Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Fitting chains R4

[OZisKTB]

Based on TBN advice i bought 2 link chains for my R4s for this snow season. Heavy for my old bones, and awkward to drape over.

I've seen some nice videos of hooking the chains to voids in the rims, and moving forward pulling the chains over most of the tire.

My John Deere lacks voids to easily connect the chains for this type of operation.

Anyone else have some muscle saving techniques for getting these heavy, awkward beasties :mur: in place for connecting and tightening?

Thanks!

 

[cerlawson]

I grab the middle and drape them equally front and back. The attach the insides (ends) if I can, or add a wire between the ends. On the outside I also connect if I can or add a wire. Then drive enough to get one end far enuff under or showing that the usual procedure can then proceed. Usually I have the insides tighter than outside to start and finally take up the outside slack after some driving.

 

[dave1949]

You could make up a chain 'leader' out of light chain. Like pulling a heavy cable with a smaller wire or rope. I haven't tried this, my wheels have slots to pass a pulling chain through. I jack up the rear of the tractor to mount the chains turning the tire by hand to pull the chain up using the leverage of the tire radius.

Here is how it could work:

Layout the real tire chain, right side up, straight behind the rear tire it will be mounted on. Attach a ladder chain--made-up of the light leader chain--to the end of the real chain nearest the tire. The made-up ladder chain should be wide enough to stay on the tire without slipping off to the side.

Drape the made-up ladder chain over the tire and all the way to the ground in front of the tire.

Drive forward. You might have to stop every couple feet and move the chains into alignment.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Next time you buy a tractor just put some R-3's (lawn and garden tread) on it. I can't believe how much traction I have in snow and I don't have to bother with chains at all. If you have ice just blow the snow onto the ice, wait a bit, and then blow it off again. You'll have all the traction you need.

 

[George2615]

You could make up a chain 'leader' out of light chain. Like pulling a heavy cable with a smaller wire or rope. I haven't tried this, my wheels have slots to pass a pulling chain through. I jack up the rear of the tractor to mount the chains turning the tire by hand to pull the chain up using the leverage of the tire radius.

Here is how it could work:

Layout the real tire chain, right side up, straight behind the rear tire it will be mounted on. Attach a ladder chain--made-up of the light leader chain--to the end of the real chain nearest the tire. The made-up ladder chain should be wide enough to stay on the tire without slipping off to the side.

Drape the made-up ladder chain over the tire and all the way to the ground in front of the tire.

Drive forward. You might have to stop every couple feet and move the chains into alignment.

Agree, I also jack up the back, hang the chain on the R4 lugs and rotate the tire around. I can do both rears in about 8 minutes or less (including jacking time).

 

[dave1949]

Agree, I also jack up the back, hang the chain on the R4 lugs and rotate the tire around. I can do both rears in about 8 minutes or less (including jacking time).

Takes me 8 minutes to clear a path to get the floor jack to the tractor. :laughing:

Mounting all four chains takes me about 2 hours. My rear chains are heavy, 3/8" with studs. I don't think I could get the chain up on the tire without some leverage. Even if I could lift the chain, I'm not going to be able to do anything with it.

If had it to do over, I would probably look for a lighter, easier mounting chain but these chains work well after wrestling them on. I leave them on all winter, so it's only once per year.

Just a friendly reminder--raise your FEL before jacking up the rear of a tractor.

 

[George2615]

Takes me 8 minutes to clear a path to get the floor jack to the tractor. :laughing:

Mounting all four chains takes me about 2 hours. My rear chains are heavy, 3/8" with studs. I don't think I could get the chain up on the tire without some leverage. Even if I could lift the chain, I'm not going to be able to do anything with it.

If had it to do over, I would probably look for a lighter, easier mounting chain but these chains work well after wrestling them on. I leave them on all winter, so it's only once per year.

Just a friendly reminder--raise your FEL before jacking up the rear of a tractor.

My rear chains are 4 link ladder not the every 2 link. They are 3/8" and are heavy. I jack up the rear on a level surface and put it in neutral. Chains are laid on floor behind tractor. I lift one end of the chain about a foot and hook that on the R4 lugs then rotate the tire to use its leverage to pull the chain around. Then connect the inside link first then the outer link. Last is 2 bungees across the wheel to keep them tight. Front chains are easier. Just use the loader to raise the wheels off the ground then put the chains on. Before using this method I would always hurt my back trying to lift the chain and drape it over the tire which is really hard to do with fenders.

 

[joeyd]

I lay out all 4 chains then drive onto them then lift them over the top and connect the inside first. Thank goodness the fronts aren't as big as the rears! I also leave them on all winter. Mine are 4 link v-bars and I ripped sheets of OSB to put on the floor to save it. Three winters on the same boards and I'm sure I have a couple of more to go before I have to replace them.

 

[dave1949]

This is the style of Tellefsdal chain I have for the rears, light v-bars on the fronts.



I use recycled tire horse stall mats on the floor. We had some extras that used to be in a dog kennel. They are probably worth buying for ice chain parking on concrete for mid-size and up CUT tractors. Water proof and seem to never wear out.

 

[FatTire]

This is the style of Tellefsdal chain I have for the rears, light v-bars on the fronts.

View attachment 389082

I use recycled tire horse stall mats on the floor. We had some extras that used to be in a dog kennel. They are probably worth buying for ice chain parking on concrete for mid-size and up CUT tractors. Water proof and seem to never wear out.

Nice set of chains. Do you log in the winter?