How tight are your chains?

[sunnyside360]

No doubt, installation is going to be a PITA the first time you do this.

There are some tricks to installing heavy chains. One of them being to lay the chains out in front or behind the wheels, connect a piece of rope to end of chain, insert rope thru crack/hole of rim, connect other end of rope to other side chain. Repeat for other wheel, drive tractor forward/backward to wrap chain around tire, remove rope, connect chains and install tighteners.

 

[RoyJackson]

Not sure? Looks like they are spaced apart about 12"-14"... They look really big and heavy! I will try to take a picture of them tonight when I get home from work and post it on here...

The standard tires on a 2520 are 36x14.00-17.5 R4. With 12-14 inch spacing, I'm guessing you have the 4 link ladder type chains...figure about 60-70 lbs per chain.
I installed chains for the first time in my 60 years, last year...no doubt, it's a job!

 

[glc24]

There are some tricks to installing heavy chains. One of them being to lay the chains out in front or behind the wheels, connect a piece of rope to end of chain, insert rope thru crack/hole of rim, connect other end of rope to other side chain. Repeat for other wheel, drive tractor forward/backward to wrap chain around tire, remove rope, connect chains and install tighteners.

On my 2520,I just jack up the rear,one side at a time.That way the wheel rotates freely,making installing the chain around the tire very easy.:thumbsup:

Greg

 

[grsthegreat]

On my 2520,I just jack up the rear,one side at a time.That way the wheel rotates freely,making installing the chain around the tire very easy.:thumbsup:

Greg

thats all i do on my DK45 also. I lay out the chain on the floor and slide it under the tire. then hold it up against the tire and lock it into the thread, rotate the tire and voila....its on. then 30 minutes of fussing about tightening it and another 30 minutes setting the spring tensioniers, and one beer later, im done with that 1 tire :ashamed:

 

[sunnyside360]

On my 2520,I just jack up the rear,one side at a time.That way the wheel rotates freely,making installing the chain around the tire very easy.:thumbsup:
Greg

That's a good way to install chains on smaller tractors. Might even work on large tractors if the chains don't weigh a ton.

 

[RoyJackson]

That's a good way to install chains on smaller tractors. Might even work on large tractors if the chains don't weigh a ton.

That's the way I've seen it done on some chain installation videos...but full sized tractors (in at least one of the vids) used the same technique you described in your earlier post:

One of them being to lay the chains out in front or behind the wheels, connect a piece of rope to end of chain, insert rope thru crack/hole of rim, connect other end of rope to other side chain.

The only difference being how the tire was rotated.

(I found several videos about tire chain installation on YouTube, BTW)

 

[dmay]

No one has mentioned the danger of a chain coming off the tire. If a chain should break or be a poor fit and come off, you want the chain to come off to the outside. A chain coming off to the inside whilst your operating the tractor is not a good scenario. This is the best reason I know for having some tension device on the outside. Either the fancy spring tensioners as some have or a good rubber bungee.

As for loose or tight, I like just right. I think the most important thing is to fit your chains to your tire. This might mean you need to cut off and remove excess links or ladders or even reposition ladders to achieve a just right fit.

When I ordered the chains for my tractor, specific for my tire size, they came with an extra ladder installed. Why I have no idea. It was a PITA to open the links with hammer and chisel to remove the extra ladder. I also found there were excess connector links when snug so I cut those off as well. No need for excess links to be flopping around. In the end I got a just right fit and I add a good rubber bungee on the outside to tension.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Here is a pic of my new chains...

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[whistlepig]

Good looking set of chains. Looks like you got them fitted up nicely. Once you do snow with tire chains you will wonder how you ever lived without them. For me it reduced my snow removal time by at least 50%. And it was a lot less wear and tear on me and the tractor.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Good looking set of chains. Looks like you got them fitted up nicely. Once you do snow with tire chains you will wonder how you ever lived without them. For me it reduced my snow removal time by at least 50%. And it was a lot less wear and tear on me and the tractor.

Yeah I definitely didn't want to go for a ski ride down my driveway this year! I am going to add some bungees to the outside maybe 1 or 2 on the inside also. I still have trees to pull out yet after deer season is over unless I get one the 1stis day...