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snow chain tighteners

15 years ago

I know it's rushing the season but I'm getting vacation home snow setup ready. Just mounted snow thrower to Craftsman GT 5000, and put on wheel weights and tire chains. There's a lot of slack in chains. Any recommendations for chain tighteners? Checked TSC but they don't have them yet.

Thanks

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Comments (7)

mownie
15 years ago
5/16" turnbuckles. Get the type that has an open hook on each end. Hook the chains together on the outboard side of wheel so that the turnbuckle spans across the wheel. Draw the turnbuckle tight as you want and then attach tie wire to keep the turnbuckle from loosening. You may need to use 2 turnbuckles per wheel (in a cross pattern).
wheelhorse_of_course
15 years ago
Mownie,

good to see you lately. I love the idea. I Have always thought it best to try and keep the slack taken up on both sides, which is a real pit@! What are your thoughts on outside only versus inside and outside?

cheers
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tom_k_de
15 years ago
I use bungee cords in the same manner as used on automobile chains.Installed them about 3 years ago and still O K .The black rubber type used to hold tarps tight.
johninmd
15 years ago
what i always did when i had normal LT type tires was, I shortened the chains so i could just fasten them with no air in the tires, then when you inflate, the are nice and tight. Now on My GT,where i run ATV tires i made my chains from chains from a dual wheel logging truck, i also fasten them with no air in tires, but i run the tires softer so i use heavy 3/4" diameter springs, 6 of them with inner ends hooked to a steel ring about 2" in diameter. believe me, they stay tight.
As long as the inner side is tight/small enough so as side chain sits about at wheel edge, they stay put just fastening on the outside.
Funny story last winter, a guy bought pickup chains at Walmart, put them on in parking lot, either didn't fasten them right, or never heard of tensioner, when i saw him, he was still in parking lot with chains nicely wrapped around the trucks axles, and him standing there scratching his head. I know, i should have helped him out, but i didnt have time.
mownie
15 years ago
whoc, my thoughts about taking up the slack....if you determine what link of the side chain works best on the inboard side of the wheel, always hook to that link inboard and then use the turnbuckles to tense the side chains on the outboard side of wheel only. I also like what johninmd suggests but it does require that you deflate and re-inflate to chain up.
johninmd
15 years ago
yes it does, but i never remove my chains, so no problem for me with that, but they do still walk on tire a little when doing heavy plowing of dirt rocks or snow.
tracktor
Original Author
15 years ago
Might have found a solution. I found a pair of ratcheting tie downs in the garage (made by Werner ladder co.- two hooks, one of them with built-in ratchet, and a light gauge rope). I strung the rope with hooks across the wheel through a chain link, then across to opposite chain link, and so on. Hooked the hooks together, tightened rope and pulled ratchet end of rope. Seems like it should work.

Here is a link that might be useful: ratchet tie down

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