Chain snafu, and new review for tirechains.com

[David Devuono]

Unlike a turf tire, chains on R4s or AG's are not easy. I do the inside chain first and then use bungie cords and driving around while tightening up the bungie, to bring the outside together. Easily an hour per tire on a 48in dia AG tire with 150 lb chain. This year I left the chains on all summer as I have only dirt surface, bush roads.

 

[Wolfy]

The best way is to lift the axles, but that only works if you have a TLB. The next best is to jack the tractor up. Lay the tire centered over the top. Then fasten the inside catch, followed by the outside catch. Usually that involves playing with the chain while rotating the tire. The third way is to lay the chain about 2/3rd centered on the tire, favoring the front. Bunch up the tail in front of the tire. Then drive forward until the tire is past the bunched up part. At that point, you will be able to hook the ends together. By driving back and forth you will get out any slack, and you can readjust as needed. BTW this works on R-1s, R-3s, R-4s, smurfs, ( a bald R-4 ) it does not matter, I have done this to all the chains over the past 15 years. At one point I was installing chains on 12 machines every winter.

 

[Wolfy]

Also, as RickB has said, a properly sized tire chain that installed correctly will need zero bungies or straps. I know lots of people use them, but they are not needed.

 

[Ken45101]

Every year, however, I dread mounting the front chains - I HATE doing it. It always takes two hours, and leaves me with bleeding stumps where my hands used to be.

When I was equipment officer for the volunteer fire department, it was my responsibility to put the chains on the fire trucks. Usually by the time I got the chains on, the streets were clear and I had to take them back off

 

[CobyRupert]

It could be that the chains simply got flipped around that one point, causing a twist in both sides. Don't ask me how I know...

Yes, this year (the first time in 6 years of using them!) I noticed too that the last few links were "assembled wrong" / twisted/ cross link fastened onto the wrong "side" of the side links. Gee never noticed that before? I was about to break out the chain tool and take things apart. What worked instead was flipping a portion "inside out" (don't really know how to describe it). Easy to do with small chains for a little garden tractor/snowblower. Sort of like when you've somehow tied a (closed loop) chainsaw chain into 5 "knots". (How'd that happen?) Eventually with enough twisting, flipping and swearing it comes out.

 

[Jay4200]

If both side strands were "twisted" between the same cross chain, it is installer failure. If only one was twisted, the chains were assembled wrong.

Xactly. I know what those are saying about flipping the chain, but that was definitely not the case here. It was a half-twist on one side only - the last 3 cross links were mounted on the wrong side of the side links. Like I said earlier, install took 5 minutes after it was straightened out.

Good thing too, since we're supposed to get a foot of snow tomorrow...which I need like a hole in the head.

 

[CobyRupert]

Can't the other twist be in the cross link rather than show up in the other side chain? (Then only one "corner" needs to be turned "inside out"?) This is what I believe I observed. -Well I didn't observe the twist in the cross chain, but only saw it on one side; and I believe I fixed it by flipping just one corner thru itself at the cross link ("inside out" -if that makes sense).)
Hey, if it's good now, who cares?

 

[RickB]

Can't the other twist be in the cross link rather than show up in the other side chain? (Then only one "corner" needs to be turned "inside out"?) This is what I believe I observed. -Well I didn't observe the twist in the cross chain, but only saw it on one side; and I believe I fixed it by flipping just one corner thru itself at the cross link ("inside out" -if that makes sense).)
Hey, if it's good now, who cares?

I was just rereading this and the same thought occurred to me. Yes that could happen.

 

[Wolfy]

Inside out chains are easy to see, if you have the kind where the cross link to sidewall connectors have prongs on one side and smooth on the other. I like to install them so the prongs face up.

 

[skyhook]

I've put the chains that came with my machine on 3 times already and removed them.
These are new chains from previous owner and have not been d-linked to fit.
Like Jay said, you need a machine shop to get these things to properly fit,
I don't have the time or the patience to install these again, mostly "the patience",
Why can't these things come "ready to throw on" for your specific tires.
I'll need a grinder, torches or a welder etc, etc to get these darn things to fit on easily.
These chains were "custom" made for 12.5x18 R4's, so they say....