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Tractor Snow Chains HACK
Feb 22, 2024
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0:00
So what's going on here
0:02
Well, as everyone out there knows, I've had two flat back tires on this tractor
0:08
And when you know what, the first one happened just after I get the tire chains on. Now, of course, I've had to take the tire chains off to get that other repair done
0:15
which you saw last week or the week before. I can't remember. But anyway, it's time to get the chain back on
0:20
So I thought you might like to see that. You lay it down on the ground
0:24
These things weigh a ton. Tractor tire chains are really heavy. How much would this one weigh over
0:30
hundred pounds. Oh yeah. So you lay it down. There is a top and a bottom. I got the kind of
0:35
chains that have these extra digging spike things. And they make a huge difference too as someone
0:41
who's driven the tractor. I mean completely useless in snow without these. Yeah, you can't blow snow at all
0:46
with it. So the spikes have to face down and I've got it lined up as well as I can with the tire
0:53
And I'm just going to back it up in the middle. And then we bring the chain up around and we do it up
0:58
It's something of a struggle, especially to get the slack out of it
1:02
But I have a little trick to show you. If you've got tire chains in your life on a tractor, then you're going to want to use this trick
1:07
because it works really well for tightening things up. I'm going to get on here and back it up and start the wrestling match
1:26
Pretty centered. We've got to lift both sides up and get them connected
1:34
Well, that sounds like an easy job. I'll just strenuously run the camera here. Great
1:39
This is where some helping hand would help
1:53
Maybe I can help you one hand it a little bit. Hold it up here or something. Yeah
1:57
Just hold this, yeah. Okay. Got it? Yep. It seems impossible to use the thing on because it's enough
2:22
There's enough slack at first. But there's actually tons of slack. It's kind of a lever thing here that does the first part of the job
2:35
Okay, now that's too slack, but at least it's not gonna fall off
2:42
Come around here and hold this here I have to go get some wrenches because in addition to these lever things there this link that needs to connect up with the other side two of them actually so I just going to go and get some tools to loosen that off
2:59
Okay we got this second lever thing on there. The trick with this is to get it on and then to drive it a little bit and as it's rolling slowly you work the slack out of it because
3:13
Basically we've got to gain, we've got to have this lever here
3:20
That's where it needs to go. We can't do that now. But we'll get there
3:28
This is why they invented four-wheel drive tractors. Because with a four-wheel drive tractor, you don't need any of this malarkey
3:36
There's going to be some guy in the comments. For heaven's sake, just get a four-wheel drive tractor
3:41
Okay, for heaven's sake. Just get a four-wheel drive tractor. Okay. For heaven's sake. Just a four-wheel drive tractor. Write me a check for $50,000
3:45
I'll be happy to get a four-wheel drive tractor. For heaven's sake
3:50
I mean, he offered, so it's the least he can do, really. So when this tire blew, I wanted to drop the chain right away
3:57
because with a flat tire, I couldn't drive it, the chain was hitting the fender
4:03
And with all my other work, I didn't think to get the chain
4:07
so it got buried in snow. So I had to do a little rooting around to find it
4:13
But here we go. So you see what's going on here. This chain fastens to the outside one
4:21
There's a spare, an empty link, and then another piece. And that's essentially what we want to reproduce here
4:28
On this side and then also on the other side. So you see we got an empty link and then this and then that
4:41
This will be just in the nick of time, we're badly in need of a blowout. Yeah, well, we've gotten a fair amount of snow in the last few days
4:50
Funny, some winters, there's no snow to speak of. And then other winters we get tons
4:58
I think the, uh, the winter where we had the least snow, I think it would have been 90
5:07
two or three. Only had to blow the driveway out twice. The most we've ever blown it out is about 20 times in one season
5:15
So it varies quite a bit. There's a lot of old stories around on the island that have been published in magazines and books and things about years ago
5:26
And there were years in the 1890s when they got zero snow
5:33
Nowadays people would be all up in arms climate change woo But I think the climate is a lot more variable than most people think especially when you go back in time and you read the pioneer accounts
5:44
You know, imagine a whole winter, no snow. Just some cold weather
5:49
Seems pretty great, actually. Bring on a brown Christmas, I think. Oh, I kind of like the struggle
5:58
Yeah, no, I do too. So, what do we do here? Do we need to do here
6:02
to roll it forward or can we gain some attention? I think we can gain some
6:09
There's a loose, saggy bit hanging here that we could pull up
6:13
At least it's not too cold today. No, no, no. Minus two at the moment, I think
6:18
Could be worse. It's minus 25 there. A few nights ago. When I first got these chains, I don't know how long ago
6:29
Three or four years ago? I was driving down the road and one of these things got bent
6:37
It used to be open right here. I lost this, so I've spot-welded it
6:43
I haven't had any more trouble. I just can't quite get that
6:52
If only had done more Pilates, you'd have been fine right now. Pilates
7:01
That urban, those urban yuppie sort of things, right? Pilates. I'm going to roll this baby a little more we can get at this side better too
7:12
If I drive it a bit. Yeah, you're doing pretty good. Nice warm, dry seat there, I'm sure
7:27
A little more. So this is that wire trick you were telling us about before, right
8:10
Yeah, this is a medium thickness of electric fence wire. I'm putting it through a loop in it in the center of every one of these things
8:20
So this one this one bringing it all around That not going to do a whole lot of good on its own but I going to put an electric fence tensioner on it and that will let me put in a lot of tension and draw it tight
8:34
It's the best option I've seen for this. There are sort of rubber bungee cord things you can get for this
8:40
but they never last more than a couple of years before they crack and break
8:44
I explained this before briefly, but I thought you might like to see it. The tensioner's got a slot in the back
8:49
You put the wires in and then it's got a reset for a half-inch socket
8:54
So you tighten it up. Your own design too. Pretty ingenious. Well this isn't my own design
8:59
No, but this isn't my own idea to use this. This form of tractor chain tensioner
9:11
Hey, maybe other guys do this, I don't know. I've never seen it
9:16
The tension is building. Tension is building
9:27
I'm going to do it up fairly snug, but it's going to loosen off a lot when I start driving
9:36
and then I'll tighten it up again. Maybe I can gain a little bit of tension on the other side too
9:41
I can see the chain's pulling down. down. It goes in the back to lock it. There. So pretty tight. I know it's going to
9:59
get loose again when I start to use it but we'll tighten it up a second time after
10:05
a little bit of snow blowing and then we'll be all set till our tire blows again. So
10:11
see you next week in other words. Thanks very much again for watching this week
11:00
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11:05
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11:10
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