Here in western PA have to put chains on one of my Olivers so I can use it to plow snow off of our driveway. I struggled with getting my chains tight. I pretty much did what you did in this video and could never get my chains really tight because the tractor was sitting on the chains while I was attaching them. What worked for me was putting a block and bottle jack under the tractor axle and raising the wheel off the ground. I took the tractor out of gear, put the end of the chain over a couple lugs near the ground, and by turning the wheel with my hand, I got the chain on the whole way around. It was quick and easy to do and also helped me get and keep the chain tight so there was no slack in it once I was done. Just another way to do it.
As a small lady I do almost the same which I learnt in a lady tractor course many years ago - instead of using bailing twine I hang the chain end on the tire tread as far up as it will hang without faling down and then drive forward. The chain end will follow the wheel also when it comes down to the ground and under the wheel so no need for bailing twine. When the whole chain is on the tire and the first chain end is laying on the ground behind the wheel and the other chain end is right above I hook the chain ends together and tighten them. Usually I will have to retighten them after driving for some time. Enjoy your channel very much!
Thank you so much. I have been wrestling them on the old way for most of my life and was about to do so today when I thought there must be an easier way. At 70 years of age those chains have gotten mighty heavy. So I went to RUclips and there you were. I did know about letting air out of the tires before putting them on then airing up to tighten them.
Thank you for sharing this. It took longer to sort out the chains the actually put them on. I put on a John Deere 4230 but it still worked get. Instead of twine I used 2ft bungee straps. Thank you again it helped this gal out tremendously.
Wow! That looks way easier. I’m helping my neighbour put his on his big 100 hp tractor tomorrow. Definitely going to try that method. Thanks for sharing!
We use chains in terrain driving all year in the Army. I learned the same method you use, but we used steel wire instead. Every truck had small rolls of it, and you pulled out about 3-4 ft for each wheel, and just put it over the thread of the tires. The wires where cut in half and used for securing the lose chain ends when the chains had been fastened with the hooks and binders
Pete, Thank you for showing us the easiest way to attach tractor chains. Just goes to show, you really can teach an old dog ( me ) new tricks ! Thanks for sharing, keep the videos coming.
Just bought ladder type studded tire chains and was a little anxious about putting them on easily and properly. Your video was on point! Sooooo easy to do and alone also. Thx a lot ! Go 🇨🇦
Pete! what's up! in the Northeast of Mexico we used these chains to get out of the mud in the rainy seasons! It rained 750mm in the 1970's now it only rains 75mm per year! We need to adapt or die! The politicians don't get it! Saludos! Stay healthy!
I think I'll try making a set of H pattern chains for my yanmar, with R4s it's absolutely terrible in the snow and ice. Last year when we had that 36" I plowed as much as I could with the Chevy and then with the tractor using snowblower. While way down end of our roadway I got the truck stuck, went and got the tractor with a pull chain got the tractor and Chevy stuck. Neighbor was whizzing by saw my dilemma stopped and pulled me out with his Jeep. Needless to say I'm building H pattern chains this year. Thank you for showing me the ropes on installing tractor chains.
Great idea to share. I have 4 tractors, just keep the chains on them all year long, granted, it's not a solution to 4 wheel drive, but I have yet to get a wheeled tractor stuck with chains on it, and when on ice, the bite is incredible. Best.
Great Tip. I only have chains for my Super A so I can still hoof them on to date. Oh and I DO use the tensioners across the tires. Just use two sets of Bungie cords. Works great!
Awesome. This is the way that I do mine, but, I wish i would have seen this method being done before I had to figure it out for myself. It a great benefit when someone like yourself takes the time to share. Tnx
We use a lot of bungee cords and 6” rolls of shrink wrap around our place. Both of these items came in very handy for a variety of chores. Our method of putting chains on our IH is almost the same as yours except we whip out a couple bungee cords to pass through the wheel instead of using bailing twine. Same for the tensioners. We have always used bungee cords. I guess it is a matter of using what you have handy! Cheers! Whipple
I bought the same chains last winter road so horrible I had my mechanic cut and separate the cross chains. My tires are 15 19.5 so smaller but it helped the ride a lot. May have lost some traction but glad I did it.
My parents just got me some of those off amizone. man their really heavy and awesome to have can't wait to try them out .Peru IN got snow but out in the country were still cleaning up from it
I wanted the 2 link ladder. The 4 link is a waste on ag tires. But the price of chain is terrible. So I bought the duo. I do a lot of hills getting wood and plow a long drive and around barns. I have a lot of old chain around so I figure if I need more traction I will buy the hardware and add a ladder in-between all the H patterns.
My tractor has 28" wheels and the h-pattern 12mm chain is very heavy. I tried jacking up the tractor and spinning the wheels, but the inside chain always slipped off while rotating. And when the chain is at the bottom of the wheel, it would slip off as soon as you try to complete the rotation. I like your method of tying the chain ends thru the wheel and then rotating. That keeps both inside and outside chain wrapped around tire until the ends meet. Good tip, thanks!
I just stumbled on your video tonight, I have been using a very similar method for several years to mount my chains. Except instead of running the baler twine through the rim I just loop it over the tire tread making a V of it. Also I make certain when fastening my side chains to keep the inside and outside latches in the same chain links so the chains are the same length that will reduce the tendency for them to try and walk off a tire.
When younger I put tire chains on cars, trucks, and tractors many times. One time a cross link broke and before I could find a safe place to pull off the road, it beat a big hole in the wheel well of an old car I had! Not only had to fix the tire chain, also had to pop rivet a patch to the wheel well!
They look good chains help alot in my opinion. I was thinking put on for snow removal but the past few years snow comes then melts away. I have not put the blade on tractor this mud season yet. Great video thanks
I had a large green tractor (hey, don't judge me! :-)) with skidder chains. Super heavy. After struggling with them in the dead of a VT winter, I figured out a method similar to this one. Hook the strap part of a ratchet strap to the chains, and loop it up and over the tire. Drive over the strap, and it pulls the chains up and over the tire. I had to connect them down near the bottom of the tire because they were just too heavy to pick up to where you had yours. The reason I was struggling was because the chains slipped off. They slipped off because I didn't have tensioners of any kind on them. (And yeah, they were really too big for the tires.) So keep the tensioners on! :-)
Excellent video i use a hydraulic jack to Jack up my tractor and forklift when I put the chains on. I mark the left and right on the chains so I know which side they work best on i don't use the cam on inside of the chains I been stuck and the snap opened up and I really had a mess. Now I a threaded chain repair links on the inside
I'm glad you went with the chains instead of adapting Half tracks like i did on my Super C. Half tracks take up to two hours to get them together and secured. So needless to say that tractor is strictly dedicated to off road work and can't be driven on the driveways or hard surface road without scarring them up. But the trade off with tracks is excellent traction except on side hills. Tracks are very good for breaking up sheet ice, but i'm not sure if chains can do that. Let us know if they do.
That's an interesting way of doing it. Pretty similar to my method. I back onto the chains until there's enough sticking out the front to wrap it around most of the front of the tire. Continue backing up until 3/4 of the tire is covered, connect the ends & done. I certainly can see where tying the chain would be good for tires with not much tread left. Haven't found a need for the side chains yet. Figured they were for high speed applications like cars & trucks. Regards!
My dad taught me that way when I was little 49 now. I never use springs or bungee straps just drive around get them worked in and keep dropping links till they are tight. Helpfull hint a big pair of channel locks are a big help
I cleaned my barn stalls out this week. It was 23 degrees and no snow. At least the mud was frozen so the wheelbarrow didn't sink to the center of the Earth.
We use chains every year that’s how I put them on but you got yours on wrong always hooks towards the front or so you pulling into the hook it looks like you will have to move them to the opposite tire you have them on to get the hooks right and to keep cross Chan hooks right I’ll put a pick on of mine. It won’t let me post a pic but when the hook is open it should point to the front of the tractor and close towards the rear
I use the same method. Btw what conditions are those chains intended for? maybe forest use since they don't seem to have spikes on them. I just put on winter chains on my valmet 502. Those chains have inch long spikes on the outer side so they grip on ice well.
If you want the chain tighter, you can let some air out of the tires before you put the chain on. Then pump them up after. Would like to have tried your method when I put very heavy chains on a log skidded many years ago. Although I would have had to use wire cable instead of twine.
I put the chains up a little higher, and then hook them in tire lug , then drive ahead, forget the twine string, I’ve been doing it fifty years that way, I never use tightness eather, except on my skid loader, there I use some small turn bockels, and really tighten them up.
You might think twice about chucking the spreaders/springs. once you've rolled off a chain in a mud trench, or heavy wet snow situation. I used to put straight tensioners on the inside of the tire to keep the back tight also. To each their own!.
I also use bungy cords to keep the chains tight rather than the spring deal you have,I here it keeps the chains from slipping on the tires apparently the chains will break, I haven't ever broke one,also supposed to help keep from banging the fenders
How many times did you warm your fingers. At first I thought you were doing this with your bare hands because of the color of your gloves. I was thinking, man this guy must be warm blooded. I put chains on today in Midland Ontario at -10, and I came in twice to warm up. Nice video... love the farm. Watching this sure makes me miss ours. (you had me at "tractor")
Thanks for all the videos. I just finished getting through the last year + worth of videos. I'd have to say the only one that lost my interest was the one going through the Dexter breeding DNA matrix (black-dun-red etc...). It was fascinating when you hit the covid pandemic around March to see the how you were dealing with the disruption. Really well made videos and the jokes aren't bad either. I look forward to your upcoming posts. Good luck and blessings on you, your family and farm.
The thing about tensioners is you don’t know you need them until you’ve had them and one breaks...you’ll see. We used the heavy rubber bungees instead.
Another trick you can use a hydraulic jack under the drawbar frame.... jack up one wheel( at a time) to clear the ground by 3to 4 inches you can pull the slack out of the chains (lock your brakes or put the tractor in gear with engine turned off to keep the wheel from turning when you go to tighten the chain Trick #2 if your tires are not loaded (air filled only) and you have a good air compressor with the tire jacked up when you go to tighten the chain let air out of the tire ...tighten the chain and the pump the tire back up to pressure
I've been in the market to buy a set of chains. I've kind of looked online but haven't found anything that looks promising, but maybe I haven't looked hard enough. Pete do you have the name of where you got those chains? Any help would be appreciated.
Here in western PA have to put chains on one of my Olivers so I can use it to plow snow off of our driveway. I struggled with getting my chains tight. I pretty much did what you did in this video and could never get my chains really tight because the tractor was sitting on the chains while I was attaching them. What worked for me was putting a block and bottle jack under the tractor axle and raising the wheel off the ground. I took the tractor out of gear, put the end of the chain over a couple lugs near the ground, and by turning the wheel with my hand, I got the chain on the whole way around. It was quick and easy to do and also helped me get and keep the chain tight so there was no slack in it once I was done. Just another way to do it.
As a small lady I do almost the same which I learnt in a lady tractor course many years ago - instead of using bailing twine I hang the chain end on the tire tread as far up as it will hang without faling down and then drive forward. The chain end will follow the wheel also when it comes down to the ground and under the wheel so no need for bailing twine. When the whole chain is on the tire and the first chain end is laying on the ground behind the wheel and the other chain end is right above I hook the chain ends together and tighten them. Usually I will have to retighten them after driving for some time. Enjoy your channel very much!
Thank you so much. I have been wrestling them on the old way for most of my life and was about to do so today when I thought there must be an easier way. At 70 years of age those chains have gotten mighty heavy. So I went to RUclips and there you were. I did know about letting air out of the tires before putting them on then airing up to tighten them.
Thank you for sharing this. It took longer to sort out the chains the actually put them on. I put on a John Deere 4230 but it still worked get. Instead of twine I used 2ft bungee straps. Thank you again it helped this gal out tremendously.
Fired the chains on in a hurry with this method. Thanks big guy!
Thanks for sharing Pete. I've never put tire chains on a tractor but next week is my week. I like the way you explain things. Regards!
Wow! That looks way easier. I’m helping my neighbour put his on his big 100 hp tractor tomorrow. Definitely going to try that method. Thanks for sharing!
We use chains in terrain driving all year in the Army. I learned the same method you use, but we used steel wire instead. Every truck had small rolls of it, and you pulled out about 3-4 ft for each wheel, and just put it over the thread of the tires. The wires where cut in half and used for securing the lose chain ends when the chains had been fastened with the hooks and binders
I just put on chains for the first time today, using this method. Worked great!
Thanks for the tip Pete. Just put em on for the winter and driving them up over worked slicker than a whistle.
Mr. Pete you are a bottomless pit of useful information!
Pete, Thank you for showing us the easiest way to attach tractor chains. Just goes to show, you really can teach an old dog ( me ) new tricks ! Thanks for sharing, keep the videos coming.
Just bought ladder type studded tire chains and was a little anxious about putting them on easily and properly. Your video was on point! Sooooo easy to do and alone also. Thx a lot ! Go 🇨🇦
What a good tip. I think the tensioners are a good thing.
Pete! what's up! in the Northeast of Mexico we used these chains to get out of the mud in the rainy seasons! It rained 750mm in the 1970's now it only rains 75mm per year! We need to adapt or die! The politicians don't get it! Saludos! Stay healthy!
When I was still working at the tire shop, this is how I did ag chains. I jacked it up and spun the wheel by hand, but same idea.
I think I'll try making a set of H pattern chains for my yanmar, with R4s it's absolutely terrible in the snow and ice. Last year when we had that 36" I plowed as much as I could with the Chevy and then with the tractor using snowblower. While way down end of our roadway I got the truck stuck, went and got the tractor with a pull chain got the tractor and Chevy stuck. Neighbor was whizzing by saw my dilemma stopped and pulled me out with his Jeep. Needless to say I'm building H pattern chains this year. Thank you for showing me the ropes on installing tractor chains.
Thank you! That looks like a good method, sure beats lifting those heavy things. Let the tractor do the heavy work.
Just tried it and it worked like a charm.
As I tell the younger gen work smart not hard, nicely done.
Made it look easy! Thanks for sharing and stay warm. 🇺🇸🚜👍
As a small youtube guy I think it was really nice of you to credit the original! Thanks for sharing, I'll keep this in the back of my head
That is awesome! I've only ever put on chains the roll backwards method, in driving snow, with freezing fingers, swearing in many languages.
Great idea to share. I have 4 tractors, just keep the chains on them all year long, granted, it's not a solution to 4 wheel drive, but I have yet to get a wheeled tractor stuck with chains on it, and when on ice, the bite is incredible. Best.
Great Tip. I only have chains for my Super A so I can still hoof them on to date. Oh and I DO use the tensioners across the tires. Just use two sets of Bungie cords. Works great!
Awesome. This is the way that I do mine, but, I wish i would have seen this method being done before I had to figure it out for myself. It a great benefit when someone like yourself takes the time to share. Tnx
We use a lot of bungee cords and 6” rolls of shrink wrap around our place. Both of these items came in very handy for a variety of chores.
Our method of putting chains on our IH is almost the same as yours except we whip out a couple bungee cords to pass through the wheel instead of using bailing twine. Same for the tensioners. We have always used bungee cords. I guess it is a matter of using what you have handy!
Cheers!
Whipple
I bought the same chains last winter road so horrible I had my mechanic cut and separate the cross chains. My tires are 15 19.5 so smaller but it helped the ride a lot. May have lost some traction but glad I did it.
My parents just got me some of those off amizone. man their really heavy and awesome to have can't wait to try them out .Peru IN got snow but out in the country were still cleaning up from it
I just bought the same chains for mine. Should be here today or tomorrow. Great tip and perfect timing
I wanted the 2 link ladder. The 4 link is a waste on ag tires. But the price of chain is terrible. So I bought the duo. I do a lot of hills getting wood and plow a long drive and around barns. I have a lot of old chain around so I figure if I need more traction I will buy the hardware and add a ladder in-between all the H patterns.
Where did you buy your chains? Thinking about a set too.
My tractor has 28" wheels and the h-pattern 12mm chain is very heavy. I tried jacking up the tractor and spinning the wheels, but the inside chain always slipped off while rotating. And when the chain is at the bottom of the wheel, it would slip off as soon as you try to complete the rotation. I like your method of tying the chain ends thru the wheel and then rotating. That keeps both inside and outside chain wrapped around tire until the ends meet. Good tip, thanks!
I just stumbled on your video tonight, I have been using a very similar method for several years to mount my chains. Except instead of running the baler twine through the rim I just loop it over the tire tread making a V of it. Also I make certain when fastening my side chains to keep the inside and outside latches in the same chain links so the chains are the same length that will reduce the tendency for them to try and walk off a tire.
When younger I put tire chains on cars, trucks, and tractors many times. One time a cross link broke and before I could find a safe place to pull off the road, it beat a big hole in the wheel well of an old car I had! Not only had to fix the tire chain, also had to pop rivet a patch to the wheel well!
Nice set of highway chains rubber straps work great they prevent fender slap
They look good chains help alot in my opinion. I was thinking put on for snow removal but the past few years snow comes then melts away. I have not put the blade on tractor this mud season yet. Great video thanks
You started to tie the bailing twine on and I was like EUREKA!!!
I have never seen it done that way before! That is cool! Also I am placing an order for your book tomorrow!
Thanks. Your method works perfectly!
Like seeing the tractor videos, but love seeing the animals!
I’ve never put chains on tractor tires but if I ever need to this is a great way thanks for sharing
Awesome method. I would l
et a little of air out before putting on the chain, then fill it back up to get a nice tight chain.
Had those on a larger tractor - plowing snow on paved roads will shake yer grates! Changed to the traditional cross links for the next set I bought
I had a large green tractor (hey, don't judge me! :-)) with skidder chains. Super heavy. After struggling with them in the dead of a VT winter, I figured out a method similar to this one. Hook the strap part of a ratchet strap to the chains, and loop it up and over the tire. Drive over the strap, and it pulls the chains up and over the tire. I had to connect them down near the bottom of the tire because they were just too heavy to pick up to where you had yours. The reason I was struggling was because the chains slipped off. They slipped off because I didn't have tensioners of any kind on them. (And yeah, they were really too big for the tires.) So keep the tensioners on! :-)
I never put chains on a tractor but I hated putting them on our cars. That's a good tip. Thanks....
That's neat. I think some of the older neighbors did it that way. Always wondered how they did it.
Excellent video i use a hydraulic jack to Jack up my tractor and forklift when I put the chains on. I mark the left and right on the chains so I know which side they work best on i don't use the cam on inside of the chains I been stuck and the snap opened up and I really had a mess. Now I a threaded chain repair links on the inside
Where does a farmer get his cows from? From a cattlelog.
I'm glad you went with the chains instead of adapting Half tracks like i did on my Super C. Half tracks take up to two hours to get them together and secured. So needless to say that tractor is strictly dedicated to off road work and can't be driven on the driveways or hard surface road without scarring them up. But the trade off with tracks is excellent traction except on side hills. Tracks are very good for breaking up sheet ice, but i'm not sure if chains can do that. Let us know if they do.
This is the first video I ever saw on this channel
That's an interesting way of doing it. Pretty similar to my method. I back onto the chains until there's enough sticking out the front to wrap it around most of the front of the tire. Continue backing up until 3/4 of the tire is covered, connect the ends & done. I certainly can see where tying the chain would be good for tires with not much tread left. Haven't found a need for the side chains yet. Figured they were for high speed applications like cars & trucks. Regards!
love it thanks Pete as always a super video.
This was super helpful - used the same approach on my JD 5520 today and it worked like a charm!
My dad taught me that way when I was little 49 now. I never use springs or bungee straps just drive around get them worked in and keep dropping links till they are tight. Helpfull hint a big pair of channel locks are a big help
Even better is a load binder with hooks that go inside the chain.
I cleaned my barn stalls out this week. It was 23 degrees and no snow. At least the mud was frozen so the wheelbarrow didn't sink to the center of the Earth.
Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Did this today, By far the easiest way, you also thighten them pretty good toing this.
Hi. Could you possibly do a video on the quick attach adaptor on your 656 and where you got it? Thank you
Very useful!
Thanks for sharing!!
We use chains every year that’s how I put them on but you got yours on wrong always hooks towards the front or so you pulling into the hook it looks like you will have to move them to the opposite tire you have them on to get the hooks right and to keep cross Chan hooks right I’ll put a pick on of mine. It won’t let me post a pic but when the hook is open it should point to the front of the tractor and close towards the rear
I use the same method. Btw what conditions are those chains intended for? maybe forest use since they don't seem to have spikes on them.
I just put on winter chains on my valmet 502. Those chains have inch long spikes on the outer side so they grip on ice well.
If you want the chain tighter, you can let some air out of the tires before you put the chain on. Then pump them up after.
Would like to have tried your method when I put very heavy chains on a log skidded many years ago. Although I would have had to use wire cable instead of twine.
Pete,I’m a little old fashion with chains too,haven’t needed them here in Fl ........yet? Next time. Nice trick for sure,saves time. Later.
Thank you, winter days in central NY....
Holy moly I have never seen a not rusty pair of chains my entire life lol
Hell of a idea, thanks.
What kind of chains they look amazing
I put the chains up a little higher, and then hook them in tire lug , then drive ahead, forget the twine string, I’ve been doing it fifty years that way, I never use tightness eather, except on my skid loader, there I use some small turn bockels, and really tighten them up.
Thanks for the info bud.
Did you remember to remove that chain binder ? It's still on after the short drive.
Holy ____! That's so cool!!
Thanks for info 👍🏻
Great Job Pete Say hello to Hilary and the kids.
if it was christmas and there was a parade it would be awesome with those blue chains and chain tighteners.
Chain tensioners are life...keeps it all where it needs to be.
i always just jacked up tires off ground on my M/F 35 and pulled the chains up and spun the tire..tops, 15 minutes and done
Pretty slick.
You might think twice about chucking the spreaders/springs. once you've rolled off a chain in a mud trench, or heavy wet snow situation. I used to put straight tensioners on the inside of the tire to keep the back tight also. To each their own!.
Dam nice for working alone. Perhaps you could add the rubber type tensioner to reduce the rust.
Nice work ❤️❤️❤️
Yes, you need the tensioners. They keep the chains in tact. :-)
I also use bungy cords to keep the chains tight rather than the spring deal you have,I here it keeps the chains from slipping on the tires apparently the chains will break, I haven't ever broke one,also supposed to help keep from banging the fenders
How many times did you warm your fingers. At first I thought you were doing this with your bare hands because of the color of your gloves. I was thinking, man this guy must be warm blooded. I put chains on today in Midland Ontario at -10, and I came in twice to warm up. Nice video... love the farm. Watching this sure makes me miss ours. (you had me at "tractor")
you a great youtuber great content
Most people I know use bungee cords for tensioners. They use them on the inside of the tire too.
Nice job 👍
Great job
Pete, where did you purchase these chains from?
👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🗽🙏🏻 Enjoyed! The chains went on pretty well...good idea!👍
I put chains on with the connecting link hinge facing forward.
keep up the great work
Awsom tip thanks
Thanks for all the videos. I just finished getting through the last year + worth of videos. I'd have to say the only one that lost my interest was the one going through the Dexter breeding DNA matrix (black-dun-red etc...). It was fascinating when you hit the covid pandemic around March to see the how you were dealing with the disruption. Really well made videos and the jokes aren't bad either. I look forward to your upcoming posts. Good luck and blessings on you, your family and farm.
Where you get your chains from??
Thanks!
The thing about tensioners is you don’t know you need them until you’ve had them and one breaks...you’ll see. We used the heavy rubber bungees instead.
I think the extra end get fasten to the outside chains
Thats my thinking also. Otherwise clevis fastener will get beat and wore out.
I’ve watched so many of your videos that now, I’m afraid I’ll introduce mine as “Hi, I’m Tom from Just a Few Acres Farm...”😅
GREAT JOB>>>>>>>>>> thanks
Another trick you can use a hydraulic jack under the drawbar frame.... jack up one wheel( at a time) to clear the ground by 3to 4 inches you can pull the slack out of the chains (lock your brakes or put the tractor in gear with engine turned off to keep the wheel from turning when you go to tighten the chain Trick #2 if your tires are not loaded (air filled only) and you have a good air compressor with the tire jacked up when you go to tighten the chain let air out of the tire ...tighten the chain and the pump the tire back up to pressure
I've been in the market to buy a set of chains. I've kind of looked online but haven't found anything that looks promising, but maybe I haven't looked hard enough. Pete do you have the name of where you got those chains? Any help would be appreciated.