Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

tractor chains...an easier way???

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
John51

12-12-2007 14:13:48




Report to Moderator

Just put a set on another tractor.....18.4x38s. They get heavier every year. Any good suggestions for an easy way to put them on, and especially to get them tight? Been doing it for 30 years now but there must be an easier way than lifting and pulling.




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
M Nut

12-13-2007 08:33:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to John51, 12-12-2007 14:13:48  
18.4x28's, 18.4x34's, and 18.4x38's. All the same way. Throw them over the tire, fasten the inside on the bottom first, then the outside. Drive around a little bit, retighten, and you should be set for the winter. One year I took the chains on and off the 18.4x28's at least a dozen times when traveling two miles down the highway to another farm to feed youngstock I had there. Got good at it real quick!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Don-Wi

12-13-2007 02:32:49




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to John51, 12-12-2007 14:13:48  
We've only gotta do the chains on 16.9x28" tires on our 165. We put them on a little bit then drive ahead till it's run over again and under the tire. Those chains aren't too heavy so they ain't too bad to do. Nowhere near as heavy as a set for 28.4-38" would be.

Donovan from Wisconsin



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JimNWMich

12-12-2007 17:38:45




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to John51, 12-12-2007 14:13:48  
You've gotten several good suggestions. I tried several ways as described above. Now I jack up one side, slide the chains under the tire, then use a rubber bungee strap to fasten one end around the tire (bungee strap through the wheel very close to the rim). Then roll the tire slowly to pull the chains under the tire and eventually all the way around, hooking them up on the back side where it's easiest to reach and see the inside of the wheel. Still takes some effort to manipulate the cross links to get out the slack, but gets rid of the heavy lifting. I then add 3 more bungee straps (through the wheels like the first one) to tighten them up and get rid of the slack. Just watch out for the air valve stem - I don't put a bungee cord where it might catch the stem. HTH, Jim

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dan-IA

12-12-2007 16:46:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to John51, 12-12-2007 14:13:48  
Grandpa used to take the chains off the Cockshutt every spring. Then Dad would have to put 'em back on for him in the fall. Then Dad was not available to put 'em back on one year. The chains stayed on ever since....

... until I got the tractor. I took 'em off one year because I had to fix a flat on one side. That winter I had no traction and couldn't push snow. So I put 'em back on. Only took me 3 days to get 'em on tight again. They're staying on now.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
molinebob

12-12-2007 14:46:00




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to John51, 12-12-2007 14:13:48  
We jack the tractor up (4020 JD) and lift them up over the tire, usally 2 people and pull them tight and fasten them up, then we run bungie cords across the face of the rim to keep them from flapping around.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
IaGary

12-12-2007 14:30:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to John51, 12-12-2007 14:13:48  
Lay them out on the ground in front of the tire.

Drive on them just a little.

Run a heavy wire thru the rim and tie it to both sides of the tire chains

Drive ahaed more untill the chain is around the wheel and hook.

As far as tightening? just keep tightening when ever they come loose. Mine are hard to tighten also.

Gary



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
gene bender

12-12-2007 19:18:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to IaGary, 12-12-2007 14:30:06  
GARY i thought everyone did it that way.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Hugh MacKay

12-12-2007 15:10:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to IaGary, 12-12-2007 14:30:06  
Gary: Finally a man that does it my way, no point in making that one,"BULL LABOR".



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
J.C.in AZ.

12-12-2007 14:27:24




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to John51, 12-12-2007 14:13:48  
I used to have to chain up and I never could figure a way to do it with out a gut busting effort. I have layed them[34"ers] on the ground[or snow what ever]and drove up on them and take a rope and tie them inside and out to the wheel spokes and drove forward to sort of drape the chains over the tires,then take some tarp straps and pull the ends together and hopefully you can get them tight enough that after driveing forward and back you can get the inside hooked and take a come along and pull the outside close enough to hook it.Worked a couple of times,didn't work a lot of times,good luck,be careful.JC

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dan-IA

12-12-2007 16:53:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to J.C.in AZ., 12-12-2007 14:27:24  
What I finally did to get 'em tight was... After the chains were laying on top of the tractor I blocked the other side, jacked up the side I was working on, put it in neutral, let a lot of air out, pulled the chains tight as I could and beat on 'em with a hammer until they laid flat. It was slow and painful but a little at a time I got the ends close enough to get hooked. Then I put the air back in the tire and did the other side.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JMR IA

12-12-2007 14:27:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to John51, 12-12-2007 14:13:48  
I just lay them out on the ground behind the tractor.Pull one end up on the tire and secure it to the tire with a bungee cord.Then have Dad or Brother slowly drive the tractor forward while I arrange the chains neatly.Once all the way around stop the tractor with the splice about half way up.Hook the connectors as tight as I can.Then I use bungee cords streched across the outside to keep them tight.

John

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
IaGary

12-12-2007 14:31:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor chains...an easier way??? in reply to JMR IA, 12-12-2007 14:27:07  
You guys type faster than me



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy