Chains to use the front end loader in snow

[Baymee]

I have a BX1870 and am preparing for snow removal with the loader.

I don't see a problem using chains on the rears, but how can they be used on the front wheels since the steering arm is so close to the wheel.

I've seen the word spacers, but are chains unnecessary anyway.

 

[Baymee]

I am using turf tires

 

[Baymee]

I called the longtime local kubota dealer and he said they don't recommend adding anything to the tire, no weights, no liquid, no chains, unless I want problems with the 4 wheel drive.

The weight of the bucket is enough and he recommends turf tires

 

[OrangeKrush]

I have the R4's on my BX and they did really good in the snow. When I had my larger B7510 "next size up" in case you're not familiar.. I ran turfs in the snow with the FEL and rear blade and had no problems at all.

 

[Baymee]

The dealer said he had landscapers that clear snow in the Winter and they use turf tires because they are more flexible.

I used plain turf tires on my Deere with a plow and the only issue was that they oversteered on icy snow, but I was still able to keep it straight.

So, maybe I don’t really need to worry about it. The chains on the rear tires should be enough.

 

[mikester]

I use chains on my fronts only when required and at the last option. Make sure you use good spiders and keep the chains and spiders tight. I take the chains off ass soon as possible.

 

[BAP]

Put chains on your rear tires and you should be fine in the snow.

 

[Baymee]

Thanks for the info. I think I’ll keep plain turf tires on the front and chains on the rear with a 500# ballast, which seems to be the commonly suggested weight.

 

[OrangeKrush]

The rear blade sure comes in handy for snow & ballast, if you can find a good deal on one. I see them on CL all the time.. really reasonable.

 

[Crash277]

I used my 23s last year with a plow on The front and a blower on the back with r4s and had no issues moving massive amounts of snow.

 

[bird dogger]

Years ago, when my JD750 MFWD was the only tractor for winter snow removal, I made a set of chains for the front tires from sets of car tire chains. They were very low profile and with the "V Bar" design turned the little JD into a snow moving monster. Rear snowblower with loader mounted pusher blade. Garage sales can turn up tire chain sets for very little expense.

 

[DustyRusty]

I never needed chains on my old BX22, and I do have about 600 pounds in the rear weight box and turf tires. I usually snow blow, and then clean up with the plow blade. I tried chains on the rear tires only once, and they caused such a rough ride, that I took them off after 5 minutes of use.
Start the plowing season without them on the tractor, and decide if you will need them. The only time that I ever had a problem, was when the blizzard dropped so much snow that it was deeper than the height of the blower. Now, I do snow removal during the storm if I think that it will be more than the little tractor can handle if I don't snow blow with the storm. When I had my plow truck, I always plowed with the storm. I also have a plow to use with the tractor, but if I use the plow first, then I still have to blow off the edges, so I don't have too much snow that narrows the driveway. Rather blow it off into the fields, than have to keep pushing it further onto the lawn and tearing up the turf with the blade.

 

[Baymee]

I was at the dealer yesterday and I asked about ballast for the front loader on my 1870. He said Kubota recommends 300#.

So, I'll go a little more, 400#, and use chains on the rear tires, and nothing on or inside the front tires.

He suggested a newer idea of tire grips that use rubber cross links to protect my asphalt. Since ice is common in PA, and videos show they dont work well on ice, I decided to stick with chains.

 

[BAP]

Use 2 link tire chains without any studs or V-bars. Just plain cross links. They won’t damage the asphalt and the 2 link ride smoother than the 4 link ones.

 

[Baymee]

That’s my plan too!