Tire chains on B3200 with R4's?

[Teikas Dad]

I've searched and couldn't find what I was looking for. I read somewhere online that using snowchains on a B3200 with R4 tires is a problem as supposedly the chains hit the fenders. Has anyone with a B3200 had this problem or do the tire chains work with no issue? Thanks

 

[JB13502]

It's not the fender that's the issue, it's the frame side of the tractor that lacks the clearance. Rear wheel spacers solve that issue. Around $300 +/-

 

[Teikas Dad]

Thanks, I just looked online and there seems to be a bunch of different choices for spacers. 2" enough for chains or is wider needed? Aluminum spacers better than steel?

 

[JB13502]

Thanks, I just looked online and there seems to be a bunch of different choices for spacers. 2" enough for chains or is wider needed? Aluminum spacers better than steel?

I would think 2" is fine for chains. The wider you go, the more stability; but then you might run into issues needing longer wheel studs.

Kubota cautions against using spacers with belly-mowers (if you have such).

I wouldn't imagine that aluminum had any benefit over steel, but there's a lot more smarter people on TBN than me.

 

[AStanton]

I went with the Kubota spacers on my B3030 in order to fit chains. I gained 1.5 inches on each side, just barely enough for clearance. I wish Kubota would assume that most tractors might have to get chained up from time to time and all allow for a more general clearance.

 

[Teikas Dad]

OK, I figured it would make it easier if I actually measured my clearances. It looks like I've got 1 1/2" clearance to the closest part of the fender. The frame is nowhere near the tires. Is 1 1/2" enough clearance for a set of chains without wheel spacers?

 

[BX23S-1]

OK, I figured it would make it easier if I actually measured my clearances. It looks like I've got 1 1/2" clearance to the closest part of the fender. The frame is nowhere near the tires. Is 1 1/2" enough clearance for a set of chains without wheel spacers?
View attachment 535696View attachment 535697

I wouldn`t do it without wheel spacers if it were me. I just wish kubota would have a deeper wheel offset, then no worries.
My john deere tractors never needed wheel spacers, just set the wheels out by switching them left to right, right to left, done.

 

[George2615]

OK, I figured it would make it easier if I actually measured my clearances. It looks like I've got 1 1/2" clearance to the closest part of the fender. The frame is nowhere near the tires. Is 1 1/2" enough clearance for a set of chains without wheel spacers?
View attachment 535696View attachment 535697

I have the same clearance on my LS with R4's and I use standard 4 link ladder chains. As long as I keep them tight with bungees there is no loose chain inside to hit the framework. Its been working for 3 winters now without incident.

 

[oldballs]

I've got stock R4 industrial tires on my B2620 (not B3200) with 2 link ladder chains and they clear fine. Just have to keep them tight installing and using bungee cords.....six seasons now.

 

[BX23S-1]

YIKES, some of you guys livin dangerously... i would rather have the clearance and not have to keep checking the bungee cords.
One day, you`ll not check them in time, tear something up, or worse, cause yourself an unfortunate repair, or get hurt somehow.
As they say, famous last words... i shoulda...

 

[oldballs]

Can't say that I see any danger........never had a bungee break (yet) and if it did I'd hear the chain slapping the tractor and would stop to fix it.

just sayin'

 

[Teikas Dad]

Yeah...I'm thinking that I may as well suck it up and spend the money for spacers. I guess in the long run it's cheaper than having to replace a torn up fender.

 

[BX23S-1]

Can't say that I see any danger........never had a bungee break (yet) and if it did I'd hear the chain slapping the tractor and would stop to fix it.

just sayin'

I hear ya... i learned the hard way long time ago though.

 

[BX23S-1]

Yeah...I'm thinking that I may as well suck it up and spend the money for spacers. I guess in the long run it's cheaper than having to replace a torn up fender.

VERY wise choice, thats exactly what i would do.
Kinda like money in the bank. Able to save more $$$ by not making foolish mistakes in the longrun.

 

[Oldpath05]

I'd want a minimum of 2-1/2'' space, it's usually that lever chain connector that hits, if you get a set of chains with the lever connector only on the outer side of tire than that would make the chains less likely to hit anything on the inside of tire. Maybe these will work>>>>
tire chains-Tractor tire chains-duo grip-v bar

 

[BrokenTrack]

Can't you just invert the tires? My Kubota is a 1999 so maybe that cannot be done any more, but it seems it would save money and net the same thing?

The only big issue I found on spacing the tires out (no matter how it is done) is in going through deep snow the rear wheels do not track through the same path as the front. This also plays havoc when setting up a land plow as the tractor crabs when it goes down the furrow.

I would never put the tires back though, so much better stability, even though I did manage to roll it over last year while busting sod. (LOL) Thankfully I had a skidder right there to flop her back to earth.

 

[Teikas Dad]

If I invert the tires from the current position it will put them closer to the fender. The tires are set all the way out already.

 

[Gordon Gould]

My neighbor has a New Holland farm size tractor with clearance problems for chains. He runs Aqualine MPC chains. Very low profile. He likes them.

Aquiline Tire Chains

gg

 

[bdhsfz6]

I tried using 3/8" 2 link chains on my L3430 4WD with 2" of clearance and had problems. I couldn't keep the chains tight enough to avoid scraping the frame. I ran with chains on the front only to avoid the problem. As another post suggests, you might get by with low clearance chains.

Keep in mind, adding 2" spacers, will increase the overall track width by 4". This could affect performance by making the tractor wider than your implements.

 

[kco]

I've had similar low-clearance problems (front and back) with R4's on my DK35SE. My clearance problem is with the ROPS/fender support rather than the fender so the odd contact with it does not cause damage. As already noted in this thread poor clearance to the fender is more serious as contact is likely to cause damage.

The only solution for my fronts was wheel spacers which I added a couple of years ago as described in this thread:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...hains-dk35se-cab-post4060838.html#post4060838

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...hains-dk35se-cab-post4071972.html#post4071972

I had a lot of problems with the DUO's on the rear. They were rough and difficult to fit. I got them to work by converting them to H-pattern and by adding an extra cross chain pattern across the end gap as shown in this thread:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/268885-duo-chains-planned-modifications-3.html

My front chains work great with the spacers. However, I still have intermittent trouble with the rear chains and need to adjust them a couple of times through the winter. Due to tight clearance I have to run the rear chains tight and I think that causes the chains to eventually shift while travelling to a neighbour's in high range. The relatively high speed causes the cross links to move out from the tire and the tensioners eventually shift the chain slightly.

The front chains are loose compared to the rears. When roading the tractor I can see about a 1" gap between the tire and the cross chain as it rotates from the ground contact. I believe the same thing happens with the rears but the tight tensioners eventually cause a small shift in the cross chains. I can tell when it happens by the noise of loose cross chain links and, if the shift is at the end gap, the inside closing link will start to contact the ROPS/fender support.

I have finally decided to fix the issue and will add rear spacers, which I should have done long ago. Also, much of my work is on hills so they will have an added advantage of improving stability.

If it does not cause other problems I recommend going with rear spacers. I do not recommend DUO pattern chains for the relatively small tires on our tractors. H-patterns work well but are more difficult to fit. 4-link ladder chains are the cheapest option and simpler to fit. 2-link ladders will give a better ride.

If starting from scratch I would likely go with a low-clearance chain such as Aquiline or Trygg on the rears. They are expensive but smooth and effective.

Here is a link to a Trygg catalog:

http://www.whitemountainchain.com/2016 TRYGG CATALOG.pdf

Page 8 lists Safety Grip 7mm for 12.4-16 tires.

Aquiline MPC 5.5mm chains are advertised for compact tractors with limited clearance:

Aquiline Tire Chains

Tellesfsdal also have chains for small tractors:

http://www.tellefsdalkjetting.no/in_english/agriculture_chains


One place to look for spacers is Bro-tek. He specializes in Kubota spacers and there is good information here:

http://www.bro-tek.com/wheel_spacers/

It looks like 2" rear spacers for your tractor are $280 CDN. I got my front spacers from him and the service was great. I will buy my rear spacers from him soon.