Just ordered chains....man are they heavy

grsthegreat · Nov 1, 2011

joeyd said:
GRS- I'm hoping we won't need them this year, I think you being a little north of me get about as much snow as I do being 1000' higher than the lake. I got my chains from Tirechain last year, 4 link v-bars. I have a gravel driveway and dirt roads to maintain with icy grades so I went with the v-bar. Did you get the chain spreader tool or the binder type tensioner tool? One of my neighbors has the chain spreader and it allowed me to cut some of the slack out of the chains and re-crimp them to customize the chains. Glad I have the FEL, it helped to move the boxes to my shop, I felt sorry for the UPS driver.

I got the cheaper tensioning tool, as after i got don't totaling up the order i was already over $1,000 ... could afford the better binder tool.

I didn't get the vbar cause i clear several houses with concrete drives/ asphalt drives, and i didn't want to damage them. I got the 2 link ladders to hopefully have a quieter ride.

Im NOT looking forward to winter, cause summer only came here a few months ago. I feel i was cheated ....

My wife is looking forward to the snow though, as she cant wait to hook the horses to the sleigh again.

Todd_C · Nov 1, 2011

whistlepig said:
They were kind of like a several hundred pound greased Slinky the first time I tried to mount them. There are several dozen ways to mount them the hard way. I know. I tried them all before I figured it out by reading the advice of TBN members.

That's a great analogy. Just how I felt the first time I put my chains on.

123rday · Nov 2, 2011

It seems my grandfather could always get them on real easy and quick compared to how long it takes me. Course they are the same rear duo grip chains he used on his 8n with ags that I'm using on my 3038e with r4s slightly shortened. But with the wear showing on these 30+ year old chains I may break down one day and invest in a new pair.

grsthegreat · Nov 2, 2011

123rday said:
It seems my grandfather could always get them on real easy and quick compared to how long it takes me. Course they are the same rear duo grip chains he used on his 8n with ags that I'm using on my 3038e with r4s slightly shortened. But with the wear showing on these 30+ year old chains I may break down one day and invest in a new pair.

better be ready to refi the house to buy a new pair HEHE

123rday · Nov 2, 2011

grsthegreat said:
better be ready to refi the house to buy a new pair HEHE

I seen my local Tractor Supply has some of the same that would require some shortening for $175. I think that was for just one side though.

grsthegreat · Nov 2, 2011

I checked with all shops near me, and no one had the 2 link ladder chains. Funny, they nearly all said that i could get them cheaper online.

The shipping was a killer. OH, and they are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

RoyJackson · Nov 2, 2011

grsthegreat said:
Just ordered front and rear chains for my DK45. Got the 2 link ladder chains so as not to hurt concrete/asphalt. Got them from tirechains.com..... 6 packages weighing in at 330#. YEIKS. My back already hurts and i haven't even received them yet. I'm going to have to trick...er ask ... a neighbor to come and help... er ... come and look at something in my shop.

There's a couple tricks you can use...tirechains.com has a video on their website...also, there's a couple on Youtube.
One of the reasons I went with the 4 link type is the weight of those 2 link chains.
Good luck...and if you do get your neighbor over, make sure the beer is cold!

grsthegreat · Nov 3, 2011

RoyJackson said:
There's a couple tricks you can use...tirechains.com has a video on their website...also, there's a couple on Youtube.
One of the reasons I went with the 4 link type is the weight of those 2 link chains.
Good luck...and if you do get your neighbor over, make sure the beer is cold!

thanks, ill check them out

Jay4200 · Nov 3, 2011

grsthegreat said:
I checked with all shops near me, and no one had the 2 link ladder chains. Funny, they nearly all said that i could get them cheaper online.

The shipping was a killer. OH, and they are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

I got my chains from the same place last fall. Even after shipping, cost was 70% of local. I got 2-link ladders for the rears, and 2-link V-bars for the front. The grand irony is that I mounted the front chains and used them by themselves all snow season. I didn't mount the backs because they were just too heavy to deal with- the 15 pound front chains were bad enough with the front end suspended in the air. Struggling with 80 pound rears with the tractor sitting on the ground? I just skipped it figuring I'd put them on when I felt it was necessary. We had a brutal snow year and I found I didn't want for the rears even once. I mounted the fronts again last weekend for our freak nor'easter and clearing my 1000' drive went smooth as silk as usual. I think I wasted $400 on those rear chains because, as much as I want to put them on my tractor, I don't think I'll ever be able to mount them.

JayC

RoyJackson · Nov 3, 2011

Jay4200 said:
I think I wasted $400 on those rear chains because, as much as I want to put them on my tractor, I don't think I'll ever be able to mount them.

JayC

What size tire do they fit, Jay?
Try the TBN Private Party ads...you might be able to sell them here.