tire chains slipping off

beenthere · Dec 27, 2004

I still don't think we have touched on your original question (problem) of why the outside 'fastener' is coming undone. Have we, in your mind, identified the problem you are having so it isn't happening anymore? I'm curious to hear what, if anything, has helped you. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

jam2004 · Dec 27, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I still don't think we have touched on your original question (problem) of why the outside 'fastener' is coming undone. Have we, in your mind, identified the problem you are having so it isn't happening anymore? I'm curious to hear what, if anything, has helped you. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )</font>

Nope. Still having the problem. Both chains came off today, but I was still able to complete the job. I'm going to try short rubber bungees. I think that might do the trick.

dwenham · Dec 27, 2004

A thing which worked for me in the bad old days of a Craftsman 1-wheel-drive was to wrap baling wire around the fastener after mounting the chains and driving around the yard to make sure they were tightened adequately. Until I started doing this, they fell off frequently, wrapping with wire stopped the problem. Tie-wire twister from Harbor Freight is more elegant and tidier than baling wire... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Dave

bugstruck · Dec 27, 2004

On my garden tractor I always use bailing wire to hold the fastners in position. Double it up (so you're working with two strands as one) and it is less likely to break on twist up. Another trick, since either my chains vary in length or my tires are slightly different inflated sizes, is to reduce pressure one or two pounds on the large one (definitely not to the point of squatting any) install the chains and bring it back up a pound or two. Doesn't take much. This tensions the chains properly in IMO when chains hit the in-between size and seem either to loose after the connection or too tight to get connected. If yours are fairly even this could be done for both tires.

Again, it doesn't take much air change to move the tire size rather noticeably on the smaller turf tire but I can't speak to your tires.

Haven't lost a chain on my JD325 yet and my alpine slope of a driveway works them to death. In fact my 4 year old set is nearing wore out and they are a quality set of Deere chains.

Good Luck,