Tire Chains, Home Made Anyone done it?

[smiley]

There's a couple good threads over at the Cub forum getting right down to the how to nitty gritty of making chains if anyone wants to check them out.
Farmall Cub • View topic - My Duo-Ladder tire chains
Farmall Cub • View topic - Rear tire chains?

 

[David Devuono]

I just made a set of chains for my new Silverado (ya I know the manual says chains are not recommended, but lug tires were $900) but when you custom make them they can be made tight. I have made chains for my Kubota subcompact and various other small tractors. For my pickup I bought grade 30 1/4 inch chain for cross pieces (1.99 ft) and one size heavier for the ends.(2.99ft) What I will say is that my larger tractor has chains that I cannot lift and I believe it only has 12.8x 24 tires. Even with 1/4 inch chains your 4ft plus dia tires will have heavy chains and awkward to assemble. Without a plan you are going to screw up some connections. I have not decided yet if it is easier to attach all the links to one side first or connect links to both sides, one at a time. What I do is have two hooks on the ceiling spread appart about the width of the cross link. Using two extra chains with hook links, connected to the side pieces (all position directly above my vise) I do one link at a time and start raising the assemble up as I finish a link. This way you can keep all the links lined up. Also what makes it easier is if you attach a cross link an even number of links along the side pieces so that its easy to line the links up. Sorry if I repeat something as no time to read all the posts. Make sure when cutting grade 30 chain to twist it open, you cut it at the weld. If you cut the other side, well you will see how brittle the weld is.. You are going to need at least 100 feet of chain, maybe 120feet depending on how many cross links. (buy extra, it will never go to waste.)

 

[simplicityguy92]

get some old semi truck chains a set of chain pliers and hammer down. i helped modify a set to work on the skid steer at work. they work good i also made my own for a garden tractor out of 3/8 link chain from the hard ware store

 

[crazyal]

I want to thank all of you guys for your info! Much easier to tackle this kind of stuff with help from everyone here.

rScotty I read your post, and I'm going to take a little trip to Murdoch's and get a looksie at some lighter chain that I was expecting .. If it's signicantly less expensive I'll go the DIY route... otherwise I'm going to go with tirechain.com ladder type and then modify them for a duo-grip type setup.

What about the clearence on the inside of the tire / tractor. Man when I look at my DK40 it's pretty tight down by the rim... a bit more up by the tread ... has anyone out there put chains on a Kioti DK40 ??? Pics....???



Hey SensibleNick... I have to admit when I think of Sweeden ... and "nipping out" ... I don't think of tire chains!!!!!! :laughing:

But I'd love to see your project as it comes along.. I'll do the same for mine.

Thanks again everyone for your input!

Tractor on

Are your wheels set to the widest position? I had to tun mine around because it was close, once I did I got about 4" of clearance now.

FOr my Kubota it's only about $30 difference between the ladder type and the duogrip type.

 

[crazyal]

Does anyone know how well a 275-80 24.5 truck tire chain would fit? If you're not going to be doing much more than snow blowing then a lighter set of chains would work just fine.

 

[beenthere]

.............What about the clearence on the inside of the tire / tractor. Man when I look at my DK40 it's pretty tight down by the rim... a bit more up by the tread ... has anyone out there put chains on a Kioti DK40 ??? Pics....???
..........

More room up by the tread is precisely why I custom built my own chains with longer side chain and shorter cross links to keep the chains off the side of the tire by the rim.

And they have worked well as planned. There is not much spare room on the JD 4300 with R-4's either.

 

[David Devuono]

Does anyone know how well a 275-80 24.5 truck tire chain would fit? If you're not going to be doing much more than snow blowing then a lighter set of chains would work just fine.

Doing the Math, 27.5cm x .8 (aspect ratio)=10.8in x .8= 8.7inche off the tire

X by two for top and bottom, plus rim 24.5 inches= 42 in tire.

So the truck chain is for a 42 inch tire that is approx 11 inches wide. Measure the width and dia of your tractor tire from side to side.

 

[David Devuono]

So if your tractor tire is a bit taller and narrower then 42x11 then it might fit or if your tractor is bit wider and shorter then 42x11 it might fit. The main point is the width though as you can always add something to the lenght and add more cross links, you just don't want to modify all the cross links. Or maybe its free chain and you can modify the cross links and length.

 

[HSSC]

Last fall, we had some early snow storms that put some heavy wet snow on the ground and I had my, new to me snow blower, that ( of course ) I wanted to play with. Well pushing wet snow with the blower caused the chainless tires to break loose quiet quick. Chains were in order.

Spent the next few days searching chains for tractors and the prices.

Work was real slow and money was tight. I had seen a long handled chain tool in my research. I had also seen alot of broken chains on the side of I-80 headed west and east just west of Reno in the foothills. Ding Ding Ding. There were the chains for my Yellow MF right there in the road. Buy the tool and have at it.

With the ideas from Tractor By Net people, I came up with a plan. Gather up as many of those chains from the side of the road as I dare and see what I could come up with for chains for the tractors 17.5 L-24 rear tires and 16" fronts.

First on the list was the chain tool witch I purchased at the Peterbuilt dealer cause we have a good discount thru my work. Next was gathering up the chain material from the side of the road. All chain material was off on the side as the DOT snow plows had work the roads and sent them there for me to harvest.:laughing: Lots of Highway Patrol people were give me the I :confused2: but they were on the otherside of the road and snow was impeading their comming to my side and see what I was up to. I had to work fast. I was on a mission. :confused2:

I'll have to take some pics and show everyone what I came up with. They are on the tractor right now, praying for a big deep snow storm cause they have been sitting around all summer with nothing to do. Bored to death.

 

[beenthere]

Clever idea, and sure would like to see the pics.

 

[pat32rf]

I've found that old truck chains are perfect to start with, even if you have to lengthen the cross bars. Most of us don't really need skidder traction.....

 

[smiley]

I've mentioned it in other threads but will again here. I get my used chains from our local town highway department for free in the springtime. They keep them on all winter and wear occurs when the roads are clear, so they make new ones every year.

 

[HSSC]

As promised, here's some pic's of what I came up with. I've also included a pic of my rolling vise that is set up in an engine stand. I used the vise to bend the 3/8 round stock for the loops and any other items that needed clamping like closing links to weld. I can move the vise out to were the work is. These are all truck chains and the fronts were about two hundred feet apart on the highway and brand new, galvanised to boot. The rears is where I put the time in and I plucked only the best parts for the build. I put as many cam tightners as I could.

I gained traction with these, but not to much as I would rather have some give in the tires rather than break the tractor.

Ken and Family

 

[rScotty]

Work was real slow and money was tight. I had seen a long handled chain tool in my research.

First on the list was the chain tool witch I purchased at the Peterbuilt dealer

Enjoyed your pictures. I've built a several sets of chains, but never welded any, I just use squeeze connectors and haven't had a problem with those. For a tool I use a two foot steel bar with one tapered end, another with a spoon end, a big vise, and a hacksaw. I make them roughly right and then do a final fit after trying them on the tire. I really think that homemade ones are better than anything that can be bought. They certainly fit better.

What I'm wondering is about that chain tool you got from Peterbuilt. Don't think I've ever seen a dedicated chain tool. What's it look like?
rScotty

 

[CowwFace]

As promised, here's some pic's of what I came up with. I've also included a pic of my rolling vise that is set up in an engine stand. I used the vise to bend the 3/8 round stock for the loops and any other items that needed clamping like closing links to weld. I can move the vise out to were the work is. These are all truck chains and the fronts were about two hundred feet apart on the highway and brand new, galvanised to boot. The rears is where I put the time in and I plucked only the best parts for the build. I put as many cam tightners as I could.

I gained traction with these, but not to much as I would rather have some give in the tires rather than break the tractor.

Ken and Family

Hey Ken,
thanks for the pic's they help a lot. After looking online etc for chains I've decided to make my own.. the one question I have is the "twisted link" cross chains.. did you just twist your own to make them ... It looks to me like you used the same side chain and just twisted them with your vise ... do I have that right?

I called my local DOT garage and they acted like I was insane asking for their old chains.. almost like I pay their salary or something... pfff!!

Thusly I'm going to buy bulk chain and start bending... I feel the testosterone increasing just thinking about it.

tractor on

 

[ultrarunner]

I worked in the car business and picked up a lot of free chains that were left in the trunk of trade-ins... also, chains seems to be something leave behind when moving... my brother, a broker is always having to get rid of someone... even free at garage sales.

If you are willing to get your hands dirty the supply of used chains should be limitless.

 

[crazyal]

As promised, here's some pic's of what I came up with. I've also included a pic of my rolling vise that is set up in an engine stand. I used the vise to bend the 3/8 round stock for the loops and any other items that needed clamping like closing links to weld. I can move the vise out to were the work is. These are all truck chains and the fronts were about two hundred feet apart on the highway and brand new, galvanised to boot. The rears is where I put the time in and I plucked only the best parts for the build. I put as many cam tightners as I could.

I gained traction with these, but not to much as I would rather have some give in the tires rather than break the tractor.

Ken and Family

By adding that ring to the center you've solved the problem of the cross links being too short on Truck chains. Instead of using 3/8 round bar for the rings it was previously posted that a coil spring from a car can be used.

CowwFace even if you can't find a set of used truck chains Tirechains.com sells them for around $125. I would think if you have a 4 1/2" grinder with a cut off wheel and a welder you could make a set like HSSC has done. I'm sure you could get a couple of springs from a junk yard for cheap. If it still doesn't give you enough traction you could weld some grouser bar to the rings.

 

[SensibleNick]

My Turn!!

I too have been playing in the workshop, and have now finished the chains for the rear wheels, with the front ones about 50% done.

Old Highway agency chains aren't available here, I didn't want simple Ladder Chains, and it would appear that my wheels are FAR smaller than your Ken!

And... My time - despite what others may claim - is free if what I'm doing is considered to be having fun. :thumbsup:

So... Here's what I came up with, and the link below is to the full photo album with captions that describe each step. (Feel free to poke about at other photo albums if you fancy)

The Whole photo album (so far) can be found here Picasa Web Albums - Nick - Tractor Chains

 

[crazyal]

I didn't have the spare time so I just bought a set of Tellefsdal Supers from a local dealer. Nick it looks like you made pretty much the same thing, nice.

 

[SensibleNick]

I reckon there's about 7 hour's work in the rears, and there will be 4 or so in the fronts.
Cost of materials is probably $150, but then again, I'm sure the chain is FAR cheaper in the USA..

How much (if you don't mind me asking) did you pay for the Supers?

By the way, I guarantee that the chains I've made aren't going to have anything *like* the longevity that your Tellefsdals will have...