Thanks for Tire Chain Help

[310North]

Hello All- just wanted to give a hearty Thank You to the TractorByNet community for all the great posts on tire chains. After reading hundreds of posts on buying and installing tire chains, I recently bought and installed my first set.

In hopes it will help others, a brief description of my experience:

New Holland TN70, 4wd
Curtis Plow mounted on FEL, hydraulic tilt l/r
R1 Ag tires

Steep gravel driveway in Vermont

After much research I ended up buying Aquiline Talons (Aquiline Tire Chains - Talon Tractor Tire Chains)
just for my rear tires. Bought them from my local chain saw/logging supply person, Gerald White's in Danby, VT who had as good a price as anyone on the internet and had them at his shop the next day for me.

The installation technique posted by one of you several years ago helped me get the chains on my 16.9x30 tires within 30 minutes (total, first try) and they have stayed very, very snug. Haven't had to re-adjust. I'm sure I can do it quicker next year, and best of all the physical struggle was minimal.

The chains have improved my plowing expericne 1000%. The are absolutely wonderful. My front end still drifts a bit when the plow meets resistance at an angle, but by using the brakes to steer a bit I've been very pleased with the performance.

I don't need mud chains, and really was focused on ice/snow performance- hence my choice of "studded" chains.

With my Farmi winch or the Backhoe on the rear for some added weight I feel like I could drive up a tree.

These chains were NOT the least expensive, but I feel the design and quality are going to pay off for me in the long run (next 20 yrs of plowing).

Thanks to all of you who have posted your experiences so that others may learn- this site is truly a great resource.

 

[beenthere]

Welcome to the forum.
Keep us posted, as you may have an entirely different viewpoint after a few years.
That is when you will have the experience under your belt. But glad you have them on and so far, so good.
Some pics would be good. We like pics.

 

[JB4310]

Hello All- just wanted to give a hearty Thank You to the TractorByNet community for all the great posts on tire chains. After reading hundreds of posts on buying and installing tire chains, I recently bought and installed my first set.

In hopes it will help others, a brief description of my experience:

New Holland TN70, 4wd
Curtis Plow mounted on FEL, hydraulic tilt l/r
R1 Ag tires

Steep gravel driveway in Vermont

After much research I ended up buying Aquiline Talons (Aquiline Tire Chains - Talon Tractor Tire Chains)
just for my rear tires. Bought them from my local chain saw/logging supply person, Gerald White's in Danby, VT who had as good a price as anyone on the internet and had them at his shop the next day for me.

The installation technique posted by one of you several years ago helped me get the chains on my 16.9x30 tires within 30 minutes (total, first try) and they have stayed very, very snug. Haven't had to re-adjust. I'm sure I can do it quicker next year, and best of all the physical struggle was minimal.

The chains have improved my plowing expericne 1000%. The are absolutely wonderful. My front end still drifts a bit when the plow meets resistance at an angle, but by using the brakes to steer a bit I've been very pleased with the performance.

I don't need mud chains, and really was focused on ice/snow performance- hence my choice of "studded" chains.

With my Farmi winch or the Backhoe on the rear for some added weight I feel like I could drive up a tree.

These chains were NOT the least expensive, but I feel the design and quality are going to pay off for me in the long run (next 20 yrs of plowing).

Thanks to all of you who have posted your experiences so that others may learn- this site is truly a great resource.

Congrats on your new chains and welcome to TBN The welcome is customary but sounds like you've been here for awhile

Those chains look very effective, like you said, looks like you could climb a tree and with the continuous links around the tread like that, no chance of losing chain between the lugs and maybe a smoother ride?

For your described application If I could only have 1 set the rears are definitely the way to go. But why not put chains on the front as well? might improve your winter tractor use that much more, having the optimal amount of control.

JB.

 

[310North]

thanks for the welcome JB and BeenThere,

I'll try and snap some photos of the rig and post them up.

I decided on rear-only (at this point) for two reasons- first, cost. Figured I'd try to get by with rear first, then if I needed more bite, invest in fronts. Second, I have heard and read that running front and rear chains *may* place excessive strain on the front end. I know that there are many folks who say they've had no trouble with their equipment after years of running chains on all 4 tires. Seemed like a pretty even mix of people saying do vs don't, and if I can get good results with just rears, I'd prefer to play it safe.

I can see where front chains would greatly increase the lateral stability when plowing or trying to work on a side hill. I personally think you could minimize risk of damage by not engaging 4WD and generally avoiding situations that might stress the front end.

Like BeenThere indicated, I'm only a month or so into "chain ownership" and I'm sure I'll form new opinions as time goes on.

 

[Gypsy Rose]

Sounds like you've found a winner. My local JD dealer carries the Aquiline chains. When I was in the market I looked at them, liked them, but then balked at the price. I ended up buying from another source and have regretted it since. Lesson learned, but I'll know where to head next time. That H-pattern with the four continuous perimeter chains that hold the cross-chains in place are what I've seen on most of the farm tractors with R1 tires in these parts.

Danby, Vermont? You're not too far away from me. Hope you're staying warm. Here on my mountainside in Tunbridge I didn't see the thermometer go above 2 degrees today and the winds were cranked up to 30-plus.

Kevin
Tunbridge, Vermont

 

[ChuckinNH]

It was kind of breezy here too, so I sent some extra wind your way....... Hmm, come to think of it the wind here was coming from your way....... keep it the next time, OK?

 

[Gordon Gould]

You did the right thing. I have the same design on my chains except they
are of Norwegian manufacture purchased from Desmarais Equipment in
Orleans, VT. Dont be afraid to use them in the woods - they are great
in mud and on slippery roots and ledge. Ive had mine for six years now
and still marvel at how great they are,

 

[310North]

Yeah, pretty nippy this AM for sure. We are a little north of Danby in Middletown Springs. I head thru Bethel to get on 89 north a few times a year- right through your neighborhood, Kevin.

A few photos for entertainment. Taken this AM so I didn't take the time to pull it out of the barn into the sun (which hadn't made it over the hill yet).

I look forward to getting into the woods next weekend with the new chains, hoping to get started on next years firewood!

 

[Gypsy Rose]

A few photos for entertainment. Taken this AM so I didn't take the time to pull it out of the barn into the sun (which hadn't made it over the hill yet).

Looks like a nice new timber framed barn there. My winter (and last fall and the coming spring) project is a small (20' x 30') timber frame equipment shed. Lots of hours with a framing chisel, but it'll be one for the ages.

 

[310North]

Actually an old timber frame off my parents farm. Was falling over, filled with cow manure. They didn't want to invest in saving it. Local fellow took it down, cleaned it up, and pieced it together for us. It turned out better than I could ever expect. All the old timbers were salvaged, and we had enough old siding to do almost 3 sides- had to mix in some new pine to finish it up though.

Timber framing is a beautiful art- I have a whole new appreciation for it. I don't want to offend anyone, but standing in it at dusk with the light pouring in on the beams is like being in a cathedral for me.

Happy New Year-
Chris

 

[JB4310]

Nice looking machine and Timber frame building.

It's pretty cool how there's still people that can dismantle and reconstruct them like that, giving them another 100 + years of life.

About it feeling like a cathedral, physically with the geometry of the exposed beams from the posts all the way to the roof, I can see what you're talking about, kinda like the columns and vaulted ceilings of an older style church.

But in a metaphysical sense you also have some of the same characteristics of Hope, faith, survival, shelter. Maybe not you as much, the modern owner but the original owner/builder would of been more dependent on that structure for those traits.

I love history and to think of who was here before me, I would definitely be thinking of the life and people that building provided for, when in there during quiet times.

Really not to far a stretch, look at the massive timbers that make up the framework of this huge 125 year old church I work on, this was on the lowest level of 4 levels of catwalks in the attic. all wood trusses, no steel except bolts and straps, look at the size of the ceiling and roof these are holding up.

 

[Gypsy Rose]

Actually an old timber frame off my parents farm.

Great that you were able to salvage it. When properly built, those frames were good for hundreds of years (unlike so many of our contemporary buildings that will be lucky to outlast the mortgage).

Timber framing is a beautiful art- I have a whole new appreciation for it. I don't want to offend anyone, but standing in it at dusk with the light pouring in on the beams is like being in a cathedral for me.

I feel the same way. Now that I've got a few new timber framed buildings in the plans (one under construction), I find myself stopping at all the barns I took for granted as a kid. Poking around inside them I've found evidence of some terrific craftsmanship and engineering among those still standing.

All the best for 2010,

Kevin