Tires chains.... Yup, another thread.

[The Haymaker]

One of our customers is Canadian Chains. For the last three years, as I've delivered them, I've asked the receivers "What are you doing with the old set?"

Finally! Success! One of the Highway Departments scored me with a set from their bucket loader. MOST worn links still had 75% of the metal left. So far I have had to remove two crossovers, and 4 links from each of the remaining to get the fit shown here. I bought a tire chain tool to facilitate opening the links after slicing and dicing with the plasma. So, looks like 4 or 5 hours of labor and a 115.00 tool to put a set of chains on. I just couldn't justify the 600.00 plus for a set new.

He also mentioned the other pair was coming off soon and I was welcome to them. Yep!

I also, a year ago, scored a single "skidder" chain that weighed 500lbs with the intent of making a drag out of it. Never made it beyond the weight box.

 

[JB4310]

Nice, and smart of you to ask.

They look wicked HD

Looks like an interesting way the cross links connect to the side chain, like you don't need a tool?

If you can get the other set, fill in this set to make them 2 link spaced, smooth out the ride.

The tool is also a good investment, I want one myself, but so far have gotten by struggling with home made contraptions.

JB

 

[Destructo_D]

Nice, and smart of you to ask.

They look wicked HD

Looks like an interesting way the cross links connect to the side chain, like you don't need a tool?

If you can get the other set, fill in this set to make them 2 link spaced, smooth out the ride.

The tool is also a good investment, I want one myself, but so far have gotten by struggling with home made contraptions.

JB

The funny looking hooks on the cross rails are called "comet swivels". I have been employed building custom snow chains for the past 6 1/2 years and have never built a set with them... altho we might have a sale once every couple of years for just the hooks... What they do is just what it sounds like... it allows the chain to "swivel" or "roll" Personally I don't see the advantage in letting the chain roll because it doesn't give the chain a chance to bite into the ice....

btw the square link chain you have, has a big advantage over v-bar and studded chain... when the one side of the chain starts wearing out, you can put the set on upside down/inside out and can wear out the other side evenly.... same can be said for regular "twist link"

 

[Adiredneck]

Good score. My father and I have made a couple of sets now out of parts from highway chains. We have a good supply of old cross chains in a bucket for repairs.

 

[The Haymaker]

@ Destructo_D: The way I look at it, if these things could stand up to the abuse of a large JD payloader shoving a plow up and down the paved streets of a city named Sunrise for a mere 6 months before being returned to it's 200yo original (your quiz for the day!), then they should take my wimpy CUT.

The tool.... Yeah.... I never knew they existed until one of the old farmer turned truck driver I worked with mentioned it. I checked several logging supply places along my route and two Napas before finding the set I bought, which had just been delivered hours prior by UPS. (surprised they weren't broken. :laughing: ) Lot of money for a tool that will see little use, but... They are more intended for replacing and reattaching the folded metal pieces anchoring the crossbars I think. I have been using one side to open the links, but the side intended to close them will not work with this heavy chain. BUT, I can't imagine opening them any other way, so it wasn't money completely wasted. I've been using a large vise to close them back up prior to welding.

@ JB4310: I had never seen them before either, thanks for the explanation. As far as I know these were made by Canadian Chains in Skowhegan Maine. Pretty sure I delivered them last year. I do see the advantage of not worrying about them digging into the tire, along with the swivel feature. Sure makes working on them easier!

I was surprised at first that the more worn links were those located at the outside edges of the tread, am still surprised how there was only 3 or 4 links total that were very worn, down to 1/4". I was able to remove those and some other pretty well used ones. Those that I couldn't, I'll run a few cold beads across during the finish stages.

A question for JD4310: Am I going to need to run tensioners of some sort across the open wheel face? I've gotten them pretty tight, but am not sure they will stay in place.

Thanks!

 

[JB4310]

The funny looking hooks on the cross rails are called "comet swivels". I have been employed building custom snow chains for the past 6 1/2 years and have never built a set with them... altho we might have a sale once every couple of years for just the hooks... What they do is just what it sounds like... it allows the chain to "swivel" or "roll" Personally I don't see the advantage in letting the chain roll because it doesn't give the chain a chance to bite into the ice....

I've never seen them before, so you don't need a tool to attach them?

I agree, I see no advantage to the chain rotating, but a huge advantage for someone wanting to make or modify their own chains.

The tool.... Yeah.... I never knew they existed until one of the old farmer turned truck driver I worked with mentioned it. I checked several logging supply places along my route and two Napas before finding the set I bought, which had just been delivered hours prior by UPS. (surprised they weren't broken. :laughing: ) Lot of money for a tool that will see little use, but... They are more intended for replacing and reattaching the folded metal pieces anchoring the crossbars I think. I have been using one side to open the links, but the side intended to close them will not work with this heavy chain. BUT, I can't imagine opening them any other way, so it wasn't money completely wasted. I've been using a large vise to close them back up prior to welding.

@ JB4310: I had never seen them before either, thanks for the explanation. As far as I know these were made by Canadian Chains in Skowhegan Maine. Pretty sure I delivered them last year. I do see the advantage of not worrying about them digging into the tire, along with the swivel feature. Sure makes working on them easier!

I was surprised at first that the more worn links were those located at the outside edges of the tread, am still surprised how there was only 3 or 4 links total that were very worn, down to 1/4". I was able to remove those and some other pretty well used ones. Those that I couldn't, I'll run a few cold beads across during the finish stages.

A question for JD4310: Am I going to need to run tensioners of some sort across the open wheel face? I've gotten them pretty tight, but am not sure they will stay in place.

Thanks!

So the swivel things do require cutting a welding a link?

About the tensioners, in my opinion, yes. I like my chains as tight as possible. Some others say no need for tensioners, so I guess it's kinda a preference thing.

When I first saw your chains on the floor, they looked too wide, when I see them on the tire they look of ok. I think they would still work fine being as much as a few links narrower, but as I think about it, having the chain down further on the side wall like that, might be better in deep snow or mud, as they would be providing some extra traction at the sides of the ruts.

Funny thing, when I did a google search on comet swivals trying to learn about them, when I went to images I found your picture. Happened to me before finding my own pictures from this site on a google search.
It's like that looks familiar, oh yeah it's my back yard!

JB

 

[ak9]

Haymaker
20 ish yrs ago I was at a buddies scrap yard w/ my 5 tons of scrap on my dump and three DOT tri ax dumps came in loaddded w/ 4 types of new comercial chains(never used )@60 ton to scrap.He offered me a swap deal my scrap for chains( lb~lb) :thumbsup: I rolled out with about 10 tons of tire chain at the days end .
I've made quite a few sets over the years . The pic is a set up I made for my tractor . Building this set I broke my chain tool .
Concerning the tensioning issue...I use old trampoline springs and depending on the dia. of wheel , I sometimes use a big washer in the center to hook the springs on to. Smaller dia. cut the springs and/ or hook them together . I've been doing this for years w/no problems.
ps: pic won't load internal server error

Ak9

 

[Chilly807]

My :2cents: on chain tensioners... if you have both the inner and outer side chains fastened securely, and their diameter is smaller than the tire diameter, they ain't coming off, no way, no how. Part of the recipe is to have the crosslinks the right length to allow for some wrap down the side of the tire. I like to see about 75% or more of the tire sidewall covered by the crosslinks.

Mine are looser than most, you can get a clenched fist between the sidewalls and the side chains. Mine have never even offered to come off, over three winters of running on pavement, gravel, deep snow and woods use. Everybody has their own preferences, I went with what the chain manufacturer recommended for mine and it's worked well for me.

I find they run smoother on hard surfaces if they're loose too, since the chain can squirm around and flex more easily. The H pattern is good for keeping the links up out of the lugs, but if you add some more crosslinks to get a 2-link ladder they should be pretty good anyway.

Nice score, by the way. It's always fun to get something you've been wanting for nothing or cheap, because someone else was done with it and was going to toss it out.

Sean

 

[The Haymaker]

I've never seen them before, so you don't need a tool to attach them?

I agree, I see no advantage to the chain rotating, but a huge advantage for someone wanting to make or modify their own chains.



So the swivel things do require cutting a welding a link?

About the tensioners, in my opinion, yes. I like my chains as tight as possible. Some others say no need for tensioners, so I guess it's kinda a preference thing.

When I first saw your chains on the floor, they looked too wide, when I see them on the tire they look of ok. I think they would still work fine being as much as a few links narrower, but as I think about it, having the chain down further on the side wall like that, might be better in deep snow or mud, as they would be providing some extra traction at the sides of the ruts.

Funny thing, when I did a google search on comet swivals trying to learn about them, when I went to images I found your picture. Happened to me before finding my own pictures from this site on a google search.
It's like that looks familiar, oh yeah it's my back yard!

JB

Not sure they really "swivel" all that much. Passing over and around the tread blocks doesn't allow for much movement.

The swivels look like they are a hot-forged type process. Only way to remove them would be to cut the side link encapsulating it open. They are an "L" bend with a mushroomed head on either end.

The chains WERE to wide laying on the floor. In that pic, one of the cross chains is painted yellow. That one is the correct length with four links removed. I was hoping the original length would work. The supplier said they came off a 24" wheel, mine are 22. The chains would have made contact with the wheel.

Not sure I will need tensioners. They took some coaxing, working, and finagling to get them connected at the length I ended up with. A high gear WFO run up the road has very little chain "chimes" and they don't pull away from the tire, so I may leave them as be for now.

Ah yes, good 'ol Google. At one point my stuff came up often because of the numerous forums I run and participated in, along with my web domain. Now, not so much.

 

[The Haymaker]

Haymaker
20 ish yrs ago I was at a buddies scrap yard w/ my 5 tons of scrap on my dump and three DOT tri ax dumps came in loaddded w/ 4 types of new comercial chains(never used )@60 ton to scrap.He offered me a swap deal my scrap for chains( lb~lb) :thumbsup: I rolled out with about 10 tons of tire chain at the days end .
I've made quite a few sets over the years . The pic is a set up I made for my tractor . Building this set I broke my chain tool .
Concerning the tensioning issue...I use old trampoline springs and depending on the dia. of wheel , I sometimes use a big washer in the center to hook the springs on to. Smaller dia. cut the springs and/ or hook them together . I've been doing this for years w/no problems.
ps: pic won't load internal server error

Ak9

Now THAT is a score! I've had good luck picking up crud if I look long enough. The job I have has me in contact with every type of job and I'm usually delivering the new replacements.