Hi tallyho8,
When you say check chains, I presume you mean the stabilizer chains on the drag links or lower links, right? To keep the implement from swaying sideways too much? (Some guys refer to check chains being ones that are attached to the back of the tractor and to the front of an implement mostly like a brush hog which helps keep the front of the brush hog to remain in the same relative position 'up and down' to the tractor when mowing up and down dips and rises.)
If you mean the stabilizer chains, there needs to be some play to let them move a little and to compensate for when it's lifted into the air or dragged on the ground. I have seen on some models, if they are set too tight when dragging, they bust off when raising the implement. I don't have stabilizer chains but rather stabilizer bars. They have holes in them for adjustment and at each end, there is a slot about 1" long so they can slide in and out about 2" or so total (each one). So I would say have a little slack for the implement to move naturally but not too much so it sways into your rear tires. Check them in the lowered "working position" and also when you raise it to be sure they will not snap off when transporting the implement to the work site.
I only have one implement set real tight and that's my 3pt backhoe. I cinch that down. I don't know about plows or tillers though ... maybe they should be fairly tight too ... I dunno, but they should also be set so you can pick them up for transporting too? But the boxblade, landscape rake, rotary cutter and even post hole digger I leave some play for them to sway left to right. I mentioned a couple of inches each because that's what my stabilizer "bars" allow on my tractor, so I figure that should be alright. Even with only that much play they keep the implement well clear of my tires but allow a lot of tilting with my hydraulic side links for road work without busting off.
Here's a video to show how much I can tilt without breaking the stabilizers, yet keep the implement squarely and safely behind me. Also a couple pictures of the stabilizer bars which are on my wife's Jinma and also my Kama. Her's are square tubing and mine are round (they are the red ones).
Man, I sure hope that's what your were asking about...
