Jacking a tractor...

Worked a late shift in the office today so I could put my shelter back up (blew down in 60mph winds in a storm a few weeks back!), so Smokey is safely undercover from snow.

Now the question:

Went to put the chains on, had a b*tch of a job. I don't chain vehicles often, usually just fire trucks once or twice a year if we even have a winter that bad (although some years I get a lot of practice!). And usually with the duallies we just back the inside tire up on wedge-blocks to make it easy.

Decided since I had to go to work, I'd deal with the chains tomorrow -- they're on but neither tight nor evened out right.

Planning on lifting the tractor up so the tires are off the ground and not pinning the chains in place so I can properly adjust them.

If I block up under the three point hitch well (I have a lot of good oak & chestnut dunnage at home), would it be possible to lift the tractor with the 3 point? Tips? Hints?

I have jack-stands, so I'll put those under the axles to be safe once lifted.

Slow storm, so I don't figure I'll actually start plowing till mid-afternoon :)

Yep...if I had thought about it more, I *knew* they went down my gravity. But my mind was thinking of the tractor jack as seen in the manual!

I ended up using a standard "floor" and lifting the differential enough to let the tires turn. Chains went on pretty easy.

Plowed the driveway Saturday, with 5".

Shouldn't have bothered, since the snow was light & drifting and Sunday morning I had 14" where I plowed and where I hadn't!

Tractor did a good job. Took awhile for the hydraulics to warm up to work well, but did the job none the less.

Just finishing by the road, about 10 minutes worth of work left to widen the driveway a hair...

And a link broke and I lost the chain on one side. Which since I have bald military tread tires and a small hill midway up my driveway is a problem!

Waying my options of jacking the tractor on my gravel driveway (not very stable!) or otherwise futzing in the snow, waiting till the fresh plowed driveway thawed & froze solid so I could sand, or wait till Wednesday when it'll be 45 and what's left on the driveway will melt...we're waiting :)

Anyway, here's we she rests for a couple days:

Just spread the chains on the floor roll the
tractor on the chains..attach the end of the chain
each side of the rim (not were the valve is) forward tractor slowly to permit the chain to follow the tire and reach the other end of the chain and attatch with the hooks.

This way it is possible to install all types
of chains sizes on all types of machinery without
effort..jacks..dirt on your clothes.

The only tool needed is a 2 foot long hay twine or wire.

HTH

Joe Ferguson