Chains loosening?
 

After today's snow cleanup I noticed that one of my tire chains are loose. Not to the point of them falling off, but enough that I can pull the circumference chain out about 1-2" from the tire, and the opposite side I cannot do this. I do not run any chain tighteners on the outside of the wheel; I've never needed them. I was thinking the tire may have lost pressure to cause it to be loose, but it is at the same PSI as the opposite tire, and the chains are tight on that side.

Keep in mind these are 3 season old chains and they were new when I got them. They are tightened at the same link equally. Normally I jack up the rear end, let the air out of the tire, put the chains on tight, then air up the tire again. So far it's holding for one wheel but not the other.

When chains get used, it's it normal for them to wear and loosen like this?

Thanks for your help.

Just tighten it up and go!!

I do pretty-much the same thing that you do, I put my chains on, then load my tires and then put the air to them.

I run loaded turfs and chains all year round on at least 3 of my tractors, I usually have to put a couple pounds of air in each tire when it gets cold. I've never had a chain "get loose" enough to need anything (other than those couple of pound that I mentioned earlier).

So the long answer is, no, I don't notice any wear to make the chains loose.

You don't have a broken link somewhere or a bent "connecting link" do you?

Did you bungee cord your chains???

No bungees or springs. I thought the link on the backside could be bent or loose, but it doesn't appear so. It can't get caught on anything because it's taped over (on purpose).

Maybe you opened a weld on a link,
or they stretched a bit.
I would check that and if no problem tighten it another link.
I will not use bungee or springs, not the right way to install chains.

That's why I currently do not have any.....

thanks

I have had chains kinked when they are put on, do something like that.. Take it off and try it again.. What could it hurt??

The chain tensioner (bungee) are optional. You could either love 'em or hate 'em. I have 'em and it saves me the trouble of pissing around out in the cold.

I'm going to try this tomorrow. Thanks