Case 1835C or better, snow chains

Just curious if anyone has added snow chains to the above models, look's like there's only about an inch or so clearance inside, I'd like to order a set of chains for this winter but I would like to hear from members here if that is at all possible with this machine. Anyone done this with this machine with good results?

The first machine I bought was an 1835C. The studs on the axles are long and it came with spacers that went on first, then the wheel. That spaced the wheel out enough to put chains on. You can find wheel spacers on the internet and most of them are 2 inches thick.

No matter the make or model of skid steer, I have found that 1 inch of clearance is not sufficient for most heavy duty tire chains. As bad Tom stated above, you may be able to increase your clearance using wheel spacers.

Another way to increase clearance for chains is to change the offset of your rims. On some skid steers you can reverse your rims to increase the offset. If this is not possible, you can also purchase new rims with more offset to provide additional clearance for tire chains.

I ran into this same limited clearance problem on my CAT 242B ... the way it was originally set up, it had low offset wheels with a 60" outside tire width and not enough clearance to install tire chains (it had just enough room to slide my hand between the tire and the fender wall ... about 1 inch). I ended up installing new rims with more offset in order to widen the stance to 66" and get enough clearance to run chains (it now has about 4" clearance for chains).

Find below a few posts that discuss tire chains on skid steers and also rim (wheel) offset information:

https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/threads/skid-steer-in-snow.70022/#post-853793
https://www.heavyequipmentforums.co...the-rim-offset-mustang-960.80121/#post-853856
https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/threads/case-90xt-rim-offset.82220/#post-879502

Thanks for the info guys, and those other link's CW. I figured one inch clearance isn't enough, Since I'm in Canada, spacers are a little harder to get and some are quite expensive, I'm going to see if I can turn the rims around to get a little more clearance. If I can get another inch or so more, that would be nice.

I have an 1840 and have run chains on the rear for the last couple winters. It is tight clearance wise but if you put them on nice and tight you’ll be fine.

AdamMN said:

I have an 1840 and have run chains on the rear for the last couple winters. It is tight clearance wise but if you put them on nice and tight you’ll be fine.

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An 1840 will not be a straight across comparison to the 1845C. The 1845C has wider tires (12x16.5), wider rims (9.75 x 16.5) and a different rim offset (1.81" Outset) compared to the 1840 with 10 x 16.5 tires and 8.25 x 16.5 rims with an offset of 0.38" Inset.

The amount of clearance you need for chains depends on the style of chain that you use. The depth of the cross chain hook often determines the "room" that the chain takes up. Light truck chains would take up less "room" than a heavy truck chain or a specialty skid steer chain.

I used light truck chains successfully on my previous New Holland LS160 which had 10 x 16.5" tires (and lots of room between the tire and the fender wall) ... but I doubt that light truck chains would be wide enough to fit a 12 x 16.5" tire without significant modification of the chains.

CW, I do have the 10x16.5 tire's. As soon as the weather gets better here, I'll see if I can turn the rim's inside out. Still have time before the snow fly's before I decide to order spacer's or not.

Well don't turn them inside out, swap them left to right, then you should have 2+ inches for clearance, used to run 4 wheel pickup chains on a small skidder, worked great!

fast_st said:

Well don't turn them inside out, swap them left to right, then you should have 2+ inches for clearance, used to run 4 wheel pickup chains on a small skidder, worked great!

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As fast_st points out, swapping them side to side is the best option ... that way the tread blocks and tire rotation are pointing in the right direction. Whether it works on not depends on the offset of the rims.
I have done it on tractors and on my Cushman utility cart successfully ... but it did not work on my CAT 242B so I had to buy new rims to achieve sufficient offset for tire chains.
The only disadvantage of swapping them side to side is the valve stem ends up on the inner side of the rim.

I was lucky enough to find that on an older case, the wheels were flanged for reversing using the other set of lug nut holes, taper on the other side. must have been AG wheels or such but it made changing the offset for winter easier.