Problems with BX24 and my hill!

[dlinde31]

I purchased a BX24 this past summer with the intent of a little yard work, but my biggest reason for getting the machine was for blowing snow on my driveway. I should say STEEP driveway! This is the way I have my tractor set up...

I have Kubota's 50" snoblower on the front
Wheel weights on the machine
I kept the backhoe on the rear

We just got 3 inches of sloppy snow and it had problems slipping, even with the wheel weights and backhoe still on the machine. I also put front chains on the BX24.

Questions? Can you put rear chains on the BX, I have tried but there seems to be no clearance? Would taking the backhoe off help in anyway? Should I keep the backhoe on and try adding more weight to the front somehow?

Any suggestions or comments would be great!

Thanks, DDL

 

[16valex]

I would take the backhoe off, it is too bulky to move around. I found that bar tire is better in snow, what type of tire do you have on yours right now? I also filled my rear tires with calcium. occasionally, I encountered some sliperage but this is when I have a reason to use my lock diff.

 

[mswlogo]

Which tires do you have? I was told by dealer that Turfs are best in snow and have read that here in threads also.

He also indicated I could put chains on.

 

[Soundguy]

While I'm not in snow.. i don't see how a dimaond tread would be better than a bar tread in snow.. hmm...

soundguy

 

[RayCo]

I agree that taking the backhoe off is probably a good idea. I have a couple other tractors aside from my BX, and I've plowed snow with them both. The one with turf tires with chains is far superior to the one with bar tires. Chains are a must on my driveway, which is also ridiculously steep.

 

[teachdocs]

While I'm not in snow.. i don't see how a dimaond tread would be better than a bar tread in snow.. hmm...

soundguy

I have used both turf and bar tread in the snow. The bars are better if you are actually driving thru deeper snow (pulling the kids on sleds, checking on the cattle, etc) or if you are pushing snow on a gravel driveway.
The treads are equally as good, if not better on paved surfaces when you are pushing snow. They have more ground contact and the sipes provide a bit more edge traction, especially if there is some hard pack or ice glaze.
Since I tend to do some of both, I use the ag tread all the time.
My neighbor has turfs and a paved driveway. He has talked about chains too, but don't think he will need them.
If someone has used chains, will you please post the specifics about them so we can all benefit?
Thanks

 

[mswlogo]

While I'm not in snow.. i don't see how a dimaond tread would be better than a bar tread in snow.. hmm...

soundguy

Snow tires on your car a soft rubber (that's why you don't run them in the summer) hot pavement will eat them up. Soft rubber grabs packed snow/ice better. The turfs are soft rubber, the R4's are very hard. R4's might do better in deep fluffy snow. But packed snow or Ice the turfs do better. Turfs also have more rubber on the road and more little sideways grooves to grip ice. They are also easier to put chains on.

There was a long thread I read here on the subject and someone replied he had a whole fleet of commercial tractors for plowing and he had turfs on all of them.

 

[Egon]

There are also different thread patterns for turfs.

 

[dlinde31]

Thanks for the quick replies.

I do have the R4 treads. I thought that they would be the best option. Going with turf tires seems like a weird way of thinking? But if it works, I would be more than willing to try it. I believe that no matter which tire I go with, chains will be neccessary. I have put a set of old chains on the machine, but am worried that they will "slap" when traveling and eat up my rear fenders.

Just a couple concerns.

Thanks, DDL

 

[SeymourBota]

2-link chains on the rear tires, which should be able to mount tight to the tire, would be your best bet.

I just installed mine yesterday and no tensioners are even necessary.

Chains and a foot planted on the diff lock should get you through anything the tractor is actually capable of navigating.

 

[16valex]

Which tires do you have? I was told by dealer that Turfs are best in snow and have read that here in threads also.

He also indicated I could put chains on.

The bar tire has less contact surface then turf tire therefore you get more pressure per square inch and this is waht enable you to track better in snowy condition.

 

[mswlogo]

Thanks for the quick replies.

I do have the R4 treads. I thought that they would be the best option. Going with turf tires seems like a weird way of thinking? But if it works, I would be more than willing to try it. I believe that no matter which tire I go with, chains will be neccessary. I have put a set of old chains on the machine, but am worried that they will "slap" when traveling and eat up my rear fenders.

Just a couple concerns.

Thanks, DDL

I was also told you need special (more expensive) chains for R4's because "normal" (cheap) chains will slip into the grooves. If they do they may get loose on you.

The thing to think about is when you are clearing snow you are usally working on the area you have just cleared and on packed snow, ice or slush where turfs do better. If you wanted to ride on top of the snow and skip the plowing you might be better with the R4's.

 

[DickS]

I was also told you need special (more expensive) chains for R4's because "normal" (cheap) chains will slip into the grooves. If they do they may get loose on you.

Not true. If the chain is properly installed, the cross chain should go over the tire tread on the R4, not between the treads. How do I know? I have R4's installed on my BX 24. Make sure you take the wheel off the tractor to install or you will be pulling on chain forever. The two link spacing here (26X12x12)will fit between/over each lug of the R4 with no chain slap and no tensioners required.

 

[mswlogo]

Not true. If the chain is properly installed, the cross chain should go over the tire tread on the R4, not between the treads. How do I know? I have R4's installed on my BX 24. Make sure you take the wheel off the tractor to install or you will be pulling on chain forever. The two link spacing here (26X12x12)will fit between/over each lug of the R4 with no chain slap and no tensioners required.

So why in the link do they show the "more expensive" chains on the R4's and the cheap ones on the Turfs? Although neither will exactly break the bank. I guess just a cooincidence. They sure do seem to go on nicer on turfs though.

 

[DickS]

So why in the link do they show the "more expensive" chains on the R4's and the cheap ones on the Turfs?

Who Knows? I was responding to the concern about the chains not being compatible with R4's. Note the chains are not embedded between the lugs of the R4 where they would be useless. To be effective, the chain must cross the lug and make contact with the ground for traction improvement.

 

[teachdocs]

Seems like most agree that turfs will be a better all around tire unless you plan to "drive thru" the snow instead of "push" the snow.

We don't get a lot of snow in the Midwest, but when we do it is usually heavy and wet. Other than that, it is usually with some degree of ice or sleet. The turfs definitely work best on the ice/sleet as compared to the ags.

In the heavy wet snow (14 inches), I would bog the engine down with a nice plume of black smoke out the exhaust before I would lose traction pushing snow.

I can't imagine needing snow chains if you properly manage the snow conditions. The only time I have seen pictures of someone getting "stuck" is when they were sitting in a foot and a half of snow. How in the world do you get yourself in that situation in the first place?

I'm gonna need some pictures before I listen to the "chains" are necessary theory.

Guess I just started the "show me you're stuck in the snow" pictures thread.

 

[redharley]

I have a set of chains for my BX,easy to install if you have a cheap floor jack,most of the time I do not think they are worth the risk of ruining the hyd. lines they run so close to.If you use them you must keep them TIGHT,no loose ends, secure ends to main side chains.If you use 4 wheel drive the only time I could see that it would be nessary,ice on your black top hill under snow.

 

[marvindmartien]

Hi to all. I have both, the turf and the bar (industrial) tires. I have pushed snow with the turf and spun all over my driveway (the treads get filled with snow and won't clear out) After installing chains and adding weight (filling tires with windshield washer fluid) I scratched my interlock drive. I then installed my industrial tires (filled with washer fluid) and now I can drive over a snow bank and go where I would not even have dared. My vote is INDUSTRIAL !!!

I live in Ontario and I know my snow!!

 

[Roadkill95]

If you go with chains, the way I put mine on my wheel horse is I air the tire down some and put the chains on as tight as possible and then refill with air they will be so tight that they can't slip or slap.

 

[RayCo]

If you go with chains, the way I put mine on my wheel horse is I air the tire down some and put the chains on as tight as possible and then refill with air they will be so tight that they can't slip or slap.

What model Wheel Horse do you have? I love Wheel Horses.