Snow Warning??

[Corm]

Hi DFB - On the subject of tire chains, you might want to consider chains for the front tires instead of the rear tires. I've got chains for all 4 tires, and have never used the rear ones, that's how well the front ones work. It is amazing the difference they make! They are real easy to put on and take off because you can use your FEL to raise the wheels off the ground, and they also make a huge difference in your ability to steer the tractor when your rear blade is set up to push off to one side or another. I made my chains up from used truck chains so they didn't cost me anything. If you are looking to buy your chains, the front ones will also cost a bunch less than for the rears...

Corm

 

[Boondox]

Corm -- What sort of terrain and what kind of tires? I had bad luck with chains only on the front (truck-style chains over turfs) because later in the season when the snow was wet the chains tended to become ice-bound and slick. This was especially true on slopes, which describes every part of my land except the driveway.

My neighbor runs chains over ags, and they clear very well. But you can't run truck chains on ags because they sort of disappear between the lugs.

Pete

 

[DFB]

Hi Ed, thanks for the advice. I'm open to suggestions. I've read some discussions in the past about the use of chains on the front wheels over the rears. Like you say installation certainly would be simpler. I haven't had too much steering problems, usually the rears just spin. 2:16 AM! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Man your workin' the late shift for sure./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

DFB

 

[Corm]

Boondox - I run truck style chains over R4s. I've not had a problem with them icing up. They just plain work good! I don't have hardly a flat spot on my property/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. I got the chains free from the fellows in our local town garage. They were ready to throw them away as they were too worn out to continue using them on their plow trucks. With a little work using a pair of chain pliers to make them fit my tires, they work real well for me, and I have a nearly endless supply of new 'old' chains! Tomorrow I'll take a picture of one of my front tires and post the picture so you can see what they look like.

 

[Corm]

DFB - I work the night shift, so 2:16 am to me is like 2:16 pm to the rest of the world! Ya, I know, it's kind of a strange schedule, but it works well for me, and I'm fortunate enough to have a very understanding wife. She's been putting up with me for nearly 30 years/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

Your comment - <font color=blue>usually the rears just spin</font color=blue> - I know what you are saying, but with chains on the front tires, you'll be amazed at the difference they make when they are working in concert with the rears. Try it, you'll like it!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Corm

 

[DFB]

Corm,

Sounds like ya got a good deal with the used chains. At the equipment dealer that I bought my Bush Hog implements from up by Mt. Snow there were Cub tractors. I was talking to him about tire chains and he was told me that on the Cubs some styles of chains wouldn't fit on the rears because of the limited clearance between the tire and the fender. I was surprised to see how close it was. He was concerned that my tractor might have the same limited clearance. Turns out the 4100 has way more clearance between the tire and fender than the Cub. Does this have anything to do with why your only using chains on the fronts? What size links are they. Viewing the different types at Tirechains.com I might like to go with a double ring style if I can. That's the same type my wifes' stepdad is runnin' on the 3930. Lookin' foward to seein' what ya got.

DFB

 

[Corm]

The attachment ought to show what I use for tire chains (if I did this right)!). They aren't anything fancy... Notice in the picture what the ground looks like. It started raining here last night and hasn't completely stopped yet. Any piece of ground that has been plowed, is now covered with ice.

 

[Corm]

Well, I attached the wrong picture..... now you have a good idea of what the top of my driveway looks like! I'm not going anywhere today.... Now I'll attach a picture of my tire chains... Sorry for the confusion folks...

Corm

 

[Boondox]

Corm -- They certainly look free of ice! I also have two link spacing on my front chains, but mine clog up and turn into slick little ice cubes. I have the V-chain on the cross links, but run them on turfs. I wonder if your R4s provide enough "air" under the links to clear them...or if the weight of the tractor has something to do with it.

Our driveways look a lot alike -- slick!

Pete
Lamoille County, Vermont

 

[Thomas]

Yep same over Corm.
My driveway just like a mirror /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gifand I don't think chains are going to help all that much.
Maybe if it snow and than turn cold it it would help w/this ice far as traction.

Be extra careful when using your FEL on this ice. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Corm]

Boondox - I don't have an answer to your problem of your chains icing up. I do have all 4 tires loaded with antifreeze so maybe the weight does make a difference, or maybe the R4's make a difference...

Corm

 

[Corm]

Thomas - I think you're right. I don't know if the chains will make any difference today. I don't plan on moving my Cub till things soften up a bit. It's supposed to be in the 40's tonight with moderate wind, so with a little luck my icy driveway will turn into a slushy driveway, and that I can handle. I didn't even go to work tonight, didn't dare head down the hill...

Corm

 

[Bird]

The weather this winter is getting ridiculous, isn't it? You've got ice, but expecting temperatures in the 40s tonight in Vermont. And our high for today was 70 (about midnight), got .41" of rain last night, and the temperature has been dropping all day so we're expecting a low of about 20 tonight (30 right now) in the middle of Texas./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

And today was the day I intended to start planting the garden if it hadn't rained last night and the cold front hadn't arrived./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif But at least the 50 to 60 mph winds and damage last night was all north of us.

Bird

 

[alan40]

Well, we got our rain and ice the last couple of days. Wife stayed home today from work because allot to the roads were closed. So this evening I decided that it would be a good idea to remove all the slush from the driveway. Had about half the driveway done and rolling a big slush ball down the driveway. It was about half the size of the tractor and I thought this is great. Untill I got to the bottom of the drive and started up. No traction!!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Now how to get the tractor home. Just in case I always stash a little sand and salt at the bottom of the drive. Sure comes in handy!!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif When I had read some of the boards about ice I had my doubts but now from experience I can now understand. Sliding down a hill in a tractor will do that!!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Even with chains on the back I couldn't get up the hill untill I put sand and salt on. Which brings up a good question. Do you put chains on the front also or do you stud your front tires? My neighbor works at the town barn and say's they stud all there tires. I've never heard of studding tractor tires with hex nuts. How about all of you?
Anyway got the job done and even dug out the neighbors.
Have a good night,
Al

 

[Harv]

I hear ya, Bird --

Just last weekend at the property it was shirt sleeve weather all the way, and now I'm told my mom's doctor appointment was called on account of snow and ice. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

Down here in the S.F. Bar Area we're getting a pretty good rain -- finally! We were about 50% of normal rainfall up to this point, so we're glad to see it and hoping for more.

Hey, RobertN!!! You still with us? Is there enough snow on the ground to push around with a tractor?

 

[Thomas]

What a change in weather. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif
41 degrees wind gusting between 33 to 46mph sun trying to peek thru the cloulds,/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gifbut the weather station saying the temps will be in the single numbers and tomorrow in the twenties. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
I'm hope the snow banks will settle and far as the ice,I better make a call and have the driveway sanded. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Be extra careful when out and about today.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Bird]

Al, on the CTB there was a considerable discussion awhile back about putting screws in tractor tires for studs. Apparently it's not that uncommon in some areas. Just have to put them on the ridges of the tread, not in between of course, and short enough to not puncture the tire. And 22 degrees here again this morning, but the sun's coming up, it's clear, and at least right now, almost no wind./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird

 

[DFB]

Alan,

I'd think the studs would be a good compliment with rear chains. they would give some extra bite for sure. The screw in studs used for motorcycle racing do look interesting. Wouldn't it be nice to have a second set of front tires all studded for winter use. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

When I was at the Deere dealer yesterday to get my parts book (finally), we got to talking chains. For what its worth this is what I was told. They recommended against using them on the fronts, too much stress they said. Just my .02 cents. A subject of controversy for sure.

Thomas, the winds are howling here. Up to 40 mph today. 40 degrees right now. down into the teens tonight. All that water on top the ice makes it even worse. My yard looks like a ice skating rink too.

DFB

 

[Thomas]

Just check the temp 21 degrees and at 11:30am it was 44 degrees /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif and still dropping.
Oh man oh man is the wind howling over here, /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif for I just finsh plowing 2/3 of my tree road and between the pine cones and small limbs are falling like rocks..ouch..yikes.

Thats what my dealer also said...not to run tire chains on the front,for its not good for the 4wd.

Kinda nice to have still light at 5:15pm /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

If there anything good about ice /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif it would have to be one doesn't need power steering. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Sure has been a wild weather week for us up here in New England,and I do hope next week will be a tad milder. /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Better throw two logs on the fire tonight,sure going to be on the chilly side.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[bpence]

Pretty wierd weather here in Michigan the past few days. Record temps in the mid to upper 50's yesterday with rain....lot's of rain. Then last night the temp dropped more than 30 degrees in two hours and it snowed an inch or so. Everything re-froze.

We've had about 2' of snow on the ground for the past two months and the ability to move around much outside has been kind of limited. Today was great. Got to get out and take a good long walk around the property and check out the limb and tree damage from the snow and ice. Not too bad, but some chain saw work is in order as soon as I can get a trailer around the place. The dog's pretty excited too since the snow has melted and what's left has turned hard......she can run around and maintain her "perimiter patrol" again.

Wierd weather. Only a high of 25 or so today and about the same for tomorrow. Maybe 40's by mid-week.

Bob Pence