Chains Rotating, spinning, slipping

[Gondela]

I don't know what to call it but my chains keep coming off. What a pain.
A kubota l3400 with r4 tires, driveway like a skating rink. I put the chains on as tight as one old guy can get them on, with spring tighteners also as tight as one old guy can put them on.
Yesterday the right chain had started to fall off, that is, the front of the chain was going towards the center of the tractor and the back was going away from the tractor. After much cursing as I struggled with 60 lb chains on perfect sheet of ice. I got them removed and reinstalled. Today I noticed that the left chain, which looked perfect yesterday, was rapidly headed the same way. I have driven less than 500 feet, back and forth with buckets full of firewood to the splitter.
I don't want to spend half my tractor time wrestling chains, got any idea what the problem is? Other than living too far north.

 

[HEC]

I could be all wrong but it sounds like the chains are a little to long on the back side , you may need to shorten them up a link or two before doing the front . If they are good and tight on the front it could be pulling on the back side just enough to pull them off the tire after rotating for awhile . I used chains on an old case 2wd with R1's and never had a problem, and yes they are a little heavy and bulky.

 

[Rustyiron]

I'll put them on and cinch them up as tight as I can, drive around a little and it seems that they "settle in" a little bit and with the adjusters up on top of the tire stop and adjust them tighter again. I'm no tire chain expert, but I've never had a set that didn't need a little reworking, that is they sell them to fit a range of sizes and usually need a little playing with like even cutting off a section. Study your situation and it may be that you actually need to "attach" or join the chain on the next shorter section (behind or shorter then the cross link you are now hooking to) Maybe your dealer could help you out.

 

[oldnslo]

How far down on the sidewalls do the chains go? I had a set of chains for smaller lawn mower that were to narrow and they were a real pain to keep on the tires. Also all the spring tension on the outside will have a tendancy to pull the chains to that side.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

It sounds like your cross link chains are not long enough, but reworking them tighter would be my first though.

 

[crazyal]

You can try jacking up each tire, deflating it (if filled the the valve stem must be at 12 o'clock), then putting the chains on. Once you air the tire up it'll get them tighter than you can by hand. The other option is to buy different style chains. Mine were expensive but they never have an issue. I don't tighten them that much and don't need the spring tensioners. They are similar to the Aquiline Talons. Maybe try not using the springs and see what happens.

 

[Dave M7040]

I have found that spring tensioners work best if connected to a ring at the center of the wheel.
It seems to create a uniform pressure on the chains that keeps them in place.
I bought the ring at TSC, I think horse people use them, and the springs as well.
You need to be certain that the part of your chains that form a circle on the inner part of your wheel are not too long.
My chains look different as they are a lower layer of simple ladder chains with a top layer of chains from a Volvo military truck which were too short to fit by themselves.

Dave M7040

 

[pat32rf]

Dave's rims have square holes in the dish portion the same as mine. I stuck 1/2" bolts in those holes and ran short sections of light chain out to the sidewall chain, keeping the sidewall chain centered.

 

[Dave M7040]

Send me your e-mail and I will send you TRYGG's installation manual which shows two items.
1. A chain tightener which is like a lever jack to pull the side chains together so they are good and tight. You could make one or use a good ratchet strap.
2. The second is a "tightening rail" recommended for lower profile tires. The picture shows better than I can explain but in simplest terms it is another ring of chain, smaller than the side chain which you fasten to the side chain to prevent the chains from twisting off.
david.petepiece@sympatico.ca

Dave M7040