Installing OFA - EKO 8 & 9 Studded Chains

[OrangeAgain]

I recently bought my OFA chains for my Kioti RX7320PC farm tractor and am installing them. I am not experienced with installing chains on anything and although I have viewed the instructions and videos, I have the following questions.

What are the two holes on the end of the side easterners for? A cotter pin? ?

Once the two ends meet when installed on the tractor, I have about 22 left on each side. What do I do with the extra length?

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have the same chains. The two holes are for a safety wire which will prevent the hook from coming undone. Stick a short piece of fence wire thru, wrap it back and twist the two ends together. When you have the chains fully mounted the way you want them or are sure about how they will mount and fit cut the excess chain off with an angle grinder and thin cut off disc. On new chains I usually leave some extra links on the side chains for future adjustments if needed. After I run them a while I cut the extra off.

I ran mine w/o safety wires for two years and they stayed on fine but last year I did lose two shackles which also have safety wire holes. Now I safety wire everything.

gg

 

[OrangeAgain]

Gordon; Where are you in NE Vermont? I am in Albany, VT.

I have the same chains. The two holes are for a safety wire which will prevent the hook from coming undone. Stick a short piece of fence wire thru, wrap it back and twist the two ends together. When you have the chains fully mounted the way you want them or are sure about how they will mount and fit cut the excess chain off with an angle grinder and thin cut off disc. On new chains I usually leave some extra links on the side chains for future adjustments if needed. After I run them a while I cut the extra off.

I ran mine w/o safety wires for two years and they stayed on fine but last year I did lose two shackles which also have safety wire holes. Now I safety wire everything.

gg

 

[Gordon Gould]

Waterford - Between St. J and Littleton, NH

gg

 

[John_Mc]

I ran mine w/o safety wires for two years and they stayed on fine but last year I did lose two shackles which also have safety wire holes. Now I safety wire everything.

Interesting. 2 years was how long I went before I lost my first shackle. Not having any safety wire handy, I put some thread locker on each of them.

BTW - good luck getting replacement shackles out of Reed Supply. I put a hardware store one on mine. It's a bit different shape than the original, and I'm a bit worried about it wearing on the tire as a result. I've been waiting several months for Reeds to send me some replacements. (They've been very responsive for everything else I've dealt with them on.)

 

[Imold]

Mechanic Wire next best thing to Gorilla Tape.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Interesting. 2 years was how long I went before I lost my first shackle. Not having any safety wire handy, I put some thread locker on each of them.

BTW - good luck getting replacement shackles out of Reed Supply. I put a hardware store one on mine. It's a bit different shape that the original, and Im a bit worried about it wearing on the tire as a result. I've been waiting several months for Reeds to send me some replacements. (They've been very responsive for everything else I've dealt with them on.)

I never thought to go back to Reed's. I went the hardware store and McMaster-Carr root and couldn't find any long narrow ones like you said. Finally found some on a sail boat rigging supplier site and ordered them. In the mean time I had to use the tractor so bought some standard cross chain hooks. After putting them on I didn't see why I needed shackles any more. It seemed to me that the shackles were just for the initial adjustment in case you had to move the last couple cross chains. I bent over the hooks and made them permanent and they match the rest of the chain. So I have a couple spare expensive stainless steel long skinny shackles.

Cross chain hooks

https://www.autozone.com/snow-chain...n-dia-heavy-truck-cross-chain-hook/492469_0_0

gg

 

[LouNY]

I try and keep some spare shackles on hand as I have lost a few,
I just ordered 10, 1/4" and 10, 5/16" the 1/4" are $2.82 each where I ordered from.
5/16" Stainless Steel Screw Pin D Shackle

 

[John_Mc]

I try and keep some spare shackles on hand as I have lost a few,
I just ordered 10, 1/4" and 10, 5/16" the 1/4" are $2.82 each where I ordered from.
5/16" Stainless Steel Screw Pin D Shackle

Thanks, Lou. I'll order a few myself. My OFA EKO 8 chains have the 5/16" (8mm) size. I found some inexpensive ones on Amazon, but they were 304 stainless. 304 is corrosion resistant, but 316 grade of the ones you linked is more resistant, and is especially resistant to chlorides (including road salt).

 

[OrangeAgain]

Is stainless steel necessary? I would think that galvanized would work fine.

I try and keep some spare shackles on hand as I have lost a few,
I just ordered 10, 1/4" and 10, 5/16" the 1/4" are $2.82 each where I ordered from.
5/16" Stainless Steel Screw Pin D Shackle