sources for quality front chains?

fishhead · Nov 25, 2023

Thanks folks- west also has an issue with access from europe so i'll just check it out when i get back

fishhead · Dec 13, 2023

BlueKnife said:
I get mine at Bluejay Industrial in Hayden, Idaho. They can make any size you want. Not too far from you.

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Bluejay for the win - thanks you
They have been great- they had hardened diamond pattern chains with wear studs (looks kinda like an aquiline of OFA) that they adapted from 27x9-14 and they are one the way to me for a better price shipped than many of the 4 link regular chain ladders i was seeing.

fishhead · Dec 13, 2023

John_Mc said:
Diamond pattern chains for that 27x8.5-15 seem to be tough to find. I wonder if 27x9-14 chains would fit? There are several options I see out there for that size. Some are alloy studded chains.

Wesco has several options for 27x9-14 chains

Others probably do as well.

Some of these studded chains have a fairly high profile. If you are using them on front wheels, you'll want to check the clearance carefully, especially with the wheels fully turned. If clearance is a concern, the square link diamond pattern chains have a lower profile but still have pretty good traction (they are also claimed to be friendlier to pavement).

John- you were right, they can be shortened and wesco had a style that looked good - they said they couldn't be shipped but it turns out the get them from Blue Jay who will so -win
Thanks

fishhead · Dec 13, 2023

To round this thread out- I have heading to me a shortened alloy diamond chain with wear bars from Bluejay- they were helpful and fast and quite reasonable

they look like this - 153$ shipped- which seems great

hopefully they work well

John_Mc · Dec 13, 2023

Funny, I found out the same thing when I tried to order chains for my UTV. Wesco and Bluejay are the same company, Wesco only ships to Canada, Bluejay ships to the US. I ordered those same style chains to fit the 27x9-12 tires on my UTV. Should be here tomorrow.

fishhead · Dec 14, 2023

Correct and bluejay is the only one set-up to modify the chains
so the answer I got on those chains for 27x8.5x15 was a no from wesco and i'll get 'er done for you right away from bluejay. They get a thumbs up from me so far

nyone · Dec 14, 2023

I had a set of Aqualine MPC chains on the rear of a kubota. They worked really well and I left them on all year. There low pro, hardened euro net style.

TractorTYMe · Dec 14, 2023

I received my new Aqualine MPC for the rear yesterday, looking forward to put them to work. I upgraded from Duo239's that I wasn't all that satisfied with.

fishhead · Dec 14, 2023

john,
did those chains arrive? still waiting here
if so how do they look?

John_Mc · Dec 14, 2023

They are looking good. I have not put them on my UTV yet. I'm hoping I got the right size. The bag they came in lists a bunch of tire sizes, and mine is not on the list. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

It's probably my own fault. Bluejay's web site did not show this style chain in my tire size (due to a website issue, not that they don't make them). Their sister company, Wesco, did show it. When I called to order, I ordered the size shown on the Wesco site. The guy at Bluejay suggested the next size bigger for my tire size, but also felt that these would fit. So I may be a bit tight on the fit. If it doesn't fit my UTV tires, it might fit the front tires on my tractor.

TractorTYMe · Dec 15, 2023

fishhead said:
john,
did those chains arrive? still waiting here
if so how do they look?

I'll unpack and make a video on the theme of chains for my TYM Tractor channel, I'll post some pictures after production this weekend. Been in no hurry to throw them on as I barely have snow cover on my driveway.

John_Mc · Dec 15, 2023

TractorTYMe said:
I'll unpack and make a video on the theme of chains for my TYM Tractor channel, I'll post some pictures after production this weekend. Been in no hurry to throw them on as I barely have snow cover on my driveway.

If you haven't already seen it, this is the video on Bluejay's site about installing the chains. It's a little different set-up than the OFA Eko chains I have on my tractor rear tires.

TractorTYMe · Dec 15, 2023

John_Mc said:
If you haven't already seen it, this is the video on Bluejay's site about installing the chains. It's a little different set-up than the OFA Eko chains I have on my tractor rear tires.

Yes, but there are NO videos on a review of Aqualine MPC chains to my knowledge. I've mounted chains for decades on stuff, I want to make a video tailored to TYM and the low fender clearance.

LouNY · Dec 15, 2023

Well I just watched the video for the Bluejay chain installation.
I will have to say I was NOT impressed, he will need tensioners with his installation. When he fastened the inside he went in the 4th link, when he fastened the outside he went in the 3rd link, those chains will be trying to walk to the inside.

His method of laying the chains out next to the tire was the old fashioned way of mounting chains, with the light weight of that size chain it isn't a hard lift, the pair of chins is only about 30 pounds.
The OFA EK 08's going on my little tractor with the 15-19.5 tires are over 120 pounds for the pair so 60 pounds each which would be certainly do able but not worth it to me.

So I'll be using a rope V to walk the chain around the tire, if the backhoe is still mounted I'll be lifting the tire and rolling it around instead of driveing it on should result in the same ease of mounting.

Now the OFA EK 09's going on the NH 8160 are 260 pounds for the pair so 130 each getting to be a bit more awkward to sling around and not get all tangled.

John_Mc · Dec 15, 2023

I got the new square-link, diamond pattern chains mounted on my Honda Pioneer 520. They JUST made it on, but once on, the fit is very good. (as noted in an earlier post, the Wesco site recommended the size I bought, the guy at Bluejay thought that size would fit, but normally recommends the next size up.) The guy at Bluejay says they normally do not run these with chain tensioners/bungies.

On my tractor with the OFA Eko 8 chains, I normally drive them on with a rope tied to the rim, as Lou suggests. For chains of that size and weight, that is the easiest method I've found to put them on.

These chains were light enough that I decided to follow the procedure shown in their video and see how it worked out. I think with chains this light and on a vehicle I can easily push around by hand, this might be the quickest way. By leaving the UTV in neutral, I did not have to climb in and out at all: just drape the chains, push the UTV forward the amount shown in the video, and hook things up.

I should have done one their way and one with the drive-on method to compare. I guess that will have to wait for next year.

thclimer · Dec 15, 2023

John_Mc said:
I got the new square-link, diamond pattern chains mounted on my Honda Pioneer 520.

View attachment 838451

On my tractor with the OFA Eko 8 chains, I normally drive them on with a rope tied to the rim, as Lou suggests. For chains of that size and weight, that is the easiest method I've found to put them on.

These chains were light enough that I decided to follow the procedure shown in their video and see how it worked out. I think with chains this light and on a vehicle I can easily push around by hand, this might be the quickest way. By leaving the UTV in neutral, I did not have to climb in and out at all: just drape the chains, push the UTV forward the amount shown in the video, and hook things up.

I should have done one their way and one with the drive-on method to compare. I guess that will have to wait for next year.

Those look like they fit nice and you should have awesome traction on any slippery surface!

LouNY · Dec 15, 2023

G

John_Mc said:
I got the new square-link, diamond pattern chains mounted on my Honda Pioneer 520. They JUST made it on, but once on, the fit is very good. (as noted in an earlier post, the Wesco site recommended the size I bought, the guy at Bluejay thought that size would fit, but normally recommends the next size up.) The guy at Bluejay says they normally do not run these with chain tensioners/bungies.

View attachment 838451

On my tractor with the OFA Eko 8 chains, I normally drive them on with a rope tied to the rim, as Lou suggests. For chains of that size and weight, that is the easiest method I've found to put them on.

These chains were light enough that I decided to follow the procedure shown in their video and see how it worked out. I think with chains this light and on a vehicle I can easily push around by hand, this might be the quickest way. By leaving the UTV in neutral, I did not have to climb in and out at all: just drape the chains, push the UTV forward the amount shown in the video, and hook things up.

I should have done one their way and one with the drive-on method to compare. I guess that will have to wait for next year.

Good looking chain, good luck with them.

ultrarunner · Dec 15, 2023

I cobble together what I need from garage sale finds… the $4 or $5 please take them away deals especially at moving sales.

Many only used once if at all… Campbell is a old time brand I come across a lot.

MTGreen · Dec 15, 2023

John_Mc said:
I got the new square-link, diamond pattern chains mounted on my Honda Pioneer 520. They JUST made it on, but once on, the fit is very good. (as noted in an earlier post, the Wesco site recommended the size I bought, the guy at Bluejay thought that size would fit, but normally recommends the next size up.) The guy at Bluejay says they normally do not run these with chain tensioners/bungies.

View attachment 838451

On my tractor with the OFA Eko 8 chains, I normally drive them on with a rope tied to the rim, as Lou suggests. For chains of that size and weight, that is the easiest method I've found to put them on.

These chains were light enough that I decided to follow the procedure shown in their video and see how it worked out. I think with chains this light and on a vehicle I can easily push around by hand, this might be the quickest way. By leaving the UTV in neutral, I did not have to climb in and out at all: just drape the chains, push the UTV forward the amount shown in the video, and hook things up.

I should have done one their way and one with the drive-on method to compare. I guess that will have to wait for next year.

I'm curious what you have parked next to your Pioneer -looks maybe amphibious?

John_Mc · Dec 15, 2023

MTGreen said:
I'm curious what you have parked next to your Pioneer -looks maybe amphibious?

My apologies to @fishhead for the topic drift...

There are two antique Coot amphibious articulated ATVs in the shop next to the Honda. Quirky machines, but a lot of fun.

They are 4WD with no differentials (the front and rear axles are solid, driven by worm gears), so all 4 wheels turn the same speed all the time. The articulation keeps all 4 wheels on the ground all the time. Combine that with 11" ground clearance and a smooth belly, and it was tough to get them stuck. They'll walk right up a 45˚ slope. They are not fast. 20 MPH top speed, and frankly, you probably don't want to go that fast on anything but smooth ground: the only suspension is the air in the tires (which are generally run around 5 or 6 PSI). They are not very maneuverable. That lack of differentials means the turning radius is rather large. Later Coots improved on this by offering 4 wheel steering as an option. Both of mine have been retrofitted for 4 wheel steer. It helps a good bit, but even with it, they don't turn on a dime.

In the water, they would go about 2 MPH, but an optional propeller outdrive boosted that speed to about 5 MPH.

These pictures are not of my Coot. The guy who did the 4W Steer conversion on one of mine had this beautifully restored Coot