Tire chains

[EMS503]

We just had 7" of snow with a thin coating of ice under the snow, I have R-4 on my 3940 and had no traction (tires are loaded) I was moving snow in 4 wheel drive with my bucket and a rear blade wasnt to bad on level ground but foreget it on a slight incline. Guess I need chains, Two questions chains on front and rear or just rears ? Where to order the chains from ?
We dont get much snow here in my part of NC. But when we have ice under the snow I need to clear my drive way and my neighbor who loans me his rear blade and tiller. Thanks for any help.

 

[DHD]

We just had 7" of snow with a thin coating of ice under the snow, I have R-4 on my 3940 and had no traction (tires are loaded) I was moving snow in 4 wheel drive with my bucket and a rear blade wasnt to bad on level ground but foreget it on a slight incline. Guess I need chains, Two questions chains on front and rear or just rears ? Where to order the chains from ?
We dont get much snow here in my part of NC. But when we have ice under the snow I need to clear my drive way and my neighbor who loans me his rear blade and tiller. Thanks for any help.

Here is a recent discussion on tire chain use.
I think you would find interesting.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/159205-tire-chains-industrial-tires.html

dhd

 

[thatguy]

We just had 7" of snow with a thin coating of ice under the snow, I have R-4 on my 3940 and had no traction (tires are loaded) I was moving snow in 4 wheel drive with my bucket and a rear blade wasnt to bad on level ground but foreget it on a slight incline. Guess I need chains, Two questions chains on front and rear or just rears ? Where to order the chains from ?
We dont get much snow here in my part of NC. But when we have ice under the snow I need to clear my drive way and my neighbor who loans me his rear blade and tiller. Thanks for any help.

I ran into the same thing last night clearing a few driveways.. The refreeze was making it nearly impossible to go up the slightest incline (pushing snow with the FEL really brought it to a stop though).. I am seriously thinking about some chains..

On my 2320 it appears that I could not use chains on the front - not enough clearance.. BUT chains on the rear would help immensely.

if you do a search for tire chains you should find quite a few different posts..

BEWARE - the cost of quality tractor chains is quite expensive.. I am at a point where chains are not required, but would be nice.. BUT for the cost, I think I will try to get by without them

Brian

 

[TimPa]

unforunately you discovered the problem of a fel machine for snow removal - traction. that fel takes a lot of weight off the back wheels, esp when you have anything in the bucket (snow). i'd recommend try removing the fel if quick att. i think that will help enough in most cases. chains will help for sure.

 

[2720wes]

I also had traction problems with my R4's with deep snows or ice. Yesterday was the first snow plowing with my new 4-link ladder chains. What a difference!!! I tried them out on my hills, up and down in 2wd and I plowed the driveway in 2wd, no problems. In 4wd I plowed up and down a steep hill to my firewood pile, again no spinning. We had 6" of snow.

The 4-links only cost $134 from tirechain.com for my tires. Keep them tight and there's no problem with them falling in between the lugs, at least on my tires.

Again, what a difference

 

[DHD]

I have the R4s with 2 link ladders from tirechain.com, I don't have fluid in my rear tires, so I jack up the back, let all the air out of my tires, hook up the chains, then put about 16 psi of air back in. Chains are real tight, and they don't slip around.

 

[EMS503]

Thanks for all the information. I am ordering my chains from tire chains. I am going to order the Duo Grip and get the heavy duty springs and load binder. It is going to run me just under $400.00. Going to be worth it so I can get traction on the ice.

 

[sal64]

hello if u get chains get the ones that hook in the center of weel or they get lost in the lug and dont do anything.

 

[bc realtor]

got my chains from tire chains .com got he octupus bungies from kal tire

 

[DHD]

hello if u get chains get the ones that hook in the center of weel or they get lost in the lug and dont do anything.

I don't have a problem with my 2 link ladders.

 

[EMS503]

bc realtor thanks for the info, the heavy duty springs do hold the chains to the center. I am getting them so I dont lose my chains. Your set up looks interesting. Are they sized for your tire size? It looks easier to use then the springs.

 

[daveinnh]

I bought the V-BAR DUO-GRIP chains from tirechain.com

Be sure to get the spring set and lever tool to mount.

The first mounting will be a little frustrating but easier after that. Hook the inside chains first and ensure the V-Bars are directed away from the tire tread.

After installing the spring set, I tighten 3 times to get a good fit.

 

[RoyJackson]

unforunately you discovered the problem of a fel machine for snow removal - traction. that fel takes a lot of weight off the back wheels, esp when you have anything in the bucket (snow). i'd recommend try removing the fel if quick att. i think that will help enough in most cases. chains will help for sure.

If you're using the FEL, you really need ballast on the 3ph. Filled tires improve stability immensely, but they really don't improve traction much when doing FEL work.
These last two snows in PA and MD dumped 15+" twice within 5 days. Both were too deep to use the rear blade effectively, so there was considerable loader work. With about 600# of rear ballast (sand in a ballast box), the tractor did fine for the most part.
I did determine aften 10 years of tractor ownership, that I do need chains...at least on the rears.

 

[Nuru]

Hello Roy and all, well i bought chains for my fronts for $99 bucks and was quoted $400+ for my rears (Turf Specials 41x18x16), so i am considering making them for the rears myself. However, I am also considering these since they use them on large trucks:

YouTube - New 'Sock' For Tires Could Replace Chains

YouTube - Installing Snobootz Tire Chain Alternative on an SUV

YouTube - Snoclaws

or these

YouTube - ROTOGRIP Automatic Snow Chain Systems

http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Tow-Truck-black/dp/B001LF6WNW/ref=pd_sim_auto_2


LOL!

 

[irvingj]

Wow.... VERY intriguing! I've always had 4WD cars, until I was forced to make a choice between mpg and all-weather traction.

Wife has the 4WD (Toyota Matrix), but I've got the high-mpg VW TDI Jetta wagon. There've always been days when we'd share the Matrix due to snow..... hmmmm... That Auto Sock looks really interesting! Thanks for the tip!

 

[jdgreg]

I don't have a problem with my 2 link ladders.

My 2 link ladders work great on my R4 tires. :thumbsup:

 

[jdgreg]

I ran into the same thing last night clearing a few driveways.. The refreeze was making it nearly impossible to go up the slightest incline (pushing snow with the FEL really brought it to a stop though).. I am seriously thinking about some chains..

On my 2320 it appears that I could not use chains on the front - not enough clearance.. BUT chains on the rear would help immensely.

if you do a search for tire chains you should find quite a few different posts..

BEWARE - the cost of quality tractor chains is quite expensive.. I am at a point where chains are not required, but would be nice.. BUT for the cost, I think I will try to get by without them

Brian

Have you tried flipping your front tires around? I ran into the same problem on my 4210. To get chains to work on my right front, due to the steering pivot being too close to the tire, I simply flipped each tire around. This put the traction patter opposite from what it should be, but with chains on it doesnt matter. It also adds a little stability as the front stance is a little wider than the rear.