Chains New chains...Does this look right ???!!!

[Anonymous Poster]

HI,

Happy as a pig in sugar to have got my new chains in just one day after ordering them...BUT...

I don't have the right tensioners...they will arrive on Monday. Put the chains on today. I have NEVER seen chains this loose before. Can this be right? Do you think I was sent the wrong size chains?

My feeling is that these are the wrong size for my 12.4x16 tires.

What do you guys think??? I put a couple plastic bottles between the tire and the chain for reference. One is a quart the other bottle is a half gallon.

Could even heavy duty tensioners be expected to pull these chains tight enough for satisfactory use?

I kind of doubt it...but what do I know?

Appreciate any input! The inside is as tight as it will go, and the outside is as well. I will post three pictures.

Bill...frustrated...in Pgh, PA

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Here is a second shot...both sides are the same by the way...

 

[Anonymous Poster]

this is the outside connector. Can't make it tighter without cutting off one fo the cross chains, as far as I can see...

The inside is as tight as it will go also...

Grateful for any thoughts...

Bill

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Gee...maybe I can answer my own question!

Looks like correct chaiin for my tire size is tirechains.com number 849.

The boxes that were delivered have 2-link 850 written on them. My guess is that they sent the wrong ones...one sizse too large.

The order entry page on their web site calls out 849, as does the email confirmation I received...

Bummer...

Anyway, enjoy the photos if your are into chains and rubber.../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I will report the resolution to this after I call them on Monday!

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[Hydraman]

Yep-- they need to be shorter!! One thing about chains,, they are easy to make shorter!!! Don

 

[Anonymous Poster]

HI,

I did a little more checking and figured out exactly what happened.

I was sent chains for 13.6x16 tires. If I were to shorten these I would end up with one [or two?] less cross links...

So I am sure they have to go back and the proper ones sent to me. I hope they have the proper ones in stock!

Easy turns into difficult sometimes! Such is life!

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[Boondox]

Bill -- The chains look fine to me. You just need a bigger tractor! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Pete

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Bigger tractor...YEA!

That what I keep saying to my wife...well at least I have been pointing those comments at the kitchen.../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Unfortunately, she is visiting her home and is out of the country...so my comments are falling the floor I guess...

Better get that idea out of my system...the new B2910 is only 3 months old...

Bill

 

[Anonymous Poster]

What you have there is a failure to communicate! Fortunately, for you, they sent chains that are too long, and not too short. Back a few years, it was common to get over length chains, cause it was cheaper to stock a few sizes rather than hundreds of sizes.
If youhave the specs, check to see if the cross chains on the #849 and #850 chain set are the same. If so, just cut off the excess side chain and buckle them up. It's a lot better to install the chain first and then cut the side chain with a pair of bolt cutters. Side chains are soft, cross chains are hard as h#11. Save what you cut off for future repairs.
If the cross chains on the 849 set are shorter than on the 850 set, make em send the right chains. Too long of cross chains will chew up the paint on the wheels. The side chain should ride on the tire, not the wheel.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi.

<font color=blue>What you have there is a failure to communicate! </font color=blue>

No, I don't think so. They confirmed my order as the 849, but sent the 850...

Frankly, I don't want to bother cutting anything. I think since the only difference is the tire width, the number of cross chains should be the same on both the 12.4 and 13.6 tires. To make what I was sent work on my tires, I would have to lose a cross chain or two...a loss that I don't want to take.

Anyway, from what I can see, these guys will make it right and the only hassle will be me putting the chains back into a box and getting them to UPS.

Mistakes are made and I can live with that. Bad for both sides...I lose time and they lose money paying shipping three times in stead of one time.

Sheet...

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[Thomas]

You have to pay to ship they chains back,after they said it was there mistake /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif than on top of that pay shipping for the right set of chains?? /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif doesn't seem fair.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi,

<font color=blue>You have to pay to ship they chains back,after they said it was there mistake </font color=blue>

Sorry for any confusion! I meant shipping must be paid three times by someone...

First time by me...and second and third time by them [return of the originals and shipping of the right ones.

I am assuming that they will pay the shipping costs since they sent the wrong item. Had I ordered the wrong item, then I would be expected to pay all the shipping costs.

Mistakes happen...I lose time dealing with it, they lose time and money for additional shipping. I have to track my credit card charges and make sure they credit me for the chains when the receive them back, if I want them to send the right ones to me before they get the wrong ones back...

I have to call them on Monday morning and get this straightened out...my limited dealings with them indicate they are good people, so I guess they will make this right.

Either way I will post an update /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[BigDave]

I bought from tirechains.com last week too. Luckily, they fit my tractor. I also got their little binder tool, which was very helpful in installing the tensioner springs. Here's some photos.

 

[BigDave]

Here's a close-up of the front tire. The front chains are much lighter weight than the rear chains. I would guess they are half the diameter of the rear links.

 

[banjobj]

I purchased chains from tirechains.com for my TC 21 D. I received them and installed them and they fit about like yours did. I called tirechains. com and was told I would have to cut the chains and that was the way they sent them plenty long. I thought that was not right since I had given them my tire size, tire type and tractor model, you would think with this info they could give an exact fit. Needless to say I cut the chains to fit and wasn't very happy about it. Bottom line it will probably be to your advantage to either cut them or have someone cut them for you. I won't buy from tirechains.com next time. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[BigDave]

Last shot: the rear chains. I think, I will try to add one or two more cross links near the connector. Currently there's almost a foot with no cross link chains. I'm not sure if it is a fit issue, a design issue, or if they were just trying to save a buck or two.

Special Event: It the first time my wife posed with the tractor. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>It the first time my wife posed with the tractor</font color=blue>

I'll bet it won't be the last time, though, judging by that big smile./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[beenthere]

BigDave
Your chains on the rear tires don't look like they are on correctly. Evidence is that about 10 - 11 o'clock, there are two cross links that are practically on top of each other, yet the spacing on the side chain looks like it is the same as the others (every other one). I think if you move those cross links around so they are evenly spaced on the tire, you will find that the space between the connectors is filled in rather than in need of more cross links. If that is the way you want them, fine by me. But I think you will find that, with use, they will want to move around on the tire and will become very loose even tho the spring tighteners will work hard to keep them tight. My guess is that the side chains are plenty long and you will need to take off some of that length.
Before putting on the tighteners, I would jack up the tire and spin it several times or run it up and down the road to get the cross links to settle in, which should give you a chance to take some links up at the side chain connection. I'd like to see your chains look almost as good as the model posing with them.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Beenthere, is absolutely right. Those chains are way too loose on the tire. If you leave them the way they are, you're going to walk em right off the machine, at the worst possible time, and you can do a lot of damage when it happens.
The cross chains need to be spaced out more, and the side chains need to be tightened, on both the front and rear set.
Then again, I only been running chains on tires for about 45 years, I might be wrong.

 

[BigDave]

<font color=blue> I might be wrong. </font color=blue>

O.K. I am wrong. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif I'll take another try when it snows. The rears are hard to install do to lack of fender room, any suggestions?