No chains in Colorado so......

[Lynkage]

there are no tire chains in CO. !!
So whats a guy to do? Search and Search.
No one has anything. No car chains or tractor. Even hard to get snow shovels. so what did I do?

Make your own. Run to lowes and get 2 50' boxes of 5/16 HT and 1/4 HT chain, some 1/4 repair links come home cut with bolt cutter and weld!! I will post some pics.

Has anyone ever made tire chains?

 

[BTDT]

That's probably how the first set came about. Guy was snowed in and got tired of wife complaining about ________(fill in blank), and decided, I think I'll go tinker around in garage. Another great idea born.

 

[Thomas]

I saw on the weather map you folks are getting beat on again from old man winter...yikes.

If now chains are to be had yeah I would scoot down to hardward store,also purchase handful good bungee cords to keep the slack in check...weld??

 

[dirtworksequip]

I made a set for my brothers pedal tractor about 40 years ago. Did you make a set for the fronts or rears or both?

 

[Lynkage]

Just rears so far. I welded the links where I put them together.
Here are some pics.

 

[Thomas]

Thanks for sharing the pics,and now I understand when you wrote weld...be interesting to see what rear set of chains as you made would cost over the counter.

 

[EarPlug]

Thanks for sharing the pics,and now I understand when you wrote weld...be interesting to see what rear set of chains as you made would cost over the counter.

Per Tire Chains by Tirechains.com $500-$800

 

[johnk]

Lynkage,

How did you ever get the dimensions to start the project? Did you measure up the rears or ghave specs from somewhere?

 

[Lynkage]

Lynkage,

How did you ever get the dimensions to start the project? Did you measure up the rears or ghave specs from somewhere?

I just measured the tire and then when I had a radius that I liked, I mesured from there over the tire to the otherside.

 

[dillo99]

Great idea lynkage...and what a money saver. Any idea how long the whole project took?

 

[Farwell]

Lynkage,
Your chains look just like the ones I put on my tractor last Friday. Mine cost me around $240 for the set, that included shipping. I purchased them from a place that was mentioned on one of the TBN threads. I cut the excess chain off with a hack saw and was surprised at how easy they cut. I thought that the chains would have been made from a hardened material, maybe that is not necessary on tractors that do not travel at high speeds on pavement.
You did a great job, thanks for sharing.
David B

 

[markct]

Lynkage,
Your chains look just like the ones I put on my tractor last Friday. Mine cost me around $240 for the set, that included shipping. I purchased them from a place that was mentioned on one of the TBN threads. I cut the excess chain off with a hack saw and was surprised at how easy they cut. I thought that the chains would have been made from a hardened material, maybe that is not necessary on tractors that do not travel at high speeds on pavement.
You did a great job, thanks for sharing.
David B

only the crosslinks are hard on tire chains, they are what take the wear. i have put regular chain in place of a crosslink a couple times and you wouldnt believe how fast they wear out even just on a tractor, i have a feeling that in the long run this guys homemade tire chains will be shortlived but if its all ya can get then thats how it is.

 

[Lynkage]

Lynkage,
Your chains look just like the ones I put on my tractor last Friday. Mine cost me around $240 for the set, that included shipping. I purchased them from a place that was mentioned on one of the TBN threads. I cut the excess chain off with a hack saw and was surprised at how easy they cut. I thought that the chains would have been made from a hardened material, maybe that is not necessary on tractors that do not travel at high speeds on pavement.
You did a great job, thanks for sharing.
David B

I made my chains from High Test grade 43 chain zinc coated. Chains I found online that are comparable are going for about $500 plus shipping of 170lb ($70-100). So far I have about $250 into the project. It took 2 evenings to make them about 5 hrs each night.

 

[Farwell]

I made my chains from High Test grade 43 chain zinc coated. Chains I found online that are comparable are going for about $500 plus shipping of 170lb ($70-100). So far I have about $250 into the project. It took 2 evenings to make them about 5 hrs each night.

I wondered why my chains were so cheap. I have not checked the hardness of the cross links. I will check them with a file.
On the chains I bought there is an area of about 24 inches where there is no cross links, never having been around tractor chains, is this normal or did I get short changed. I think I will use your method and add some cross links in the empty space just for the experience.

 

[Lynkage]

That is a good idea!
To make it easy just put your chains on and then put a piece of chain over the tire then you will know how long to make it.