How many shackles per skidder tire chain?

[bitzer]

Well I got away with no chains for 18 months. Workin a hilly job right now and my trails are glazed over. I've got 2 pair of chains coming tomorrow and I have no idea how many shackles I need per chain. Tire size is 23.1 x 26. Also what size shackle do I use for 5/8" chain? 5/8" or smaller/bigger? Any tips on getting them on and tight would help too. I've never put em on before and my guess is it will be a treat. Thanks!

 

[056kid]

I used to spend a portion of each morning fitting shackles to our haggerd chains. Find a deal and buy up I reckon.

 

[1270d]

I just put on a new set. Same size. Six shackles per side I think for double diamonds. I had to cut them though. [

We use a handyman jack to get them tight. Welded a hook on the end of the jack post after shortening it about a foot. Then cut the jack suface narrow enough to slip inside the chain links, works like a charm.

One thing I like to do is get the centers nice and tight before hooking the side straps. Seems to make things easier.

 

[nhlogga]

Well I got away with no chains for 18 months. Workin a hilly job right now and my trails are glazed over. I've got 2 pair of chains coming tomorrow and I have no idea how many shackles I need per chain. Tire size is 23.1 x 26. Also what size shackle do I use for 5/8" chain? 5/8" or smaller/bigger? Any tips on getting them on and tight would help too. I've never put em on before and my guess is it will be a treat. Thanks!

1/2" shackles will be fine.

 

[nhlogga]

Well I got away with no chains for 18 months. Workin a hilly job right now and my trails are glazed over. I've got 2 pair of chains coming tomorrow and I have no idea how many shackles I need per chain. Tire size is 23.1 x 26. Also what size shackle do I use for 5/8" chain? 5/8" or smaller/bigger? Any tips on getting them on and tight would help too. I've never put em on before and my guess is it will be a treat. Thanks!

Skidder Chain Installation - YouTube how to install tire chains

 

[bitzer]

Thanks! I got the chains before I made it to the store and saw they had 1/2"ers on there. I bought 2 dozen of them. I was told to get the middle tight first, then the inside, and tighten the hell out of the outside. It seems like walkin em on there like in the video would be the easiest way to keep them on straight. I'll probably be doing it alone though so I'll see how it goes.

 

[bitzer]

Got the 2 pair for 1200 bucks. They look better than I thought they would. Beats the hell out of 3 grand for new ones. I sure hope they didn't come off of bald tires. I may have to do some ####in around then.

View attachment 278184
View attachment 278185

 

[056kid]

They look good! Just wait till they shine on up after a week's work!

 

[bitzer]

Thanks Ted! I'm ####### excited to start tearin the hills up with them. Sliding sidehill on rubber is not an easy feeling.

 

[mingo]

Should only need 4 schackles per side on ring ring chains hook the center first get the sides tight, then go back and check the center. Sometimes if your tires are worn you may have to take a ring out. I set my chains on with the log loader. A good chain jack is worth it's weight in gold. I like the screw type jack over the ladder jack.

 

[floyd]

Help me this. Sliding sideways on the hill with chains is ok?


I don't get off the place much anymore but most skidders I saw with chains had bald tires. As you know, tires are not cheap.

 

[1270d]

Make sure your inner and outer side chains are the same length, otherwise they tend to walk off one side or the other

 

[BERN-TIMBER]

Id invest in a chain jack, or modify a hilift jack to grab chains. Unless you have an air compressor on the job, then the screw type ones work damn good. But cranking on them with a ratchet gets old. Depending on how your tires are you may have to cut a ring out. I bought a brand new set and they needed modified as my tires are only 30% or so. Not sure about the kind of ground you are in but they are worth keeping on if you end up in rocks and rough ground too. Chains are expensive, but tires are no better. I priced 23.1-26s a few months back best I could find for a decent brand was 2600 a piece. I wont buy those off brands, they are a few hundred bucks a piece cheaper but wear out and chunk apart twice as fast.

 

[bitzer]

Well the better pair I put on the front and they ended up being about 18" short. Did some patchwork and serious ####in around to get em to fit, but I got them good and tight. Ratchet binder worked just fine for me. The key was keeping them tight on the wheel while walking them on. When I got to a certain point I wrapped and bound them to keep gravity froom doing its dirty work.

The back pair came up pretty tight and I only had to add a little. My tires are at 80-90% so I should have figured I'd be screwin around. Around here you're lookin at 3 grand per new tire with the mount and all.