Chains Who needs chains??? I DO!

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi,

Found my B2910 waiting in the driveway when I got home from a trip to Home Depot! It had been back at the dealer's for a warranty repair. The plastic drive shaft cover somehow was rubbing the drive shaft and got a hole rubbed in it. They fixed it for free, including pick up and delivery. Happy me!

So back on went the loader and I started down the 25 foot grassy slope�cwet from rain and quite slick, but I forgot about that�cand wouldn't you know, I guess I was so happy to have the tractor back, after four days without it, that I forgot to check and see if it was in 4wd�c

Can you say toboggan? I can�cwow�chere I go! Down the hill and across the 20 foot flat spot, starting to spin sideways and stopping just at the edge of the next slope where a little trail leads to my storage shed. Behind me, two brown stripes the width of my rear R4's. And no, in case you are wondering, I did not leave them! The tires did /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

I had been thinking about possibly buying some chains, since if I want to use the tractor to clear my parking area/driveway if it snows, I have to climb that same slope and go back down afterwards. "Should I spend the money, or not? " was the question.

Guess I got my answer this afternoon.

No brainer, right?

I suppose chains on a CUT will give about the same traction improvement as chains did on my little garden tractor, right? The only chains I can find for my 12.4 x 16 R4s are cross chains [I think that is what you call them, the standard kind of chain], and I will buy the two-link variety.

What do you guys think? Can I expect chains to make a big difference like they did on my little MTD garden tractor? Cost with tax will be about $250.

I guess I have the clearance on a B2910 for chains...

Any pictures of your tractor with chains installed?

Thanks for any input.

Bill in PGH, PA

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Chains do make a great improvement. If you use your tractor on ice/snow, it can be litterally the only way to go. It may be 4 wheel drive but the tires do not work too good on ice/snow. I would use 2 link chains on any tire less than 24 inches or so high. I made mine from some old auto chains I had lying around. It took a couple of hours to strip the cross links out of one set and add to the other set to make 2 link chains, but they work so much better. Make sure they fit snug and use tensioners.

Happy tractoring

 

[snowman]

Bill;

I have chains on my B7500. I don't have a problem with clearance with my R4's, so you should be find with yours.

I bought chains after the first year on my property; have a very rough unpaved driveway. After I bought the chains, I paved the driveway, so the chains are not as necessary anymore. I do still stick them on though.

Will try to attach a picture; doesn't always seem to work.

Good luck.

 

[SteveNY]

What are 2 link chains?

 

[snowman]

That just indicates the number of links between each chain that actually crosses the tire tread.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tirechains.com/garden-tractor-tire-chains.htm>http://www.tirechains.com/garden-tractor-tire-chains.htm</A>

 

[Thomas]

Kinda think of a set of chains on the rear as insurance policy..Good to have when you really need them. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Just wondering..were you traveling a tad to fast,or did the tread fill up w/mud,also do you any rear weight.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi Thomas and all,

<font color=blue>Thomas asks:

Just wondering..were you traveling a tad to fast,or did the tread fill up w/mud,also do you any rear weight. </font color=blue>

Actually, not fast at all. I had just started from being stopped, probably six feet from where the slope goes down. Actually going pretty slow I think. Started goin' a lot faster when the rear tires started slipping /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. Atleast double the speed! I was in mid range, but not really trying to move at any great speed.

I don't even think the tires loaded up with mud. They might have I did not look at them...it was a slip like sliding on ice, where you just slide and off you go...

The ground here is pretty wet from the rain and cold I guess. When I walk out the back to feed the geese, for the last few days I have almost ended on my butt from slipping in the grass covered mud...and that is where it is almost flat!

Yep, I am going to get some chains and make it a ritual to put them on in the fall after I pack up my mower...want to order them from my dealer since he has treated me pretty good so far. His price was just a tad above those at tirechains.com, but I am not sure if it for the same thing, so I have him checking the size of the cross links [want 3/8] and if the chains he is selling are case hardened [pretty sure they would be, but doesn't hurt to ask...].

I'll try to post a picture of those brown streaks later tonight...the ones on the ground that is...j/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[Boondox]

Or you could go with the gnarly Norse ice chains and rip up the turf wherever you go!

Pete

 

[Anonymous Poster]

True... the really agressive design chains will rip up turf somewhat, but so does ag tread. I have twist link cross links on my chains and as long as I take it easy, my lawn survives pretty well when I have to drive accross it. Of course the twist link chains will slide sideways a bit more on glare ice than the ones with the teeth on the links. According to what I have read ( not tried this myself ) , I do not think you want chains on all 4 wheels of a 4 wheel drive Tractor. It could put too much strain on the drive train if you drive on concrete or some other surface where the tires cannot slip a bit to even out torque between the front and rear axle as you turn. I know this will happen in vehicles that have part time 4WD not the AWD, which usually has a limited slip mechanism getween the front and rear axles. One time in years past I got a Jeep so bound-up that it locked up and would not move. I had to jack up one wheel to release the tension on the drive train.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Unfortunately,

The B2910 has 12.4 x 16 tires, which must be a bit unusual, as there are not a lot of chain options for them, at least from what I can see so far...

I keep thinking I should have got a L3010hsd...but the 2910 ain't bad...

Bill

 

[MikePA]

Bill, have you checked <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tirechains.com/12.4-16.htm>tirechains.com</A>

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>Bill, have you checked tirechains.com </font color=blue>

Mike,

Yes...for my tire size they don't have the super macho chains, just the ladder type.../w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

If my dealer doesn't come through, I will order from them and save $10. I just want to give the dealer a little business since I have been treated well by him.

Bill

 

[MikePA]

Bill, if the dealer doesn't come through, you might try calling tirechains.com and see if they'd make a set up for you. It'd be a short trip to just northeast of Johnstown for you, right?

 

[BigDave]

You all have inspired me. I just ordered the two-linked ladder chains for both front & rear tires from tirechains.com. The ladder chains were all that came in my tire size, but 2-link design looks sufficient, since I will be using them for paved applications. I just don't want to slide down my curved drive: 60ft drop over 300ft and a pretty steep drop-off if I go off the driveway. Now as to chains front & back, I say YES!! I need steering more than 4 wheel drive traction. I am less worried about going up the hill than sliding down it. So, chains front & rear and 2-wheel drive, until I get stuck.

Last winter, on one ocassion it took me fifteen minutes to inch by inch SLIDE my truck down the driveway, but it didn't take any time to drive it back up, since I left at the bottom of the hill, where the roads are salted and paved by the county.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi,

I posted a couple photos in the safety forum. Figured this would be a good reminder to all that wet slopes can be unpredictable. here</font color=blue>

Bill in PGH, PA

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Big Dave,

I guess the obvious question is...

Were the chains for the truck or the tractor?

/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bill

 

[Rick Jay]

Bill,

Last fall I bought tire chains and tensioners from tirechains.com for my B2910 and they worked GREAT! We haven't had a significant snow fall since! /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Hoping this season will be a bit snowier and I'll be able to give them a workout.

~Rick

 

[Rick Jay]

Bill,

You started off looking at BX's, talked yourself right up through the entire B series to the B2910. Now you wish you bought an L3010.

Thank your lucky stars you didn't, 'cause then you'd be beatin' yourself up for not getting an L4610....or maybe even an M series!

Ahhhh...I hope they never find a cure for this illness that afflicts us. Then we'd settle for anything!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Enjoy your B2910....or did you already trade up?

~Rick

 

[BigDave]

The tractor of course! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif Hopefully, the sure-footed tractor will clear the driveway for truck. If not, I guess the tractor will be parked at the bottom of the hill with the truck. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

BTW, I bought new tires for the truck last spring, so hopefully it will fair a little better this year. The main roads are cleared fairly quickly, so the only need for chains would be on the driveway.

 

[frank_f15]

NOW THAT LOOKS LIKE A PLACE U NEED CHAINS. i had chains on my ford 2n(usless with out them for plowing snow) but with b2400 i have no seen the need for chains, i plow lots of snow, but the drive is paved, and down on the corner(mailbox) the county and town pile it deep, i can move it with out chains, but everyting is flat. i am sure there are ocassions where chains might help me but i have not come across it yet. sometimes chains on concret ot blacktop can be very destructive and not really much help. unless u have a thick coating of ice for the chain to grip. everyone has to make his own call. but on the whole chains can't hurt.