Chains and Tighteners..

[Tim Horton]

Now seems an odd time of year for this, but better than at -20C... 

On our compact tractor we have liquid loaded turf tires on the back..  Big, fat, 36" x 14" donut looking turfs..  I run a set of 2 link ladder chains with V bars in winter..  I also use homemade tighteners..  

A couple weekends ago now I bought an old rusty tool box that had some assorted chain in it..  There was a very nice 3/8 x 20 ft.. log chain.. Some assorted light and heavy short pieces and an old tire chain like would be used on a walk behind snow blower.. 

I disassembled the tire chain and salvaged the side chains and made them into tighteners for my tractor chains.. A length of chain, an S hook on either end, and a half of a screen door spring with hooks across the middle to pull it tight across the wheel when the tire chain is mounted.. 


On my old compact tractor with 33" turfs, I got a set of chains from John Deere that fit perfect first time..  I went to local JD to get a set for this tractor and 36" turfs.. What ever they put in the bag DID NOT fit.. I was long and loud as they stared at the computer screen saying "they should fit" until I got my money back..  This set of chains came from a custom shop that makes logging equipment chains.  They work well.. 

The reason for all this is I got tired of all kinds of rubber and bungee cord tighteners flying past my ears when they broke..

I have had a number of people say stuff like, ... you won't do much with turf tires, even with chains....  I just grin and think... Watch me... 

 

[Jolly]

I confess total ignorance. I live far enough South, I don't even know someone that has a set of tire chains...

[daw]

I have a set used infrequently on my Dodge Ram
because it was not 4wd.

[Ozarks Tom]

Tim Horton, A screen door spring? Err, I might recommend something a bit stronger. Other than that, sounds like you've figure it out.

I've no idea why, but I've got a set of chains for my Suburban, which is already 4-wd. Heck, the most snow we've had here in the last 10 years is about 4". Somebody must have made me a real good deal I just don't remember.

[farmerjack41]

Cutting a truck tire intertube works well for chain tighteners. On my Kubota 4 X 4, if chains are needed, I put them on the front tires. Chains that are made for log skidders or one like that really work well on rear tractor tires. My tractor with the snowblower on, is two wheel drive, lug tires. Built my own chains, cross length chains are on every link other on the side chain. Less bouncing around, as there is always a cross chain on the ground.

[joebill]

I have only owned one set of tire chains. I used to wander up into Colorado every spring on a sales trip, and every dang time the weather would turn to crap! They would close the freeway at the pass over the mountain at Trinidad Colorado to all vehicles unless they had tire chains, so I beat feet to Barney's auto Supply and bought a set, then they closed the pass to ALL vehicles.

I was familiar with all of the motels in Trinidad and always managed to get a room before the heavy demand set in, slept until nearly noon, then took the tire chains back off and drove home after the opened the pass.

I always wondered if the first announcement was just to help Barney to sell more tire chains. If so, it worked like a charm....Joe

[Tim Horton]

Barney story is funny... Most all the highways here have "chain on and chain off" pull out areas as needed..

So this winter, I have used the 2 sets of Y style tighteners, one on each wheel.. This making 4 hook up points on each wheel.. I also added a chain across the gap to make 6 total hook up points..

The short chain having a spring about half as long as a screen door spring, but at about a quarter the price... Found these springs at the local surplus, hardware type store..

All this has worked well this winter with no broken rubber chunks with a hook flying past my ear to run through the snow blower.. Knock on wood..

[fixitguy]

If I am installing chains that will be on a garden tractor or etc. for the season, I air down the tire. Run the tire over the chain , air down, install the chain as tight as you can, and air the tire back up. Now you have a nice tight chain with out the need to run bungee cords or etc. to take up the slack.

[Cabin Fever]

Mar 5, 2021 14:25:17 GMT fixitguy said:

If I am installing chains that will be on a garden tractor or etc. for the season, I air down the tire. Run the tire over the chain , air down, install the chain as tight as you can, and air the tire back up. Now you have a nice tight chain with out the need to run bungee cords or etc. to take up the slack.

^This^ is the method I use, too. I also use some zip ties to hold the tightening hooks in place and to tie down the loose end of the chain so it doesn't flop around.