Tractor tire Snow Chain Install

[Winmac]

Thanks - while I don't have this pattern I am close. How do you connect the center pattern up? Are you using some sort of shackles or quick links?

These chains have factory installed quick links, turn the links 90 degree and they will interlock, then the weight of the chain holds it together.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Just a tip.
When tightening the chains on your tire use a small hammer and hit the tire a few times. the chains will move with each hit and tighten more easily. Any other tips??? Ed

 

[PILOON]

I make my own tensioners.
Slice an old inner tube about 1 inch wide to make big elastics and add 'S' hooks at each end. Hammer the elastic side closed and voila.
I use an old tractor inner tube for my elastics and install 3 on the outer side of my tires. Works great and cheap!
On occasion I also install one or 2 on the inside as well as it happens that there seems to be the odd cross link that wants to slap the fenders.

 

[powerscol]

Just a tip.
When tightening the chains on your tire use a small hammer and hit the tire a few times. the chains will move with each hit and tighten more easily. Any other tips??? Ed

Thanks Ed - Ill try that

 

[powerscol]

To the OP: the Billrog chain set on the rears is NOT on a R4 tire and consequently your fitment will be somewhat if not totally different. If I were you, I would get what I bought for your rear tires. Aquiline MPC chains fit my R4's well, and provide excellent traction, and are a lower clearance chain than many brands/types. The issue with R4's is most chains get lost in the lugs and traction suffers. These have a bar welded into the traction area for superior grip on ice and snow. I've had mine for three years, rears only, no complaints at all. Why buy custom when these will do the job for you? Check 'em out.

Here's a link to installation and pic #5 shows the install completed on an R4 tire, with no tensioners installed, though you could add them...

http://www.chainandcable.com/cmsAdmin/uploads/TCR_MPCChainINSTALL.pdf

Great link - thanks. This will help a lot.
As to the Aquiline MPC chains I called and got the width dimensions for my tire size. I would have had to shorten the width to fit. I was told they were close to 21 inches wide or more which put the side chain too far down the sidewall on the inside. The custom chains I am considering, Aquiline safety grip, have a similar pattern with V-bars, but will be width sized to have the side chain run just below the tread block. One thing I have discovered is my 15x19.5 Titan R4 tires are narrower then average after looking up the industry standard dimensions.

Anyway all the help here has been great.
Thanks

 

[Coyote machine]

Great link - thanks. This will help a lot.
As to the Aquiline MPC chains I called and got the width dimensions for my tire size. I would have had to shorten the width to fit. I was told they were close to 21 inches wide or more which put the side chain too far down the sidewall on the inside. The custom chains I am considering, Aquiline safety grip, have a similar pattern with V-bars, but will be width sized to have the side chain run just below the tread block. One thing I have discovered is my 15x19.5 Titan R4 tires are narrower then average after looking up the industry standard dimensions.

Anyway all the help here has been great.
Thanks

Well, that sounds even better! I'm sure that you'll be pleased with the Aquilines, and a safety grip sounds like a good solution. I haven't had to do any adjustment to mine, but my tires are likely a bit bigger than your CT235's tire.
Good luck, show pics when you get them.

 

[Coyote machine]

Great link - thanks. This will help a lot.
As to the Aquiline MPC chains I called and got the width dimensions for my tire size. I would have had to shorten the width to fit. I was told they were close to 21 inches wide or more which put the side chain too far down the sidewall on the inside. The custom chains I am considering, Aquiline safety grip, have a similar pattern with V-bars, but will be width sized to have the side chain run just below the tread block. One thing I have discovered is my 15x19.5 Titan R4 tires are narrower then average after looking up the industry standard dimensions.

Anyway all the help here has been great.
Thanks

Well, that sounds even better! I'm sure that you'll be pleased with the Aquilines, and a safety grip sounds like a good solution. I haven't had to do any adjustment to mine, but my tires are likely a bit bigger than your CT235's tire.
Good luck, show pics when you get them.

 

[Billrog]

I have a set of chains I made up and used used on the front tires of my backhoes with industrial tires for years. Last year I bought a different stile if tires and found out when I had to put them on this winter it was a farce . I have the same stile I made for the back with ag. tires and they work just fine.


These are the 2 front tires and the chains didn't do a lot of good. I would have to have H pattern, diamond or rings in the center.

 

[powerscol]

There is a lot of information here. Tomorrow I will start the tweaking of this set and I hope to document the process. With the information I have gathered here and the advice from Quality Chain, I think I can get an excellent fit. Hopefully others have gleamed a bit of knowledge. Supposed to get another 2 inches tonight and a big dump next week, so I had better get busy :thumbsup:

 

[powerscol]

I have a set of chains I made up and used used on the front tires of my backhoes with industrial tires for years. Last year I bought a different stile if tires and found out when I had to put them on this winter it was a farce . I have the same stile I made for the back with ag. tires and they work just fine.


These are the 2 front tires and the chains didn't do a lot of good. I would have to have H pattern, diamond or rings in the center.

There was a thread I ran across where someone modified a set like you have to be more of an H pattern by adding in the middle links. That might help you out. It also appears you still have a lot of slack in the cross links that allow them to drop into the tread blocks. Can you increase the tension to keep the cross links in place. Just curious.

 

[Billrog]

Powerscol I have 100' of square ice chain i bought from when I made up a set for the back tires of my first backhoe & I may just use it to do as you suggest with this set of chains.

 

[Rubberducky]

This is my first attempt at using chains. I actually don't have them on my tractor, but my gator since I will use it to plow. My question is do you guys take the chains off and on or leave them on for the season. I do use the gator to pick the kids up from the bus and run around the neighborhood. Could I do that with the chains on or should I take them off when not needed?

 

[Fallon]

Running them dry or on pavement will tear up pavement & chains quick. Take em off in that use case.

 

[powerscol]

Success......... I trimmed the width by one link and shortened the lead in links and got a very good fit. Pictures tomorrow. Just want to mentioned the folks at Quality Chain stand behind their sales. Give them a call.

 

[powerscol]

First I went and remeasured the tread with on the front tires, and realized I only needed to take one cross link of of the long side. I say long side as the H pattern had 2 cross links to one side chain and 3 to the other side chain, so I shortened the three side to center up the pattern. I started working on the floor, but decided to set up and old door on some saw horses to make things easier.



Took me about two hours to modify each set once I got used to the tools. On think I did have to watch for is how I attached the cross link hook to keep the cross chains from twisting. Once I learned the trick things went quicker. Quality Chain had supplied me with a supply of cross link hooks when made this job much easier. I save the old ones for use with the tensioners. One thing I did learn is the chain material is pretty tough. Took bit of effort to cut the cross links out.

 

[powerscol]

Once I had them trimmed down I took them out to the tractor in the barn and went to adjusting. The only shortening I did was the extra tail lengths. I connected the inside S hook first and them made sure the pattern was centered all around the tire. This time do to the pattern being narrower the inside side link set high enough on the sidewall to not interfere with the steering ball joint. I then went about tightening up the outside and adjusting the cam lock. Took about 30 minutes of tugging and turning to get things centered and the slack equalized. I ended up with the cam lock in the last link, but left 3 so I could get them on next time as I adjusted through the last 3 links in getting things to fit tight. Pictures are of the final fit and after running them for about 1/2 hour. I have some minor tweaking to do but I am very happy with the outcome. I can actually turn now while pushing snow. :thumbsup: I may or may not fill the gap. We will see after clearing the snow were supposed to get today. Thanks for the help folks

 

[powerscol]

Well we did not get the 4" to 8", system went a wee bit north, but plowing out the wet 3" we got was a dream. I can turn now and push a whole lot more. I am still going to get the rear chains to help in side hill slippage on the ice. These chains work perfect and have not moved. Tensioners are working great.

 

[Billrog]

Darn nice looking set of chains you'll be able to go logging now that you have a skidder .

 

[GPintheMitten]

Good set of chains.

I still think it is a lot of work and you have to buy tools to make the product work. Too bad we can't just buy chains that fit, instead of buying a "project".

But you persevered.

 

[skyhook]

Good set of chains.

I still think it is a lot of work and you have to buy tools to make the product work. Too bad we can't just buy chains that fit, instead of buying a "project".

But you persevered.

My thoughts, exactly.