lift height to the height of the operator's hands, and add a little more if the block is mounted high. It is one of the cheapest options to specify and one of the most annoying to get wrong.

Why is my chain hoist hard to pull?

Check first that the chain is not twisted or kinked and that the load is within capacity — a chain hoist close to its limit is hard work by design. If the load is light and it is still stiff, the chain may be dry, the guide rollers worn, or the brake dragging. Never use the slipping clutch as a way to get past a stiff lift.

Can I use a chain hoist to lift people?

No. Lifting persons is excluded by the relevant standards and by every manufacturer's manual, including ours. Use a purpose-designed personnel hoist or a certified access platform.