Chains Problems with Front Tire Chains

[narcnh]

Well, I spent almost two hours trying to fit a pair of 2-link ladder chains to the front tires of my B7800 with turfs (24x8.5x14) with no luck. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif The size from tirechains.com was 25x8.5x14 and the guy I spoke to here told me that I would probably have to remove a cross chain to get them to fit. I took off two on one side and three on the other and they still don't fit right. On the plus side I am now an expert at removing cross chains and can get one off with a flat screw driver in about a minute, but that is not a skill that will get me very far in life I think.

After futzing with the chains for all that time they both came off in the first five minutes of use. When they were on they came awful close to the steering arms, too. I had so much slack chain hanging on the inside of the tire that I had to use twist ties to tie them up to the chain along the tire to keep them from wrapping. If they had worked I would have just hacksawed the excess chain off. Yes, I used tensioners.

I managed to clear all the ice and snow from around the garage and house with those chains sitting in a pile on the porch, and I am getting pretty good at moving snow with only chains on the rear, but I really wanted those chains on the front to help with steering. Now, I'm out $100 bucks. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Anyone have any luck getting these things to stay on turfs?

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't use chains....drive isn't steep enough and haven't had enough problems to justify the cost.
However, aren't there supposed to be elastic straps the run across the height of the tire (not the tread!) that keep those chains on? I know I've seen pictures of such a thing.
Also, maybe you could use 4 or 6 bungee cords. 2 or 3 on the outer side and same on the inner side.

Just an opinion, I'm sure those folks who use chains frequently will pop in on this thread.

 

[Deerlope]

Bungee cord does make a good chain tightener. 2 on each side of the tire, something like a cross pattern works well. If all you want is extra steering control you might want to think about studded tires. Try putting the chains on again and get them as tight as you can, then put the bungee cords on. The exra links can be wired so they don't flop around. If he chains stay on run them for a while cause they will strecth,then tighten them again,then you might want to cut off some of the extra links.Another way to get them real tight is to deflate the tire a little, put the chain on then re-inflate the tire they should be super tight then. The chain should hang down the sidewall to within about 3or4 inches from the rim.

 

[beenthere]

Its been my experience that if chains will only stay on with extra bungee cords, then they don't fit right. It sounds like yours have cross chains that are too long as well as side chains that are too long (and you already know that). Maybe the cross-section of the links is also too big, meaning the maker used tire chains that were just cut shorter from chains that were designed for larger tires.

Properly fitted chains do not need any extra help, like crosses, springs, and straps to hold them in place. In tough going, these trappings are not strong enough to hold a sloppy chain on the tire. Just my opinion. But it works for me.

I also don't tighten the chains so tight that they can't move a bit when they go around the moving wheel. I like them to shake loose ahead of the tire when it meets the ground (snow, ice) and seem to be more effective.

Lastly, I don't find any need for chains on my front tires. I use the left/right individual brakes to assist the steering, and it works well when the rears are properly ballasted and chained. Wish you luck in finding a solution.

 

[Rowski]

I agree with beenthere.

A proper fitting chain does not need any help staying on.

 

[chim]

Did you spend time in PA, or is "futzing" universally understood? I thought "futzing" was something like "yooks" (sp?, rhymes with books) or "spritz".

Anyway, I used chains on a 2WD International a number of years ago. The chains didn't have a bad fit, but I found that springs like the ones used on old wooden screen doors worked very well. To install them, I didn't hook them on the side chains. They just passed around the side chains at 5 or 6 places and the two spring ends were hooked together with an S hook. This gave the spring the shape of pentagon/hexagon and allowed things to move a bit and adjust themselves....................chim

 

[narcnh]

chim, I grew up in 'Joisey' and 'futz' is used in place of a stronger 'f' word in polite circles. I always assumed it was Yiddish, but all the dictionaries just report is as slang.

Thanks for the advice (and to several others, who posted on bungees, etc.). As I mentioned, I acutally have tensionsers for the front chains (have them on the back chains, too, and they seem to work great); but they didn't do the trick.

beenthere, I may try the braking trick to turn; I've always used the brakes together, but that sounds like it could really help.

When I'm done futzing around I like to have a spritz. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Junkman]

One trick to having the chains stay on and be tight at the same time is to raise the wheel off the ground and let the air out of it. Then install the chain as tightly as possible even if you have to compress the tire a little. Then re inflate the tire and that chain will be so tight that you will need to reverse the procedure in the spring to remove the chains.....

 

[slowzuki]

Junkman, I've tried that technique in the past but it doesn't seem to work well on smaller tires with low inflation pressures.

I've thought of trying a chain load binder to tenison chains, that would be the shiznit (more slang!)