Do You Safety Wire your Tire Chain Shackles ??

[Gordon Gould]

Just wondering because I lost two out of 12 on my tractor yesterday. I was using it hard pushing back high frozen snow banks on an icy based road. At first I thought I must have broke them but on checking the remaining ten I found two more that were loose. So not sure now but suspect they came off. Never happened before in 20 years. I tighten them with pliers at the beginning of the season and they are tight when I remove them. It seems safety wires would be a wise move.



gg

 

[Diggin It]

I don't have anything that big or ice/snow. I use chains year round on my two small LTs due to sliding on grass and mud. I had found them loose a few times and they've come off and hung over the axle a few times, probably due to low tire pressure. I took to wiring them together at the shackles and using screw together quick links in some cases.

I hope I don't need them on the SCUT ... ever.

 

[Jstpssng]

I see that happen on skidder chains, but have never seen them used on tractors. Perhaps a little Loctite would help?

 

[LouNY]

I seem to have a couple every year that loosen up and get away.
It must be the way the chains pull and turn on the pins.
I use a small cresent now to snug them up once in awhile.

 

[RNeumann]

No but I’d probably start after losing 1 or 2. Hopefully they show up in a few months....

 

[boomer1025]

Safety wire will work, just pick up some at Harbor Freight.

 

[ruffdog]

Safety wire will work, just pick up some at Harbor Freight.

Just be sure to put the twisted end of the wire inside the link so it doesn't dig a hole into your tire sidewall.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ True, but I just use fence wire. No special stuff. Everybody has extra fence wire, right?

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
Rebar tie wire is also handy for a lot of things. I use more of that than duct tape.

 

[CobyRupert]

My cross chains don’t have shackles, but this year I did safety wire the outside side chain fastener.
Though inside side chain is still just a simple hook that the right “slack wave” could easily undo. Just the right one hasn’t happened. Knock on wood.