Ballast Ford 8N W/ Rear Blade No Traction

[carpediem4570]

Merry Christmas All:

Some background:

I live in Northern Alberta on 63 acres of forested, very hilly land.

By February, temperatures can and will get as low as -45 degrees Celsius, -49 degrees Fahrenheit.

Snow can be 1 foot to 4 feet over the winter.

I have a ford 8N with a blade on the three point hitch.

The problem is no traction on the hills, no traction when blading the snow and, no traction when trying to turn the front wheels. I've put 100 pounds of windshield washer fluid in each rear tire. Also put on ladder style chains on the rear tires. Tires still spin madly and front end still doesn't steer. Will be adding another 100 pounds of washer fluid per tire this week-end.


And now the question:

Tire pressure on the rear 11.2-28 tires is 18 pounds. Should I lower the pressure to 15 pounds to increase tire contact with the ground?

Would it be of any use adding fluid and chains to the front tires to help with the lack of steering and lack of traction? If using chains on the front, should I chain up both tires or just one tire?

As always, your help is gratefully appreciated.

Kind regards,

Carpediem

 

[Fallon]

Tire pressure on tractors is really a matter of keeping the tires on the rim & traction. Wear & "gas mileage" arent typically factors. Run them lower to get more traction as long as they stay on the rims.

I havent checked the pressure on mine in a year or 2. I just gauge it based on tread contact.

 

[ruffdog]

I did a lot of rear blade plowing and hilly woods tree cutting using a 8n and you have to steer with the brakes. We had fluid in the rears, chains, and a active right foot.

 

[mapper]

I don't think it much matters what brand of compact tractor you have, moving snow over a few inches with a back blade is kinda problematic. Snow piles up in front of the blade and the tires are on unplowed snow.
Angle the blade as much as possible and keep it as clean and smooth as possible to aid in shedding the snow off blade.
Plowing snow with my old 8n was challenging, it's a bit less with the Massey with 4WD but still a bit difficult with much over 6".
We don't get enough snow around here to justify more effective snow removal implements. So for the occasional snow storm we get I make do with what I have, if it was more frequent I probably would look for something better.

 

[oosik]

One of your major problems is weight - or lack there of. The 8N has the power but is pretty light which results in lack of traction.

It may be time to consider a heavier 4WD tractor.

 

[carpediem4570]

I have a snowblower that attaches to the front of my quad. It is a snowhogg 2. This thing is a godsend. However, this year, i did some road repair with dirt and larger stones. I took the snowblower down the road the other day and beat the crap out of the blower with all the stones that went through it. So, I need to blade the road until I get all the stones packed or moved. Thus the use of the 8N.

Never thought of using the brakes to steer.

 

[carpediem4570]

I also have an mf65. Same problem. Just can't get up the hills.
the mf65 is next for chains and fluid.

Problem with the mf65; the blade is wider than the 8N but not the mf65. That is why my preference for using the 8N.

As an aside, Has anyone mounted attachments, homemade or otherwise, to the sides of the blade to make it longer? If so, how?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Chains will make a night and day difference. Plus putting some weight up front for steering helps.

I used to blow snow with a 2wd tractor and it had big square fenders with little clearance, so I couldn't use chains. PITA! Always had to plan my route to do everything going down hill.

 

[Fallon]

I also have an mf65. Same problem. Just can't get up the hills.
the mf65 is next for chains and fluid.

Problem with the mf65; the blade is wider than the 8N but not the mf65. That is why my preference for using the 8N.

As an aside, Has anyone mounted attachments, homemade or otherwise, to the sides of the blade to make it longer? If so, how?

Google plow wings. More of a front truck plow thing I think, but should be equally applicable on the back. Not cheap, but easy enough to fab yourself if you can weld.

 

[John0829]

As has been said most steering has to be done with the brakes. I would fill the tires to 80-90% full of fluid to gain as much weight as possible with the pressure @ 8 lbs. Just enough to keep them on the rim. Also might keep an eye out for some cast iron weight to bolt to the rims for added weight as well. Clearing snow with a rear blade is more of an art and learned dance with your tractor than a science.