Snow chains question

[thatguy]

Three of my neighbors chipped in and bought me snow chains for the tractor because their driveways are on slight hills and hard to keep tractions on.

I got a 2 link chain from tirechains.com that needed a little adjustment to get them to fit tight enough - had to drop 2 cross links and then removed about 4 side chains that would otherwise be banging around..

My questions is- Are the chains suppose to be straight across or is it 'ok' for them to be a slight diagonal? you can see in the pic that each side drops down in between the lugs and are just slightly angled.



At 56 lbs. per chains they are not the easiest thing to get on, much less trying to reposition them while getting them tight enough that they run straight across.


thanks

b

 

[thatguy]

Ill will add - IF you have to remove any cross links dont waste your time with a hammer and cold chisel.. I spent 45 minutes last night trying that method and could not get one side of a link wide enough to get them off.. I ended up using a long handled screw driver to pry the links open. it only took a few minutes per side doing it that way..

Brian

 

[Looking4new]

Don't forget to tie the loose ends down with zip ties inside and outside and rock 'n' roll!

 

[HillStreet]

Hey guy,

I installed 4 link chains on my turf tires (12.5 x 33) this winter. I got them nice and tight and pretty straight across. Every now and then after I park it, I notice the cross links are kinda slanted. No big deal, next time out they will shift in the lugs.

I was concerned at first but no longer, they don't affect performance. I have a steep driveway and just paved it last fall. Buying chains was a great decision, I can go up and down the hill with the rear blower and no slipping at all.

 

[dave1949]

I don't see a problem with your chain mounting. You could cut off all but three links of those dangling ends. I would save a couple because sometimes it is easier to cinch up first with the second or third link, then re-cinch using the first link once you get the chain pulled into position.

A 4" angle grinder with a steel cutting wheel is your friend for cutting those chains.

 

[Brant]

Contrary to the popular belief around these parts, tractor tire chains should not be tight. Unless you have serious clearance issues and plow at higher speed, they should be very loose by car/truck standards. You should be able to get your fist between the side chain and the tire. Most tensioners are a waste of time. The goal is to continuously drive over the chains and not have them fall between the lugs.

 

[dave1949]

Contrary to the popular belief around these parts, tractor tire chains should not be tight. Unless you have serious clearance issues and plow at higher speed, they should be very loose by car/truck standards. You should be able to get your fist between the side chain and the tire. Most tensioners are a waste of time. The goal is to continuously drive over the chains and not have them fall between the lugs.

There was a discussion about that a while back. I don't see how "driving over the chains" avoids a lug landing between cross chains? There are more lugs than cross chains. I've seen chain mounting instruction videos that show the fist clearance from Tellefsdal, the company that made my chains. I still don't get it.

I do have side clearance problems on the inside. If I turned my wheels around I would have fender clearance problems on the outside. My chains are not "fist" loose, they are loose enough to creep around the tire if there is slippage.

 

[grsthegreat]

tirechains.com says to get them tight. I dont have any slack in mine, and i kept all extra chain .. i just tied it back with pieces of #12 copper wire. I dont want issues if a replacement tire is slightly difference in size or width or ??.

On mine i went with the spring tighteners cause i had a bungie style break on old tractor and chain came off and nearly wrecked wheel well.

 

[dave1949]

tirechains.com says to get them tight. I dont have any slack in mine, and i kept all extra chain .. i just tied it back with pieces of #12 copper wire. I dont want issues if a replacement tire is slightly difference in size or width or ??.

On mine i went with the spring tighteners cause i had a bungie style break on old tractor and chain came off and nearly wrecked wheel well.View attachment 362547

Yah, I've tying back the extra chain for 5 years now. In reality, your tires--being fairly new looking--are going to get smaller and you will have more extra chain. :laughing:

 

[grsthegreat]

Yah, I've tying back the extra chain for 5 years now. In reality, your tires--being fairly new looking--are going to get smaller and you will have more extra chain. :laughing:

on my old JD870, when i replaced the rear tires with the same make goodyear tires, they were larger than original..even though the numbers were the same. with $600 worth of chains, im not taking any chances