how to shorten tractor tire chains

If you live in a region that gets significant winter snow, you have probably tried to use your tractor or other equipment to clear the snow off your driveway or land. But if the tractor tires do not have a good grip, it could be challenging to get the job done. That's where tire chains come in. They are designed to provide the necessary traction to help your tractor plow through the snow. However, if the chains are too long, they could damage your tires or wear out quickly. So, let's discuss how to shorten tractor tire chains to get the best use out of them.

The Tools You Need

Before you can shorten your tire chains, you'll need to have some basic tools on hand. Some of the most important tools include a chain cutter, pliers, a hammer, and a pair of gloves. The gloves will protect your hands from any sharp edges, while the pliers will come in handy when you need to remove specific links. The chain cutter is necessary for cutting out the excess links, and the hammer is useful for tapping the chain links to fit into place.

Steps to Shorten Your Tire Chains

Step One: Measure your tire and determine the number of links that will fit correctly around the tire. This measurement will help you calculate the number of links that you need to cut off from the chain.Step Two: Use the chain cutter to cut the excess links off the chain. Make sure that you cut the right links, leaving enough space between the links to ensure that the chain will snugly fit around the tire. Step Three: Test fit the shortened chain around the tire. Make sure that the chain is not too tight or too loose. If it is too tight, you may need to remove additional links. If it's too loose, you may need to add back some links.Step Four: Once the chain fits correctly, use the pliers to close the removed link's ends. This step is essential to ensure that the chains will not come apart while in use.Step Five: Finally, test the tire chains to make sure that they work correctly and secure.

Conclusion

Shortening tire chains is a simple process that can have a significant impact on the quality of snow removal. It can reduce the likelihood of damage to your tires by reducing the slack of the chains. By following these steps, you'll have shortened tire chains that fit snuggly and work well on the tractor or other equipment that you are using. Remember to take the time to measure carefully and choose the right tools, including safety gloves, pliers, chain cutter, and hammer. Once you've shortened the tire chains, you'll be ready to tackle the snow with ease.