Kubota B3030 HSDC Tire Chains Without Spacers???

poosniffer · Jul 23, 2012

Hello fellow members.
Two winters ago I purchased some double ring tire chains for my B3030 cab tractor.Unfortunately they rubbed on the inner part of the fender and I returned them.Problem is,I have a steep grade that requires traction in the winter.It's almost impossible to get traction when there is ice or packed snow.I do not want to spend the xtra $$$ for wheel spacers.My question is: Is there a type of chain or cable that would clear the fenders on my tractor without the use of wheel spacers? Not sure if studding the tires would work.
Thanks for any advice.-Andy.

kco · Jul 23, 2012

I haven't tried them, but the Aqualine MPC chains look like they would work. Also, Trygg make some lighter weight chains for tight clearances.

I have a similar problem as you, with tight clearance to the vertical inside fender support. I got my DUO chains to work, but would like more clearance. Also, there is a gap where the ends join that I filled with regular cross chains with mediocre success.

AStanton · Jul 23, 2012

Poo,
I found that spacers for my B3030 was one of the best investments I ever made. They cost $325 with an additional cost of one hour labor to install them. For this, you get to use your tractor year round without worry of rolling it or getting stuck in the middle of a storm--where nothing or noboby is moving.
I forgot to say: In the land of ice and snow, the man with chains is king!

BlacknTan · Jul 23, 2012

AStanton said:
Poo,
I found that spacers for my B3030 was one of the best investments I ever made. They cost $325 with an additional cost of one hour labor to install them. For this, you get to use your tractor year round without worry of rolling it or getting stuck in the middle of a storm--where nothing or noboby is moving.

I've been meaning to get the spacers for a loooong time. They'd be helpful for my hilly bushhogging also. I think it's time to "just do it," as NIKE says..

Griller65 · Jul 23, 2012

poosniffer said:
Hello fellow members.
Two winters ago I purchased some double ring tire chains for my B3030 cab tractor.Unfortunately they rubbed on the inner part of the fender and I returned them.Problem is,I have a steep grade that requires traction in the winter.It's almost impossible to get traction when there is ice or packed snow.I do not want to spend the xtra $$$ for wheel spacers.My question is: Is there a type of chain or cable that would clear the fenders on my tractor without the use of wheel spacers? Not sure if studding the tires would work.
Thanks for any advice.-Andy.

Hhehhruu

Ductape · Jul 23, 2012

AStanton said:
Poo,
I found that spacers for my B3030 was one of the best investments I ever made. They cost $325 with an additional cost of one hour labor to install them. For this, you get to use your tractor year round without worry of rolling it or getting stuck in the middle of a storm--where nothing or noboby is moving.

I have to agree with AStanton....... rear spacers were money VERY well spent.

I did see a 3030 at the local dealer.... on consignment, I think. I do not know what brand of chains they were, but they did fit with no spacers. Very small chain.... and it didn't look like they would last very long. So.... it is possible.

Piperflyer · Jul 23, 2012

How far does the spacers push out the rear tires?

BlacknTan · Jul 23, 2012

Piperflyer said:
How far does the spacers push out the rear tires?

If I'm not mistaken, they're 1.5 inches per side.

ronjhall · Jul 24, 2012

My chains are the smallest I could find at the time. They came so close to the fender that if they loosed up they would hit the fender. Put a set of spacers in. Have not looked back. Never have taken them back out. B2910 and B3030 have same wheels/tires and fenders.

oldballs · Jul 24, 2012

Can one tell by just looking at the rear tires/fenders? I have a B2620 with industrial tires and wonder if a stock chain would have clearance enough. I'm thinking that this B model won't work as good as my BX2660 did with turfs on in snow. thanx..

poosniffer · Aug 4, 2012

Thanks gentlemen for all the replies and advice and great pics.I just ordered a set of spacers.$20,000+ tractor... so $325 should be no big deal even for a cheapskate like me!
Can I install them fairly easily myself?Thanks in advance for any advice.-Andy.

AStanton · Aug 4, 2012

The install is straight forward enough. If you do it yourself, it would be nice to have an air gun. I paid my local garage to do it, because I don't own an air gun and the tires are loaded. I whimped out.

Ace3 · Aug 4, 2012

The spacers were the best investment I made for my B3030. I think its worth having the dealer install them if your tires are loaded. Those bad boys are very heavy if they are.

Ductape · Aug 4, 2012

I installed my wheel spacers in this thread. I needed them to clear the mounting pins (bolts) when I installed my Woods BH-80X on my B3030. Very straightforward........ similar to removing and replacing a wheel on a car. If your tires are loaded, get some help !!! They are very heavy, and if one flops on its side, I doubt you will lift it back up yourself. And gawd help you if it landed on your foot.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...23930-weekend-project-install-woods-bh-2.html

boggen · Aug 5, 2012

many tractors, you can swap rear tires, for side to side (so you keep tread going in same direction) and gain some extra width. it is all in the rims. instead of the center plate being directly in center of the rim/tire. they will be offset some. to allow narrow or wider setup. pending on how they are placed on.

when ya get into tractors directly geared for field use. were crop rows can change yearly pending on what crop is planted. you will see a lot of swapping of rear tires to change widths. or wheel spacers so the tires run in between the rows. this goes for fronts and rear tires alike. so front tires do not run over the crop while rear tires goes between the crop.

for most part i just assume, rear tires are set to "narrow" for the rims. and it is left up to the dealer or customer to swap tires around to get a wider width. so what ever semi trailer or truck/trailer hauling the stuff can use a short width trailer. and perhaps for dealers being able to park an extra tractor in there lot.

boggen · Aug 5, 2012

my advice find some concrete to work on and use a engine stand, cherry picker, or something else. that you can use to help pickup and keep the tire up right. and then easily slide errr "roll" around to re-align all the bolts and nuts up. those rear tires can be one heavy beast. and i would not recommend a single person job, but 2 person job.

on thing i dislike about rear end of tractors. there is no easy place to put a floor jack to other. and lift tractor up, and then finding room to block the rear end up. everything just gets to tispy topsy. and ya need to be careful. a lot of weight, and a lot of shifting, kicking, and screaming, when dealing with the heavier stuff. and things can go bad in a heart beat, if not securely blocked up. and other wheels are chocked up.

or contact a agriculture / tire dealer. and have them come out and due it for you. that may charge 50 to 150 bucks just for a visit. if you want filled rear tires, they could do that to while out.

============
been wanting a 500lb to 1000lb crane with a hand winch on it that either fits in back of pickup truck or onto trailer that also 180 to 360 degree turn, harborfreight, grainger, northentool normally have some sort of sale. and of course when they have the sale, something comes up that money needs to go else were.

vtsnowedin · Aug 5, 2012

Here is what you can do with 4.1 inch spacers and the tires turned out to their wides position.

Ace3 · Aug 5, 2012

Unfortunatly you can not swap the wheels side to side on the B3030. You have to use the spacers to get the extra width.

dnw64 · Oct 16, 2018

Ductape said:
I installed my wheel spacers in this thread. I needed them to clear the mounting pins (bolts) when I installed my Woods BH-80X on my B3030.

Hmmm. So I may already have spacers, as I have a Woods BH-80X on my 3030 as well...

SDT · Oct 16, 2018

kco said:
I haven't tried them, but the Aqualine MPC chains look like they would work. Also, Trygg make some lighter weight chains for tight clearances.

I have a similar problem as you, with tight clearance to the vertical inside fender support. I got my DUO chains to work, but would like more clearance. Also, there is a gap where the ends join that I filled with regular cross chains with mediocre success.

I have not tried this either but also think that the European style Aqualine chains might work without spacers. If so, the lack of need for spacers will offset the increased cost of the Aqualine chains.

SDT