Tire Chain Use

Boondox · Jan 17, 2003

Bob -- Tire chains are only a pain until you get experience with them. Takes me all of five minutes per tire to put them on -- and mine weigh nearly 200# each!

Pete

Pks · Jan 28, 2003

I must agree with beenthere. I have R4s and have experimented with the tension in the chains.

They don't work well if there is a lot of tension on them. I have found the same result as beenthere; the chains need slack to fall out of the grooves before they return to the ground.

They will make a tinkling sound when they are loose enough. They won't make any sound if they are tight.

wantodig · Jan 29, 2003

In researching tire chains I read that chain life is decreased substancially if the chains are not tight. Could someone comment on this as I just received a set of chains for my L4610 w/R4s yesterday and I want them to last a long while but they are worthless if they don't give you the traction you need. I also have a very steep drive that I have difficulty climbing (R4s seem to float on top of the snow instead of biting down). Also, do chains help on side hills? One of my problems with this and prior tractor with R4s was sliding on sidehills and was hoping the chains would keep me where I wanted to go.

gerard · Jan 29, 2003

1. I have the duogrip on R1 tires which substantially helps with the "falling between the lug" problem.
2. To improve things even more I bought some chain and some quick links and ran a length of chain at a diagonal in the direction the tire rotates in from cross section to cross section. This piece stays right on top of the lugs since it runs perpendicular to the direction of the lug.
3. Don't see any problem with chains on front. Loggers do it on tractors all the time and they use the norse types ice chains with carbides that are about as aggressive (translate no slippage) as you can get.
4. I wouldn't worry about wear. You only have chains on when snow's down and even then if you don't spin your tires excessivley wear has to be minimal. I would say your wear has to be max when on bare pavement and even at that I would think you'll have many years of use before they need replacement.

wdn · Feb 1, 2003

I have been plowing *just fine* with the BX2200 with the lug tires and NO CHAINS. Just use 4WD low range and plow it with the FEL. Up 15" of wet heavy snow in one storm, was no problem other than it took a couple hours to finish the job.

I bought 2 sets of tires, bar tires for winter, turf tires for other 3 seasons (of course the winter "season" here is mid-November through April!)

I use to have a very steep driveway at the old house, now it is flat at the new house. That makes a big difference. But I have cleared ice from the neighbors very steep driveway. I can sympathize because for 10 years we had a very steep driveway, a rear wheel, gear-driven Sears lawn tractor with a front blade, and tire chains. What a horror show that was, if I had a nickle for every time I threw the chains or got planted in a snow bank I could buy everyone a beer.

Are you using the FEL to plow with, or a back blade.

My old trick was first clear a swath from top of driveway to bottom (at the old house), until I got to the bottom of the hill, then turn around, drive back up the driverway, and widen it a little at a time. Always going downhill so gravity was in my favor.

With the BX2200 I keep it in 4WD low range most of the time when plowing.

KubotaBall · Dec 13, 2010

snowman said:
Got them from Tirechains.com - they were ordered for my specific tire size (used their chart)

I don't recall any option when they were ordered relative to the link size.

I assume that the links for a particular style of chain are basically the same size no matter what size your tire is (how large your set of chains are).

I saw the photo of your chains and have visited tirechains.com too. The chain itself pictured on their site doesn't look nearly as big as yours. My tires are 12.4-16's. I'm planning to get them so I can drag logs in my woods, not for plowing on pavement or gravel drives. I've seen prices ranging from $277 to $577, plus $100 shipping. Gets a bit expensive, eh?

Grampe · Sep 6, 2015

I notices that you don't use tension springs or anything to keep your chains tight.

I just bought a set of ladder chains, and didn't realize that they could drop into the lugs.

If I bought cross chain repair links which are 11 inches long could I attach them to each cross chain to the next cross chain, centered, would it help hold up the chains out of the lugs?

Grampe

NoNewParts · Sep 7, 2015

if you have the clearance, no rule that says only one set of chains.
throw another set on there.
no reason to spend big money.
measure the width you need, buy old chains from old tractors with 12.4-whatever tires..cut em down to fit.

Grampe · Sep 7, 2015

I have the clearance.
Thanks No New Parts.

I will look for old chains.
I also found a seller who has cross chains. They are 11 inches.including the end hooks.
14 cross chains with shipping $20.00
I was thinking of adding a cross chain to the center of my cross chains and going to the center of the next cross chain.

MY chains are for 13.6 x 28. So I think that would work to hold the cross chains out of the lugs of my tires.

Thank you for your reply.

Grampe