recoiless lever binder

Recoilless Lever Load Binders – All What You Need to Know

What are Recoilless Lever Binders and Why It is Important?

Lever binders, in general, are a method of securing cargo on a flatbed truck. Flatbed cargo loads typically utilize straps or chains to bind the load and secure it to the truck bed. To secure the load properly, the strap or chain is tightened; the force of the tension is what keeps the load secure.

There are two kinds of binders used by flatbed truckers in America: the lever binder and the ratchet binder. The latter option is increasingly becoming the preferred kind of binder because it is generally considered safer and easier to use. Yet there are times when the lever binder is the better tool for the job.

Recoilless lever binders could save your life. By utilizing a cam-action to disperse tension, they eliminate the primary source of severe or lethal injuries related to load securement.

Mytee Products carries several different binder models that our customers can choose from. If you are new to the trucking industry, we certainly want you to be safe and It is for this reason that we decided to put together a blog post providing all the basic information you need to know about one of our more popular products: the recoilless lever binder from Durabilt.

recoiless lever binder

Heavy-duty, Steel Tensioning Mechanism:

A lever binder is a heavy-duty steel tensioning mechanism. It’s a way of increasing the tension in a G70 chain the precise amount you need in order to secure the haul. When it’s time to unload the cargo, the lever binder is also used to decrease the tension and loosen the chain. This is done by cranking the lever back and forth. However, lever binders can be dangerous. In a recent article, we noted that OSHA has recorded 60 severe injuries and deaths from lever-binder accidents in the past ten years.

Almost all of these cases involved incredible tension building up in the lever, then being abruptly released. In these instances, the steel lever whipped forward with extreme force and struck the user, which caused severe–and sometimes deadly–injury.

Fortunately, in addition to best practices and using a ratchet binder instead, there’s a safer lever-binder option: recoilless lever binders.

With recoilless lever binders, you get the leverage and tensioning speed of a traditional lever binder, but without the risk of the lever whipping forward unexpectedly due to tension. Recoilless lever binders use cam-action to disperse tension, rather than letting it build up in the lever itself.

How to Use Recoilless Lever Binders:

Step 1. Connect Grab-Hooks:

Connect grab-hooks (also called tension hooks) to any two points on the G70 chain you’re using to secure the load. Make sure to connect the recoilless lever binder to points that are distant enough they can be reasonably tightened to secure the load, and also easily accessible to you.

step 1 - connect grab hooksThis means, connect the recoilless lever binder to points in the chain you can easily reach and maneuver without using a cheater bar to lengthen the lever handle.

Step 2. Add Tension to The Chain:

step 2 - add tension to chain

Add tension to the chain to tighten it and secure the load. To do this, use leverage to maneuver the lever bar back and forth. The independent cam mechanism will keep the tension from building up in the lever to reduce the risk of recoil.

Step 3. Take Safety Precautions:

Whether you’re tightening the chain or releasing the tension, make sure to take safety precautions. A recoilless lever binder reduces the risk of a lever snapping back due to built-up tension, but that doesn’t mean sustaining an injury is impossible.

Key safety guidelines

  • Make sure only one person is operating the lever binder at a time.
  • Keep your feet planted firmly on the ground; do not jump on the bar or climb onto the load
  • Keep yourself out of the potential “line of fire” in case you lose your grip; make sure the direction of the lever’s movement runs parallel to your torso and can’t hit your head or neck if it snaps. Don’t ever lean over the lever.
  • Bind and unbind at a steady pace. Sometimes stress or other mishaps can cause a person to feel rushed. But hurrying doesn’t actually save time, and it CAN cause an injury. When you feel like rushing, channel your inner zen monk: “Nature never rushes, yet everything gets done.”

Step 4. Set Lever Parallel with Chain:

step 4 - set lever parallel with chain

When the chain is tight enough and the load is secure, set the lever so it is parallel with the chain. In order to reduce the risk that residual tension might cause the lever to spontaneously spring open, which could dangerously loosen the chain, lock the lever in place using a lock pin or a safety locking clip.

Types of Recoilless Lever Binders

Recoilless lever binders vary in three ways: brand, strength (that is, Working Load Limit), and size. Let’s unpack these variables.

A. Brand of Lever Binders:

There more brands in the lever binder market than we could possibly list here. When you’re looking for a lever binder, consider asking the following questions about any given brand’s reputation:

Q.1 Does the brand follow DOT safety regulations?

This includes things like marking the working load limit and breaking strength on the binder in a clearly visible way and meeting or exceeding standards for strength and durability.

Q.2 Is the brand known for using high-quality materials?

For load binders, you’ll be looking for heavy-duty steel, ideally coated or plated for rust-resistance.

Q.3 Does the brand’s product have any unique, patented elements that improve safety, durability, or strength?

Many brands, including QuikBinder, Kinedyne, and Mytee, have exclusive patents on unique load binder products.

Q.4 Is the brand cost-effective?

Make sure you stay within your budget! The highest-priced binder isn’t always the highest quality. Make sure to shop around and look for deals.

B. Working Load Limit:

The Working Load Limit (WLL) is a load binder’s breaking strength divided by three. If the weight of your load exceeds a binder or chain’s WLL, you’ll need to use multiple chains and binders and space them evenly. The load binder’s WLL is clearly marked and labeled on the product itself, which is mandatory under DOT law.

You never know what you’ll be hauling in the future, so it’s a good idea to stock up!

C. Size:

G70 transport chains come in different sizes, lengths, and degrees of thickness. In order to choose the right recoilless lever binder, know what size chain you’re working with. Make sure the chain is compatible with the hooks on your binder in terms of size and thickness.

Conclusion

A recoilless lever binder is a great, helpful tool to have in your load binders arsenal. At Mytee, we want you to haul safe and earn more– that’s why we make a point of selling high-quality products at affordable prices.

Unlike the other guys, we cut out the middleman, so we can sell high-quality products while passing our savings onto you! Don’t choose second-rate binders because you’re on a tight budget. Instead, check out our wide selection of heavy-duty steel recoilless lever binders, starting at just $21.99.

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