Threw a chain again...

[Mowbizz]

2nd time this winter. Finished plowing with one chain on rear. Think I will hang up the thrown chain and finish the winter with the one chain. Any harm in doing so?

 

[CobyRupert]

Nope, other than the harm to one's self-pride, dignity, and manhood, in having to admit being defeated by a tire chain; ....but maybe that's just me. I have issues.
Probably no harm to the tractor.

...unless something really weird happens like the tractor twists sideways and you break a front tire spindle or something.

 

[LouNY]

What style and size of chain?
Do they come down on the sides of the tire far enough?
Any pics?
Usually if both sides of the chains are the same length they stay on well,
If one side is shorter then the other is when I've had them try to walk off.

 

[Thomas]

You be okay if not icy.
Have consider letting air out tire fitting chain than added air for tighter fit?

 

[diesel85]

Yup, sounds like it wasn't tight enough.

When I was on the farm.. hehe, I would get nice long chain and a ratcheting load binder and make my own tire chain setup. I'd do a simple cris-cross setup then bind it. Worked like a charm too.

Any little bit of excess I just leave hanging. I liked the noise of chain... lol

 

[Mowbizz]

What style and size of chain?
Do they come down on the sides of the tire far enough?
Any pics?
Usually if both sides of the chains are the same length they stay on well,
If one side is shorter then the other is when I've had them try to walk off.

Chains were purchased by the tire size so they do fit. Last time one came off it had bent the connector link.
I havent looked at this one yet...just threw it in a bucket.

 

[Mowbizz]

You be okay if not icy.
Have consider letting air out tire fitting chain than added air for tighter fit?

Extremely icy here but I got through the plowing okay. I did use the rear end “lock” pedal a few times and only had a couple of slides...

 

[Mowbizz]

You be okay if not icy.
Have consider letting air out tire fitting chain than added air for tighter fit?

Yes, when I went to put the chains on before the snows I found the valve stems were shot. I bought new stems and a kit to install them on the tractor. The I aired down chained up then aired up.

 

[Mowbizz]

Yup, sounds like it wasn't tight enough.

When I was on the farm.. hehe, I would get nice long chain and a ratcheting load binder and make my own tire chain setup. I'd do a simple cris-cross setup then bind it. Worked like a charm too.

Any little bit of excess I just leave hanging. I liked the noise of chain... lol

I use the chain tighteners that take up most of the slack. Then airing up until tight...

 

[atsah]

Just got off my tractor and saw the side connector undone, almost threw it myself, anything can happen, mine are tight as can be, it amazes me how they come undone.

 

[Oldoak]

Try putting the chains on with the chain connectors running in the opposite direction. Of the three different sets of chains that I have owned, two sets came with diagrams of how to mount the chains and which direction the couplings should rotate. Never had any disconnect or thrown a chain even running with a small amount of slack.

f that doesn't keep the couplings from becoming undone, secure them with a wrap or tow of wire. Bailing wire is old farmers' duct tape.

I nor any of farmers that I know have ever let air out of the tires in order to chain up. Never required the chains to be that tight.

 

[Oldoak]

Deleted my double post.

 

[atsah]

Ya I'm gonna wrap some wire around them.

 

[crazyal]

The mfg of my chains say to leave them a little loose. I use to put them on tight but the last few years I haven't. I've had one come off when tight (in about 7 years of use) and not one come loose in the last two years of being loose. It seams like before they come off they kind of wander. Simply looking at the side of the tire and seeing that the chain is no longer centered is a hint that it needs to be adjusted.

 

[fruitcakesa]

The mfg of my chains say to leave them a little loose. I use to put them on tight but the last few years I haven't. I've had one come off when tight (in about 7 years of use) and not one come loose in the last two years of being loose. It seams like before they come off they kind of wander. Simply looking at the side of the tire and seeing that the chain is no longer centered is a hint that it needs to be adjusted.

This saved me from throwing a front wheel chain the other day.
I removed the bungee holding it on, readjusted the chain and all is good.

 

[Mowbizz]

The mfg of my chains say to leave them a little loose. I use to put them on tight but the last few years I haven't. I've had one come off when tight (in about 7 years of use) and not one come loose in the last two years of being loose. It seams like before they come off they kind of wander. Simply looking at the side of the tire and seeing that the chain is no longer centered is a hint that it needs to be adjusted.

That might be my next trick...the thing is when the chains are being put on it seems the link you can get to connect is the right one...moving it back to the previous link would be a lot easier to close that cam hook.

 

[SDT]

Chains were purchased by the tire size so they do fit. Last time one came off it had bent the connector link.
I havent looked at this one yet...just threw it in a bucket.

Too loose.

Chains will not move if properly fitted and properly tight.

Tire chains are manufactured to fit more than a single size tire. I've never bought a set that did not need fitting.

SDT

 

[Mowbizz]

Oy-vey! Too tight...too loose...how about just right? Everyone has their opinion on how chains should fit...
I guess I will keep trying and what the heck, only 2 weeks til MARCH!! Yay!

 

[Oldoak]

Oy-vey! Too tight...too loose...how about just right? Everyone has their opinion on how chains should fit...
I guess I will keep trying and what the heck, only 2 weeks til MARCH!! Yay!

I know what you mean. And I really don't understand all the problems people are having with chains.

Over the years, of the tractors I have owned and other farm tractors I have used, we never had a problem with chains slipping and never had thrown a chain. And never heard of partially deflating tires in order to chain up and then adding air. Never ran chains that tight. Never used bungee cords or spring tensioners on the the outsides either.

When mounting chains we always just pulled them as tight as we could get them, which always left a little slack. And sometime had to take up a link after running with them for the first time. I guess you could call that fit "just about right".

Less of a matter of opinion of what's right, rather, what ever works for individual people.........

 

[Dave M7040]

Many new chain designs are much more sized to the tire than the old ladder style.

Having the correct tool to get them tight makes a world of difference.

After three years with my expensive TRYGG chains, I spent $279 and bought their tool.
It is like having a gorilla help you.

You can make your own tool along the lines of the red or green ones.

Dave M7040