Tire Chains

[dlinmi]

I have a MF 165, the rear tires are not loaded. When I bought it used, the rims were corroded and leaking. I replaced the rims and tires but chose not to load them because I work some muck and thought it might be more of a hindrance than a help. Although on the heavier ground and other tasks I wish I had the ballast, anyway I can't get around in the snow worth a darn. I'm thinking chains would be a real help. New ones are pricey for my budget, I see a bunch on marketplace but they just give the dimensions. Can anyone tell me what size I would need for 16.9- 24 tires? And any other advice, thanks.

 

[Jim.ME]

See your thread on the Massey Ferguson forum.

 

[Tim in New York]

Wow! Chains have gone way up in price since I last bought mine. Don't blame you for looking for used ones. There is some good info in the replies to your post in the Massey forum. Good luck!

 

[Tom R S]

I have a MF 165, the rear tires are not loaded. When I bought it used, the rims were corroded and leaking. I replaced the rims and tires but chose not to load them because I work some muck and thought it might be more of a hindrance than a help. Although on the heavier ground and other tasks I wish I had the ballast, anyway I can't get around in the snow worth a darn. I'm thinking chains would be a real help. New ones are pricey for my budget, I see a bunch on marketplace but they just give the dimensions. Can anyone tell me what size I would need for 16.9- 24 tires? And any other advice, thanks.

A few years back I was having trouble in snow that had ice underneath. Farmall A. I put chains on and it made a huge difference.
Highly recommend them.

 

[MSD]

Tried moving snow yesturday with theJ 620 and no chains. Tires are loaded. I could make one pass but if I went back over where I had gone it would just sit there and spin. Couldn't back out of my pile either. Put the chains on and you can't stop it now. Helpful hint when putting them on: I dump them on my trailer, drive tractor along side it , spread the chain out the way I want to put it on and lift them up on the tire. A lot easier from that height than trying to lift them over my head to get them on the tractor otherwise.

 

[Scott 730]

Tried moving snow yesturday with theJ 620 and no chains. Tires are loaded. I could make one pass but if I went back over where I had gone it would just sit there and spin. Couldn't back out of my pile either. Put the chains on and you can't stop it now. Helpful hint when putting them on: I dump them on my trailer, drive tractor along side it , spread the chain out the way I want to put it on and lift them up on the tire. A lot easier from that height than trying to lift them over my head to get them on the tractor otherwise.

I stretch my chains out on the ground behind the tire. Bungee the end of the chain to the wheel and back up. Let the tractor do the work.

 

[moresmoke]

I stretch my chains out on the ground behind the tire. Bungee the end of the chain to the wheel and back up. Let the tractor do the work.

I do similar, but lay them out face up behind the tire. Then tie a rope to the end and run it up over the tire, tucking the rope under the front of the tire. Drive forward and the chain is pulled over the top.

 

[Tim in New York]

Thanks for the ideas. Getting harder for me every fall to throw the chains over the tire and under the fender.

 

[tractorford]

i drape them over the rears with a string, theres youtube vids on how to make chain attaching e-z on tractors just drape em over and roll a little ..,yea they go about 250 a piece its either spend 1500 on a set of new tires, or 500 or so on some chains for my old n' had been used for decades tires...

 

[Jim.ME]

Read carefully if buying new chains. Apparently to lessen the price shock I have noticed a number on ebay which looked like good pricing were only selling you one chain for the price, not a pair.

 

[buickanddeere]

fill with washer fluid or beat juice . Install chains .

 

[cjunrau]

I have a MF 165, the rear tires are not loaded. When I bought it used, the rims were corroded and leaking. I replaced the rims and tires but chose not to load them because I work some muck and thought it might be more of a hindrance than a help. Although on the heavier ground and other tasks I wish I had the ballast, anyway I can't get around in the snow worth a darn. I'm thinking chains would be a real help. New ones are pricey for my budget, I see a bunch on marketplace but they just give the dimensions. Can anyone tell me what size I would need for 16.9- 24 tires? And any other advice, thanks.

If you can't find chains there not hard to make.

 

[John in Ct]

Loaded tired are useless compared with chains in snow, even in light snow.

 

[stevieb49829]

I built mine out of extra sets of triples (dually chains) I salvaged. Started with just the outside/inside runs, welded up for enough length and added cross links in an X pattern. They make a special tool for replacing cross links. While not professional looking, they get the job done.

 

[dlinmi]

If you can't find chains there not hard to make.

Yeah, I watched a couple of You Tube videos on making your own. After looking on FB marketplace I found alot of chains but few people list what tire they fit, just length and width, but most are for less than what I would have in material to fabricate my own.

 

[Dan in North Houston]

We used chains on our MF 135 in the spring each year, they worked great. We also found that keeping them tight worked better also. We used about a half dozen short tarp straps on each wheel. That way if one broke, it didn't matter.

 

[Blackhole49]

i drape them over the rears with a string, theres youtube vids on how to make chain attaching e-z on tractors just drape em over and roll a little ..,yea they go about 250 a piece its either spend 1500 on a set of new tires, or 500 or so on some chains for my old n' had been used for decades tires...

If your tire is like this, just get a long enough piece of 5/16-3/8 chain and spiral if around the rim and tire. Tighten the 2 ends together with a bolt or pad lock. You'll be surprised how well it will work.

 

[cjunrau]

Yeah, I watched a couple of You Tube videos on making your own. After looking on FB marketplace I found alot of chains but few people list what tire they fit, just length and width, but most are for less than what I would have in material to fabricate my own.

Easy to figure the length you need. Height of tire minus 8 inches times by 3.14 gives you very close to the length you need.
Width is 4-8 inches wider than your tire measures. I have made one set out of 2.
Got cheap chains on auction and we’re about 4 ft short. Just bought those chain link screw thingies to join them and cut to correct length.

 

[petertay]

We used chains on our MF 135 in the spring each year, they worked great. We also found that keeping them tight worked better also. We used about a half dozen short tarp straps on each wheel. That way if one broke, it didn't matter.

Yes, this is important. To keep them tight with bungee straps.

 

[Ultradog MN]

fill with washer fluid or beat juice . Install chains .

Or cast iron weights...
But I agree.
The big boys use weight And chains.