How do you put your tire chains on ?

[EMS503]

My chains are here, probably wont see any more snow this season.
I have ladder chains from Tire chains .com. I put them on this morning (never had to put chains on before) I placed them on the ground and drove on to them and lifted them up onto the tire. would it be easier to put them on from the top first or drive on to them? Also the chains maybe a little to big as one cross section overlapped the other end. Not going to cut just yet, making sure I have them on right first. I also got the spring tensioner, After tightening everything the still seem a little loose. Any suggestion would be appreciated as I never had to install chains before.

 

[NSBound]

I drove onto mine and wrapped them up both sides - not exactly even, but so there was enough length to wrap the front half up just over the top. Worked fine. Regarding tightness, some on here say they like to tighten them up so there's no slack, but I left just a bit of slack in mine. Not like they're flinging around, but it just seems that the chains need a bit of movement in them to make them more effective. I don't use tensioners at all, haven't needed them and they work great as is.

 

[20 20]

lay them out as flat as possible and drive on, bring the ends together and hook. Then use rope or bungy on outside to help with slack. Never used tensioners $$$ can be spent on other stuff instead.

 

[Travelover]

I have turf tires and leave mine on all year, but when I put them on initially, I lifted the rear with a rolling floor jack and put them on from the top. For me it is easier to get them tight if the weight of the tractor is not on a section of the chain.

 

[TimPa]

your installation sounds fine. don't tighten too much on ag tires. they need to flop a little to stay outside on the tread bars. too tight and they will drop in between the bars and stay there, adding no traction.

 

[jdgreg]

I jack the wheel up, put the chain on from the top, then roll the tire around until I can get the chains all even across the tire, then I tighten them up. It works for me.

 

[Wayne_H]

It sounds like you and I have the same set up. I jacked the rear up and pulled them up and over. The things weigh 75 pounds, it was work. On the tensioner, I used a ratched strap to pull on them to get the tension I wanted.

Wayne

 

[Gordon Gould]

I lay my chains out flat with the road surface side up. I get a piece of light rope like chainsaw starter rope about 8 or 10 feet log and tie the ends of the rope to the chains about tire width apart. Tie it on like a sled pull rope.
Pull the rope up on the tire and hook it on some of the lugs.
Drive forward slowly - the chains climb up the tire. Stop once in awhile to
straighten them out. Keep driving forward until the slack end of the chains is hanging down on the back of the tire. The start end will be right there
- everything tight. Just hook them together and remove the rope.
Much easier to do it than write about it.

 

[dex3361]

Gordon types faster than I do. I use the method I read about right here on TBN. I line the chains up and run a rope or bungee cord through the rim and pull the chain up tight to the tire. the rope hold the chain the chain in place tight up against tire, then drive the tractor forward pulling the chain up and over the tire. When the chain comes back around hook the ends together shift the chains around a bit and bungee cord the slack. This has been the slickest way to install the heavy field chains on.

 

[First one]

A friend of mine helped me put them on for the first time this year.
He layed the chains (one at a time)behind the tractor tire spreaded out, with the traction part of the chain up . Took a sm. chain with a hook ( could use rope) on each side of it ,put it though the hole in the tractor rim and hooked to both ends of the out side chain. Moved tractor slowly forward while pulling and spreading out the chain on the tire ,as it is being pulled up on the tire.When the other end comes around ,hook the inside first , then take the sm. chain out of the hole in the rim . He had a chain tightener ,which helped. Seem to work good and didn't need to try and hold both ends at once.

 

[sevilla]

I found this video made by Trygg which details how to install their chains. YouTube - Installing TRYGG Nøsted SafetyGrip.mpg

 

[daveinnh]

After I get the chains hooked up, I connect the spring tensioners. Then I drive about 100 yds; and retighten. This procedure is done about 3-4 times progressively pulling the springs apart.

BTW, you really need the spring tensioner to get the springs tight.

 

[mmurphy]

Like many have said, drive on, work chains up, drive back and forth, retighten and alot of cussing!

 

[20 20]

I found this video made by Trygg which details how to install their chains. YouTube - Installing TRYGG Nøsted SafetyGrip.mpg

Nothing like making a job harder then it needs to be

 

[pat32rf]

My chains are home-made from other sets picked up over the years. They go on over R-4s. I just get them on using a rope, then tighten them a few times as they loosen.
By far the best way to get them on is to lift the tractor with the back-hoe outriggers after you have them draped over the tire!!!! Then remove the hoe and install the blower/back blade

 

[Gizmo2]

By far the best way to get them on is to lift the tractor with the back-hoe outriggers after you have them draped over the tire!!!!

X2 and I NEVER take the chains off once on. I replace cross chains with the chains on the tire, using the BH.

 

[atgreene]

I have those Trygg chains, they take a little while to get on. The video does complicate it a little, but it makes it easy for anyone who has never done chains before.

One word of caution, make sure the crosslink hooks face out. I've seen a few folks run the chains so the hooks are in, if they open up they will gouge your tires.

Good luck.

 

[2720wes]

A floor jack and put the chains on from top works fast and easy. For tensioners I use two 24" bungees for each tire. No problems after 4 snows.

 

[beenthere]

Most posts here make work out of putting chains on.
The OP obviously has chains that are too big for the tires. I suggest getting them on the first time and remove enough side chain on the inside to fit. Then remove enough of the side chain on the outside to leave two loose links for future tightening. Of course, the extra cross links will go away at that time as well.

When mounting the chains, jack (or raise) the wheel off the ground. Drape the chain over the top and straighten out the cross links. Reach under and hook the inside side chain. Come back to the outside and by spinning the tire, let the cross links straighten themselves and temporarily hook to the last link. Then spin the tire and take out any kinks and snug up any cross chains lodged in the treads. That should give the extra room to move one or two links up on the outside side chain.

If you do this, you will NOT need any outside chain tighteners. The one pic posted showing outside tighteners also shows how the outside side chain is much too long (my apologies to Wayne H). Fit to the tire (extra chain removed) will make any need for tighteners vanish. They are only sold and recommended for chains that don't fit. IMO
Here are chains on my JD 4300 that fit. Purposely made to not drop down over the side walls of the tire (no traction gained from that ).

 

[thatguy]

One tip I saw somewhere years back was to cut a groove across a piece of wood that one cross pieces would rest in.. Then pull the tractor up on the wood and then you can tight them easier because on that one cross link is under the tractor tire.. Never tried it though so cant really comment on how efficient it is

Brian