Chains?

   / Chains? #11  
Grande -- Having just put my ice chains back on for the coming winter I am in a good position to share my method.
1. Lay the chains on the ground behind the tractor
2. Let some air out of the tires, then have partner back up till the leading links are visible in front of the tire
3. Attach a bungee cord to the leading links and pull up while the partner continues backing. This way the lugs grip the chain and do the lifting for you
4. When the leading links pass over the top and drop down to about the 7 o'clock position, stop the tractor and jack up that one wheel
5. Connect the chain ends and pull them tight. With the wheel in the air you can rotate it by hand and let the weight of the chains do the work for you. Rotate and tighten till there's no more movement.
6. When all is tight, lower the wheel and do the other side.
7. When done with both sides, reinflate tire to the desired pressure.

This method might seem like a lot of work, but it saves a lot of grunt work and best of all, the chains never need to be retightened. Of course, I use the 200# Norse ice chains up here in the frozen north. Wrestling with lighter chains might be so much easier that another mounting method would work better for you.

Pete
 
   / Chains? #12  
I've tried it the way others decribe re putting on ground and driving over them. Found it a LOT easier to throw a floor jack under the drawbar and jack both rear tires off ground at same time (with transmission in neutral). Hook a chain over one of the tire lugs and spin the tire. Gravity self tensions until you get to the other side, then just attach as others described. IE inside first, then outside as tight as you can. Spin tire and pull any loose spots tight as you can, re attach if you can get another link out of it and then go to other side. This was a lot easier than trying to pull the chain up from both sides while gravity wants to pull it the other way. BYTW - I have the duogrips and then added some extra links myself so they weigh ALL of 80 lbs.
 
   / Chains? #13  
I sure would like to jack the entire rear end off the ground at the same time, but have never had the cojones. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif I get pretty nervous seeing one corner off the ground; with half the tractor in the air I might have to change my pants! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Maybe with a pair of jack stands..?

Chicken Little
 
   / Chains? #14  
NEVER, EVER rely on a jack to hold something up in the air. A jack is just that- a jack. It's designed to raise something so you can put supports like jack stands underneath it to support it. If you've ever seen a hydraulic line or seal give way under a load you'd already know why.

As to putting on chains without jacking up your wheels, I have a method you might want to try. Take a small piece of plywood and nail or glue some 2x stock on it spaced so that you can place your chains on it without any of it on the 2x stock. Place your new tool plywood down on the floor, lay your chains in the gaps between the 2x stock then drive your wheel onto it. Your chain won't slide or bunch and you can put it together and attach your tensioners then just drive off it and move it to the next wheel to repeat the process. Give it a try. I think you'll like it. If you don't you're only out some scrap lumber too small to use for much anyhow. Good luck. I hope this helps. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
 
   / Chains? #15  
Here's a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/finditem.cfm?itemid=8119>link</A> to a picture of the plastic version of what Gary is talking about. $20 at AWDirect.
 
   / Chains? #16  
Unfortunately -- or fortunately since I get better traction and a smoother ride -- my Norse ice chains look more like skidder chains. No ladders...just a continuous run of spikes.

Pete
 
   / Chains? #17  
Still don't see the problem with my method. The wheels are only an inch off the floor, I'm not under the tractor and am doing everything from the side. Even if the jack blew a seal the tractor would fall about an inch onto the tires. Throwing some jack stands under the axel certainly would be easy and there would be no downside to doing that but the tractor is very stable doing it the way I do. (I'm on a concrete floor). Using the jig system still leaves you with fighting gravity to pull the chains up and tension them, then you have to drive around, readjust and re tension as opposed to doing it all at one time while the tractor sits still in your nice heated garage! It's really not as "scary" as it seems to sound. (The first time I did it I tried to push on the side of the tractor to see how stable it was and if I could push it off the jack - not even close.)
 
   / Chains? #19  
I use the drawbar mount. Wouldn't want to concentrate that much pressure on the axel which is cast. The drawbar mount is all plate steel. I use a piece of 4 x 4 wood on the floor jack which reduces the height I have to elevate the jack and kind of conforms to the drawbar mount. Use the same technique when changing tires........
 
   / Chains? #20  
Gerard -- Thanks for a great suggestion! I put a block of maple on my floor jack and used the drawbar mount to raise the rear end about 3", just enough so the loose chains cleared the ground and let me turn the wheels by hand. And in looking at the tractor from the rear, it was obvious that even if the floor jack slipped I wouldn't be dealing with much of an angle. Heck, I mow at close to 20 degrees so this was nothing!

Anyway, got the chains good and tight for this winter. Thanks again!

Pete
 
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