Installing chains on 8N

GunnyIa

Member
Supposed to be 40* and sunny per weather forecast last night. No wheel weights, think I should install chains today (after I fix fan blade and check water pump).

Anything special I need to be aware of? Will be first time installing chains on a tractor (not counting my NH GT22).

Appreciate any suggestions / recommendations. Thanks!

Gunny, in Iowa
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Installed a set of chains on my 8N that Kirk-NJ from this site sold me. Than came across a set of double O-rings that I could not pass up.
I was able to quickly install them and get them tighter than a gnats butt using a chain binder that I picked up at my local ACE hardware store for $7.99.
Just make sure they are tight and don't whip around smacking into your fenders. The chains will win every time.


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I like to jack my 850 up, in the garage, just enough to slide the chains under, leaving the ends so I can connect them at about an 8 o'clock or 4 o'clock position. Thats so the tire takes the weight and I just have to pull from the bottom. That load binder in the photo is a great tool you can use to cinch up the slack and hold them in place. Usually easy enough to get them situated on the tire, then I'll use that binder to install the tensioner on the outside of each tire, as I have ones with springs and center ring. Once they are on, you can run a bit, see if there is slack and re-adjust. Hopefully yours are a good or correct fit, if not you must secure loose ends, or the fenders may interfere. I've laid them flat and driven onto them too, the binder sure makes it easier to connect the ends, and cinch them up. When jacked up, I can usually get them right the first time, sometimes I may need to adjust, both the chains and the tensioner. A lot of people use bungy cords for tensioners, just use care and wear eye protection if you do. They,( the chains) ought to make a big difference in traction once on.
 

Billy do you feel that you need the tensioners? I have not seen any slip at all and I was dragging 1500lb plus logs out of the woods.
Even if the chains were to slip, I just don't see how those tensioners would help being flimsy as they are.
If I needed them, I was planning on connecting some 5/16 inch chain with some threaded chain connectors and no springs.
 
I like to run my chains a little loose, I have found that they seem to
grip better if when I am driving along the chain on the front lower
part of the tire falls away from the tread. I don't use any binders or
straps, just the connectors on the chain ends. Only time they hit
the fenders on my Massey 35 is if I am in road gear, which hasn't
happened with chains on in years. My Farmall doesn't have fenders,
so it isn't an issue. I like to drive onto the chain as Billy NY
described. Once you get a little practice you can have the chains
off or on in 5 minutes per side.
Zach
 

Zach running them loose does make sense. Just another school of thought.

I guess I can get away with mine being tight since they are double ring and I have 45 degree threads. Almost impossible for them to fall between the lugs.
 
The chains on my 8n have built in tighteners. Put them on and
take a big screwdriver and turn to tighten. Road gear, wide
open they don't move!
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I seem to think you do at this point, but thinking back over the years, of all the tractors we had chains on, I did not always have them, nor when I was a kid, was I aware of these. First set I ever used was double ring on a '64 4000, no tensioner or anything on the outside of the wheel. The chains were the correct size, no modifications from another set or similar. Same set is used on our 3600 now and there are some bungy cords used on each side. Those seemed to slip off center at times, seemed like you need something. We had an IH 460 with turf tires, and just ladder type snow chains, no tensioners, I ran that one on the road a bit for snow plowing drive ways close by, no issues with the chains at all.

Now I'm assuming it may just be the fit and conditions you work in, observe how they ride on the tire, adjust if necessary. I don't install or adjust them real tight, just snug enough.

A few years back, after years of knowing I should have a set on my 850 here at home, I went and bought a new set of double ring chains from tire chain dot com, tensioners and small load binder. I have regular ag tires firestone road and field. I read somewhere that you should have those tensioners for a good fit which lessens the wear and to secure them properly. First year I had them, I jacked the tractor up, installed per the above, and never had to touch them again the rest of the season. I was towing some logs, clearing snow etc. Last year I had to fool with them a bit to adjust so they stayed snug enough to the tire, not wander etc.

The tensioners I bought are light chain, with S hooks and springs, at some point you determine what link to set the hook on for length and tension, and where to connect to the side chains, ideally so the center ring is about lined up with the rear axle ends, give or take.

There is some odd thing with this set, the cross chains close to the one end, and the link I need to connect to, to get them snug, something interferes a bit, as if I almost need to reset that one cross chain, the load binder makes it easier for sure. Brand new, ordered 13.6 x 28 so thinking about it, I almost thought there was a problem, I don't have the tool you can buy to work on these and move the cross chain. I don't have them on yet this year so I may not recall the specifics. Just seems I need some sort of tension on this set, given I may not be able to get the ends connected where I believe they should or would be easier if the cross chains were one link back on the ends, but assume they were built correctly, so I left as is.
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Billy The set of O-ring chains I bought came off of an 8N or so did the PO say. When I put them on my tires 12.4 x 28 they were too loose to my liking. A NYC fireman buddy of mine puts the chains on the fire trucks each year in his fire house and said he had a bunch of those chain tools and would give me one.

Looks like a 3 foot bolt cutter. Pretty expensive when I looked up how to use it. It allowed me to open the ladder end links and re-position them by moving to another chain link and recrimp the links. This way I was able to get the entire chain tight around my tire.

I am just South of Kingston NY right out side of Ellenville. Don't know where your at, but you are welcome to come borrow the crimper.

I added the picture below.
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I had that happen, saw a used set on CL for $125, alleged 13.x28's, not too far away, so I went and bought them. Double ring type, and it seems there were double, or many extra cross chains on each of this set, pretty good deal I thought, but they were off in size. Both length and width. Seller was very nice, I took a few photos of them, explained they did not fit, he refunded me, said no problem at all, not sure what happened there, but if I could have modified them, I'd have kept them, but being the width was short, figured it best to return them. He was into farmall cubs and maybe some other tractors and things, nice shop and I really appreciated him refunding me. Really enjoy most of the folks I've met buying used things. I'd have done just the same. I have seen this size used on CL several times last fall into the winter, but a few years earlier nothing used was to be found, funny how that works, kept an eye out for a friends 640 ford, and saw that size too this year. Pays to look daily LOL !

That is the tool, I have seen one used on CL some time back, but never since.

I was down in Ellenville back in mid October, bought an old stove from Thornton Hardware, from the owner, must have been a removal for a pellet stove. Nice area through there, like how its a bit isolated too, no big box stores that I recall, lots of old places and various barns and outbuildings.

Thank you kindly, I'm up outside of Troy, not that far, but I'd end up going for one, I think they were $89-$100, but its not something you use daily, so very much appreciated if someone lends you one for a small job for sure !

I worked all over NYC for 15 years, 91-'05 or so, also NJ, was wondering what station he was out of, they got their hands full if that storm dumps on them, boy does it get crowded when that snow is of any significant accumulation.
 
I jack up one tire. Then hook the chains onto the ag bars and roll them over the top. Make your connections underneath.
No lifting that way.
I Never need to use bungees, coat hang wires or anything else to keep them on.
I put them on every winter and haven't lost one in 15 years.
 

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