Chains Tire Chains for a BX

[RayCo]

I finally got some snow yesterday! I drove around a bit on my BX24, and I slipped around more than I had expected. My driveway's pretty steep, so I'm not incredibly surprised, but it did make me think I could benefit by having chains. I have R4 tires. Can anyone recommend a place that I can order chains online for front and rear?

Thank you

 

[lp333]

Ray, you definitely need chains when it comes to icy slopes in winter. There are a number of good suppliers around. I got mine from tirechain.com, and they just happen to be located in PA.

 

[ttstraw]

Got all 4, front and back for my BX from Tirechains.com. Very quick service/delivery. I have R4's as well and it does make a diff. I can now drag my 6' blade up and down my drive...within reason..I am sure 10-12" of heavy wet snow may stop me going up...but for sure not even close to as much back end sliding with the blade angled.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Anyone have clearance issues with chains? Any pictures of them set up?

 

[ttstraw]

None here, the fronts are the only "close" ones. The tie-rod is right there but i got them real tight and used just simple rubber bungee's to make them even tighter and I have no issues...got about a inch of clearance.

 

[ChuckinNH]

One member here suggested airing down the tires a bit, and then bringing the pressure back to normal after the chains are installed to get the tightness you seek. It sounded like a good plan to me.

 

[DickS]

This subject was discussed in great detail here:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...g/110871-stuck-snow.html?highlight=teachdoc's

 

[lp333]

Anyone have clearance issues with chains?...

On the BX22, BX23 and BX24, there is just enough clearance for the "Two Link Heavy Duty Tractor Chains" from Tirechain.com to work very nicely.

One member here suggested airing down the tires a bit, and then bringing the pressure back to normal after the chains are installed...

That does indeed speed up the installation of chains that have cut to fit snugly on your tires.

 

[ttstraw]

The intent for letting the air out is that you can compress the tire a little while making the chains tight and then when air goes back in they are even tighter. For me I found this almost worthless on the fronts as there is just not a lot of tire to compress on the fronts and the stiff rubber made it pretty much impossible. I just pushed the front up with the bucket and strapped them jokers on as tight as possible. Now the rears, letting some air out of those helped me get them tight. And I did put the H/D 2 link chains on mine.

 

[acohen100]

Ray, I got chains from tirechain for my BX24. I had a couple of issues. First of all I did have clearance problems on the fronts. I got the ones they recommended for that tire size (I think 16.5") and they came too short by about one crossbar. Even so I could not get them to clear the linkage without rubbing. I decided that was bad, but unfortunately not before I had already modded the chains, so they are now in a pile on my floor.

The backs fit fine but they were near impossible to get on without taking off the wheels. The mechanism they give you to strap them on is just awful. The chains kept falling off over and over again. I finally took off their hook and just put on a small turnbuckle which worked much better. I added in some springs from Home Depot to tension the extra chain links and they have not fallen off since. If you want pics let me know.

 

[RayCo]

Great info, acohen100. Thank you. I'm going to do some more reading in the archives around here to see if I can find out which seem to be the best. I had no problems with chains I got from Cedar Rapids in the past, so I may just go with them if they exist in the correct sizes.

 

[Roadkill95]

Just 1 bit of info and might not even appy to a BX. On my wheelhorse on pavement my first set of chains were double link spacing with regular chain cross links and they worked great.
So of course one would assume more aggressive chain and more cross links would be better?
My 2nd set were single spacing(more cross links) Vbar chains. These chains do not work as well on pavement but in the woods or on gravel are great. I perfer my 1st set on pavement and the 2nd for dirt or woods work.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Along with chains, don't forget weight.

Ballast on the front and especially the rear. I installed [2] 70# wheel weights on my BX2350 and stacked 50# worth of steel barbell weights at the drawpin. Noticeable difference. I have pavement and am trying not to use chains. So far so good.

 

[fish6942]

(My setup = BX2350 with turf tires)

I found that TSC had the correct size chains for a price that was less than tirechains.com. There was no clearance issue on the rear but they get a little close to the tie rod ends up front. I went with the 2-link design for the chains. Also put the Kubota brand rear wheel weights on.

 

[lp333]

... I could not get them to clear the linkage without rubbing... The mechanism they give you to strap them on is just awful. The chains kept falling off over and over again...

I am using the "GT11 Two Link Heavy Duty Tractor Chains" from TractorChains.com on the front tires of my BX24 without any problem. The key is to install the chains with TractorChains.com's "spring adjusters" in order to draw all the slack.

 

[acohen100]

Well, there may be a way for me to get them to fit by taking up the slack. Its been too cold for me to screw with them. However, I have found that I don't really need them. I think chains on the rears are more than adequate. Doing all 4 is probably just a waste of time and money. Add to that the installing and clearance issues and I think its a no brainer to just drop the fronts.

 

[lp333]

...there may be a way for me to get them to fit by taking up the slack... doing all 4 is probably just a waste of time...I think its a no brainer to just drop the fronts...

Acohen, you may be right if you are operating mainly on flat surfaces in Winter.

However, I have found that operating my BX24 on icy surfaces is a completely different story. By mounting chains on all 4 wheels, my BX24 becomes virtually unstoppable when working my way up (or down) on icy slopes in deep snow. Further, I can even work my BX24 hard when crossing icy slopes, and still maintain traction and control in 4WD mode... as long as I have chains mounted on all 4.

 

[ChuckinNH]

IP333, if I remember right, you are running those chains on turf tires?

 

[lp333]

LP333, if I remember right, you are running those chains on turf tires?

Chuck, you are correct inasmuch as I first installed the chains on turf tires on my BX23. The same chains (and spring adjusters) are now installed on all 4 tires of my BX24, which is mounted on R4s. LP333

 

[davewhitten]

Just cleared 12"with a 60" blower. Got stuck a couple of times, so thinking of getting a set for at least the rear. Try bungee cords for tensioning. I've had luck with that before.