Index
- Introduction
- Products Affected
- Content
- Initial Information and Preparation
- Assembly
- Dismantling
- Fitting the Professional chains to the tyres
- Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Common Errors
1. Introduction
The König A-Tractor is the snow chain for agricultural tractors that need safety when driving on snow-covered and icy roads during the winter, or in muddy conditions.
The snow chain we will discuss in this article is certified according to Ö-Norm V5119, thus fulfilling all legal requirements.
2. Products
The product covered in this in-depth study is the König A-Tractor snow chain.
3. Content
- 1 or ½ pair of chains per bag (depending on chain weight and size)
- 1 nylon bag including
- 1 instruction booklet + 1 steel cable for assembly
- 1 set of repair links
4. Initial Information and Preparation
König A-Tractor snow chains are manufactured with multiple wire diameters which means they can better fit all agricultural tyre profiles.
The threads available for the various models in the category are: 7.00mm, 8.00mm, 10.00mm.
König Professional snow chains in the Tractor category are not only intended for use on snowy and icy terrain. They offer superior performance even in muddy conditions.
Important: The König A-Tractor is not recommended for road cleaning activities.
5. Mounting
The König Professional range of snow chains in the Tractor category not only offers chains with multiple thread thicknesses but also covers a very wide range of tyres.
So much so, that there is a considerable difference, in terms of size, weight and therefore handling during fitting/removal, between a snow chain compatible with the smallest tyre and a snow chain compatible with the largest tyre.
This is why we propose two techniques for the initial assembly phase:
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Fast positioning without rope Recommended for light chains |
Chain positioning with rope Recommended for heavy handling chains |
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First, remove the chain from the packaging and lay it out in front of the wheel of your vehicle, making sure it has no knots. If you find them, untie them so that the chain is presented in an orderly manner. |
First, remove the chain from the packaging and lay it on the side of the wheel of your vehicle, making sure it has no knots. If you find them, untie them so that the chain presents itself in an orderly manner. |
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Solleva ora la catena afferrandola dalla catena laterale interna e spingi quest’ultima dietro la ruota. Disponi quindi il resto della catena in maniera uniforme sullo pneumatico. |
Now lift the chain by grabbing it from the inner side chain and push the latter behind the wheel. Then place the rest of the chain evenly on the tyre. |
Now it is time to attach the chain.
To make this operation easier, we recommend that you position the chain so that both ends have play and are free of the tyre. This will make it easier for you when attaching the chain.
Once you have positioned the chain evenly on the tyre, you can attach the chain in the following order:
- First connect the inner part of the wheel, hooking the locking hook to the ring
- Now connect the outer part of the wheel, hooking the locking hook to the ring
Attention: once the chain has been attached, check that the chain tread does not have any knots, and that the links are not twisted on themselves. If you find either of these conditions, unhook the ends and position the chain correctly before hooking it up again.
Once the side hooks are attached, you can attach the central part of the chain.
- Remove the shackles at the ends of the two central chain links
- Pass the two chain flaps through the corresponding links
Caution: thread the chain flaps through their respective links without crossing them:
inner flap: pass the chain flap towards the inner side of the wheel through the rear ring
outer flap: pull the flap towards the outer side of the wheel through the outer ring
Once you have run the two flaps through their respective rings, use the shackles to attach them to one of the side chain links. When hooking the two flaps make sure that they are symmetrical on the wheel; this will ensure that the chain fits evenly and is perfectly distributed on the wheel.
You can now proceed to tension the chain.
A.B.
Pull the tensioning chain (sidewall puller) by sliding it inside the rings, insert the tensioning lever into the nearest link, rotate the lever to apply tension and secure the lever in the tensioning ring (A).
Wrap the excess tensioning chain around the chain puller itself, so that it does not come into contact with the rim when the vehicle is in motion, now attach the spring-loaded end hook to one of the nearest links of the chain (B).
At this stage we recommend that you do not overtighten the chain: in fact, the chain should not be too tight during the first few metres of driving, so that it is evenly distributed over the tyre surface. Bear in mind that at this point in the assembly process, some of the chain assemblies are clamped under the wheel and the weight of the vehicle and therefore the chain is not yet correctly positioned on the tyre.
Now proceed with the vehicle and drive a short distance at low speed. Stop to retension the chains.
Release the spring-loaded end, unwind the excess tensioning chain, release the lever and release the tensioning chain.
A.B.
Now pull the tensioning chain tight and engage the tensioning lever, inserting it into the nearest link and hooking the lever into the tensioning ring (A)
Wrap the surplus part of the tensioning chain around the chain puller itself, so that it does not come into contact with the rim while the vehicle is running, and hook the spring-loaded end hook into one of the nearest links of the chain (B).
You are finished. Now the two chains are fitted and tensioned, you are ready to go.
6. Dismounting
Removing your König A-Tractor snow chain takes just a few simple steps:
Release the tensioning lever and pull it off the link, use your hands to move and soften the chain on the tyre by pulling it towards you.
Now release the chain by unhooking and removing the outer shackle, pull the chain links out of the ring and free the chain.
Repeat the same operation with the inner shackle: unhook and slide off the inner shackle, slide the chain links out of the ring freeing the chain.
Remove the upper part of the chain from the wheel by placing it on the ground.
You are finished, the chain is completely disassembled: to free it, move the vehicle just enough.
7. Fitting of Professional chains to the tyres
It is recommended to carry out the fitting test to check that the chain fits correctly on the tyre before its actual use.
Experienced Professional chain users in Italy always recommend fitting the chain ‘with the belly’. The belly defines that free space between the chain and the tyre that indicates a correct tensioning procedure.
Leaving the chain ‘belly’ brings two main advantages:
- Performance: the belly causes the chain to drop to the ground before the tyre touches the ground, significantly increasing the contact surface area, providing more links in contact with the ground;
- Durability: the belly guarantees a certain independence of movement between wheel and chain, ensuring that the links can move and that it is not just a few links that work in contact with the ground.
8. Maintenance
Cleaning and storage
Once the chains have been used, please wash them with lukewarm water before storing them permanently in the packaging, to remove dirt and any debris or chemical agents left on the chain. In case of persistent dirt you can use a brush with semi-rigid bristles.
Please allow them to dry completely, if necessary removing any residual water and moisture present with a cloth.
Once dry, the chains can be placed back in the packaging, ready for the next use.
Checking wear
Washing the chain will also allow you to check the wear status of the chain components, and be sure that the chain will be ready for the next use.
Important: If you use your chains continuously and intensively, we recommend that you check the wear of your chains periodically during the season.
When approx. 30 per cent of the cross section of the chain wire is worn on one side, it is recommended to turn the chains, in this way the chain will work on the wire of the opposite side of the link and/or wear bar, doubling its service life.
This is why it is important after driving some kilometres and after checking the wear condition of the tread links to reverse the snow chains on the wheels.
The chain mounted on the driver's side wheel (A) must be mounted on the passenger's side wheel (B) and vice versa, by rotating the chain along the longitudinal axis as in the picture.
9. Troubleshooting
Tangled chain
When the chain is fitted with knots or with some components that are tangled or interlocked, the chain will tend to be short. In fact, you will find it difficult to engage the various components.
Please remove the chain from the wheel and free any knots or components that have become entangled with each other.
If there are any knots, please focus on their position and free them before refitting the chain. Once installed, further check that there are no knots or chain links subject to abnormal twisting. Should you find any, disassemble the chain and fix them before reassembling the chain.
Caution: the knotted or tangled part of the chain makes assembly more difficult, but not only that: it also influences the static dimensions of the chain on the tyre, increasing its thickness. This means that, when driving the vehicle, the chain can bump into the wheel arch parts and assume unpredictable behaviour.
Chain/wheel compatibility problems: Chain that looks too big
If your König A-Tractor snow chain looks too big, you will tend to have a very generous fit, which will make installation very easy. You will be able to hook the ends together easily, but once installed, the chain will not tension properly. You can tell this from the chain puller that closes almost completely towards the centre of the rim and from most rhomboid groups that remain very loose even when the chain is fully tensioned.
If you use the chain under these conditions, it could have an abnormal dynamic lift, which could create interference with wheel arch components or even slip off the tyre.
Some of the causes that can cause the chain to be large are:
Tyre wear
A worn tyre has less development than a brand new one. In some cases even tensioning the chain to the maximum is not sufficient to obtain a satisfactory fit on the tyre, the chain remains loose.
Tyre make and model
Some tyres of certain makes and models (e.g. Nokian TRI2 in tyre size 16.9R34) have a greater development than all other makes and models (of tyre size 16.9R34) included in the König standard tyre size (tyre size 3205), such that a larger chain size (tyre size 3354) is required than the standard.
The physical dimensions/volume of the tyre do not correspond to the theoretical dimensions
i.e. your tyre in terms of snow chain compatibility is considered ‘non-standard’ or more technically oversized. This means that your tyre has a smaller development than the standard and requires a smaller chain.
Your tyre will therefore require a smaller Professional snow chain, which therefore covers a smaller tyre size range.
In this case we invite you to get in touch with one of our Product Specialists who will assist you in determining the correct size for your tyre. You can write to us at: Customer Service.
Chain/Wheel Compatibility Problems: Chain that looks too small
A König A-Tractor that is too narrow has a negative effect on the installation process: at best it makes it difficult, but could make it impossible. It all depends on how small the chain is in relation to the tyre.
A small König A-Tractor snow chain makes it difficult, if not impossible, to attach the various elements at both ends, and when fitted, the chain is too tight on the wheel and the side elements that should normally be positioned on the tyre shoulder end up being on the tread.
In such cases, the first thing to do is to remove the chain and check that no knots are present and that the components are free to move.
Some of the causes that can lead to the chain being small are:
Tyre tread profile
Bear in mind that there are various tyre profiles for agricultural vehicles, ranging from those with a herringbone tread (agricultural profile) to Multi Porpose Tyres (MPT tyres) and finally, trailer tyres (High Flotation). This difference in tread geometry can affect the fit of the chain on the tyre, making it difficult or even impossible to fit.
Tyre make and model
Some tyres of certain makes and models (e.g. Continental/Mitas HC70 in tyre size 480/70R38) have a smaller development than all other makes and models (of tyre size 480/70R38) included in the standard König tyre size (size 3371), such that a smaller chain size (size 3307) than the standard is required.
The physical dimensions/volume of the tyre do not correspond to the theoretical dimensions
i.e. your tyre in terms of snow chain compatibility is considered ‘non-standard’ or more technically oversized. This means that your tyre is larger than standard and requires a smaller chain.
Your tyre will therefore require a larger Professional snow chain, which covers a range of dimensionally larger tyres.
In this case, please get in touch with one of our Product Specialists who will assist you in determining the correct size for your tyre. You can write to us at: Customer Service.
10. Common Errors
In this session we will point out the assembly errors we find most frequently from customers.
Chain that looks too big
It is common for users to doubt that the chain is too big for their wheel when they are hooking the two ends of the chain onto the tyre tread, and the chain assemblies remain very soft on the tyre even after tensioning the chain with the tyre tensioner.
Now let's see how we can best fit the chain to your wheel.
Drive your vehicle at very low speed for a few metres so that the chain has a chance to position itself and balance correctly on the tyre.
Stop, unhook the spring-loaded end, unravel the excess part of the chain and release the chain tensioning lever.
Now pull the tensioning chain vigorously and hook the tensioning lever into the nearest link and engage the lever in the ring.
Wrap the surplus part of the tensioning chain around the chain puller itself, so that it does not come into contact with the rim when the vehicle is in motion, by hooking the spring-loaded end hook into one of the nearest links of the chain.
You are done. Now the two chains are fitted and tensioned, you are ready to go.
Attention: As König Professional snow chains are made entirely of steel and designed to withstand the most extreme conditions, they are not equipped with any automatic micro-tensioning device. We ask you to take into consideration that the combination of the variety of tyre geometries and tyre treads on the market, the weight and size of the chain and its links, may make a second stop necessary to re-tension the chain.
If even after the re-tensioning your chain is still large and it is not possible to tension it any further, it may be that your wheel has a different size than the standard fit of the König A-Tractor snow chain.
In this case we invite you to get in touch with one of our Product Specialists who will assist you in determining the correct size for your wheel. You can write to us at: Customer Service.
Chain that looks too small/tight
It is easy to determine when a König A-Tractor chain appears to be too narrow:
- If it is impossible or difficult to attach
- When fitted, the chain feels too tight on the wheel: the side elements that should normally be positioned on the tyre shoulder end up on the tread;
The first thing to do is to remove the chain and check that there are no knots and that the components are free to move.
Once this check has been made, proceed with assembly again.
If even after adjustment your chain is still small and it is not possible to fit it properly, it may be that your wheel has a different sizing than the standard fit of the König snow chain.
In this case we invite you to get in touch with one of our Product Specialists who will assist you in determining the correct size for your wheel. You can write to us at: Customer Service.