purchasing chains

[taborekle]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies and the advice. I do think that I am going to get chains. Most of the input that I see here is that I could probably do without them. My problem isn't that I need it to muscle the snow. My problem is that my private lane is very hilly, and one year it was so slick that I could barely WALK down the road. Just sheet ice. I fear that I'll put my little kubota either into the pond (off one side the steep hill) or off the dam (off the other side of the steep hill).

I'll let you know what shakes out. It might be awhile before I buy. My AC unit in the house just went.

Larry

 

[psj45703006]

Hopefully you will read this before making a mistake. The largest mistake being buying a set of chains from tirejunk.com.... All there chains are absolutly CHINA, ask them. If you have no pride and say the china set will do, know that tire chains take a beating and buying domestic or import of good quality will service you much better in the future. Take into account you will most likly be using your chains in the worst of weather. If they break you will need to remove them so the cross chains dont ripe your fender off your rig. Alright enough with the ranting, Some simple steps to outfitting your machine 1- how much clearence do you have from your fender to your tire(assuming you will be chaining your rears. I would never recomend fronts chains unless its the last resort. Its hard on front end components.) 2- How much will the chains be used and on what surface, tar is hard on chains you may want a harder material. Good chains will have different grades of quailty. This is why your seeing such a price difference. Back to the surface, if your driveway/ road is asphalt you may not want to go to aggressive unless there is a safty issue. ok onto styles there are two ladder and patteren. ladder is the clasic style and it looks like a ladder when you lay them on the floor. patteren is for lack of a better explanation a skidder chain. Although skidder chains are patteren style thay are not the only style out there thay make patteren styles in much less aggressive styles. Anyway there is so much more. I would call a local distributer ask questions ect. If you cant find someone local call BB Chain ask for Pete he is really informative. 1800.698.2640

 

[ehchvac]

I bought chains from tirechain.com for at least a half dozen tractors and have never had a failure yet.

 

[mike69440]

St. Pierre Manufacturing Corporation
StpierreUSA.com - Chain & Wire Rope

St.Pierre Manufacturing Corporation
317 East Mountain Street
Worcester, MA 01606
United States
Phone: 508-853-8010
Fax: 508-853-3860

email: info@stpierreusa.com


Tire Chains
- Patented Roller Grip detachable tire chain

- "Claw" cross chain and sets

- V-Bar reinforced - full line

- Cable chain in Singles and Dual Triples (every size to fit any radical, even if wheel clearance for chain is a problem)

- New Alloy chain - heat treated for extra durability

- Z type tire cable - all sizes

 

[PILOON]

I run 'double ladder' chains on my MITSUBISHI witrh ice 'V' grippers.

Previously they were made up as a kinda zig zag pattern that had a square footprint in the center but kept coming apart so I purchased additional side hooks and converted over to ladder style.
Since the ride was rather rough and they slipped between cross links I spent a good 8 hrs to add the extra cross links. (time was because I did lots of cutting and welding)

With the 'double ladder' (that's a cross at every 3rd link) the ride really smoothes out and traction is awsome. Also I never have broken a link or cross in the last 4 years while B4 I'd have a failure every 2nd or 3rd outing.

To answer another common question about chains; I have asphalt on part of my drive.
Shure, come spring I do notice some surface scuffing but never have I torn up asphalt per say. Goes away about 2 weeks after the spring thaw after a bit of dirt and filth works the way into the scratches and minor nicks. (But then I dont paint sealer on either, nor do I wax my tractor, LOL!

So my take is;
double ladder chains, V or studded ice type as 1st choice and if on a budget plain double ladder.

I blow and plow.
Have serious hills.
Plow in high gear wide open with full load of snow without spinning, unless it is that early heavy wet stuff, then I diminish the loads.

 

[some zilch]

i have ring chains from tirechains.com on the l4400. they are great. there is absolutly no way an unchained, turf-tired tractor could plow the snow or fucntion in the winter the way mine does