tire chains

[PA Birch]

Operating a B3200 w/ R4 tires. Considering installing chains for snow removal. What's the general consensus about running tire chains in the front only?

Can the front rims/tires be reversed thereby providing enough clearance from the tie rod ends?

Or do I need spacers on the front?

I am trying to avoid expensive spacers/chains for the rear but I don't want to damage the power train in any way.

 

[l2501]

sorry nobody answered your question, seems a bit rude of people, I was wondering something similar, how did you make out?

 

[8upbowhunter]

I doubt you get an answer from him, it’s been 7 years since that was posted and it was his only post, probably not around anymore.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Stmar]

sorry nobody answered your question, seems a bit rude of people, I was wondering something similar, how did you make out?

If you search tire chains or my posts you can see some dicussions on this subject. Different opinions from different folks about the subject. I have some ATV chains that fit but am hesitant about using them on the front. I will be interested in seeing if you get responses.

 

[skeets]

Most guys do not chain the front, theres a lot of reasons that are given, hard on the front end, maneuverability, hard to steer in some cases, others its the greatest thing since sliced bread, so I reallly cant tell you I know I dont chain my front wheels I did on the jeep but not the tractor,, weird huh

 

[85Hokie]

Most guys do not chain the front, theres a lot of reasons that are given, hard on the front end, maneuverability, hard to steer in some cases, others its the greatest thing since sliced bread, so I reallly cant tell you I know I dont chain my front wheels I did on the jeep but not the tractor,, weird huh

Funny you mention that .....

Last year, the "snow" we got - I saw some "machines" that chained the FRONTS only!!!!

If in 4wd all the time - and as most say the front spins a wee bit faster than the rears, it would seem to make sense!

AS for steering, aint nothing worse than the a$$ driving the ship, yet turning is a pita cause the front end will not steer due to slippage!

Jury is still out I guess, but I am thinking about "trying that" this winter.

I was pushing some snow on a older mans long driveway, did a great job going down......KNEW I could not push going upwards, but hell, at one point all 4 tires where actually spinning (FEL in the air) as I was going uphill, and at the same time I was sliding backwards......that will make your pants draw up tight!

I have to get the tractor out of a shed that has an immediate 20 degree slope upwards.....two years ago - I could not get the BX out - turned it sideways and had to use a come-a-long to get it back in the shed......that was a day a few cuss words were invented!!!

then I bought the flamethrower ......thats another story!

 

[olekid]

Greetings, I live on a hill, when plowing the snow off to the side at the road edge its a bit of an angle, steering is a challenge, front wheels keep sliding down hill, so I used an old highway trick and put a chain on the tire that is closest to the road, thereby the weight is on that tire, the chains get a good grip and makes steering a lot better and also there is no pressure on the front end when in 4X4 because the other wheel can slip

 

[Stmar]

Greetings, I live on a hill, when plowing the snow off to the side at the road edge its a bit of an angle, steering is a challenge, front wheels keep sliding down hill, so I used an old highway trick and put a chain on the tire that is closest to the road, thereby the weight is on that tire, the chains get a good grip and makes steering a lot better and also there is no pressure on the front end when in 4X4 because the other wheel can slip

You chain just one of your front tires? Like Skeets said opinions are all over the board. The reason you don't chain both is so the other one can slip? Interesting concept.

 

[olekid]

Greetings, I have agriculture tires, in winter I have ice chains on the rear which works great, rear tires are loaded and a rear blade with 2 five gallon pails of sand attached to it. Besides being weight I use the sand to put on any ice in the driveway, with that combo I have no trouble plowing snow, so I only put the chain on the front tire to help with steering.

 

[D2Cat]

olekid, if you put chains on only one front wheel for traction, how do you get back up to the starting point....back up?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

AS for steering, aint nothing worse than the a$$ driving the ship,

Come on man... It's called drifting!

 

[l2501]

Yes I knew this was dead thread, but because people followed it, I was just wanting to know if 7/32 chains on front tire of Kubota l2501 was too small or sound about right? I already have rear tire chains, my rears are 5/16

I have done a lot of research on front tire chains on Kubota like mine, with some warning for axel damage, but overall the people that provided pics of their tractors with chains on all fours swear by it

I have a absurdly steep hill, am in Canada, a small farm supply has a good price, at least Canadian speaking that is, just wondered if 7/32 was too small? ANYBODY...thanks

one Kubota dealer said stud my front tires would be better, I have industrial tires

 

[85Hokie]

Yes I knew this was dead thread, but because people followed it, I was just wanting to know if 7/32 chains on front tire of Kubota l2501 was too small or sound about right? I already have rear tire chains, my rears are 5/16

I have done a lot of research on front tire chains on Kubota like mine, with some warning for axel damage, but overall the people that provided pics of their tractors with chains on all fours swear by it

I have a absurdly steep hill, am in Canada, a small farm supply has a good price, at least Canadian speaking that is, just wondered if 7/32 was too small? ANYBODY...thanks

one Kubota dealer said stud my front tires would be better, I have industrial tires

Why use 7/32? Is that the only size you can find? OR do you have them already? Seems like the abuse the fronts are going to take, I would want a little more diameter of chain? 1/4? or even the same as the rear?

 

[Ramos]

Take this for what it's worth and the price charged. We have always chained the front end first on 4wd vehicles. You get traction (engine weight) AND steering. Both are pretty handy things to have. This is mainly on pickup trucks and almost exclusively off-road in snow and/or mud.

In regards to tractors, the weight distribution is certainly different. Chains on the front (with proper clearance) will aid steering and increase traction. Chains on the rear greatly enhance traction and reduce the need to engage the diff-lock. A locked up differential will absolutely reduce your ability to steer!

Like most things, there is no perfect answer.

 

[dar6ren]

I have a BX 2350 and run a 60" Hyd Snow Blade. Live on side of a mountain where nothing is flat. Live in central NY so we get some heavy snow fall. Plow gravel driveway. My BX has R4s chain in the rears will push and go most anywhere. But sometimes I would push a bit too far downhill and rears would loose traction on ice and I get hung up. For last three years I have been chaining both front and rears, knock wood haven't gotten stuck since. Had to modify front chains to clear tie rods (very close quarters in the front). Like someone said slow and steady when plowing, but for hillside, ice, ect I'm a believer in chains. Rears are loaded, I don't use ballest box or any other rear weights.

 

[l2501]

Why use 7/32? Is that the only size you can find? OR do you have them already? Seems like the abuse the fronts are going to take, I would want a little more diameter of chain? 1/4? or even the same as the rear?

Thank you, the 7/32 was the largest they had at the one place, am waiting to hear from my Kubota dealer tomorrow, they are at dealer convention as we speak.

the 7/32 for my 27 X 8.50 - 15 SS were going to be only 136 dollars for pair. Keep in mind Canadians pay more for everything, I am guessing they are going to want in 300 dollar range for 7/16 set at Kubota, hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised, my rear chains were negotiated into price

 

[l2501]

thanks for all the info

 

[StephenB]

I bought my chains for the rear tires from the green competition down the road for half the price of Kubota chains.....are they only half as good, we shall see

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yes I knew this was dead thread,

Just as a note:
There are a lot of threads that went unanswered during this time period, it was when the forum was in it's infancy and there were far less people involved to be able to answer questions.

I was just wanting to know if 7/32 chains on front tire of Kubota l2501 was too small or sound about right?

For stress and clearance, 7/32 chain is ok, but I would go a little bigger like Hokie85 said 1/4 chain is better.

One Kubota dealer said stud my front tires would be better, I have industrial tires

I agree with the dealer, I have my R4's studded and it make a HUGE difference on my hill's (10+ percent grades), and it's much kinder on the drive components.

 

[l2501]

Just as a note:
There are a lot of threads that went unanswered during this time period, it was when the forum was in it's infancy and there were far less people involved to be able to answer questions.



For stress and clearance, 7/32 chain is ok, but I would go a little bigger like Hokie85 said 1/4 chain is better.



I agree with the dealer, I have my R4's studded and it make a HUGE difference on my hill's (10+ percent grades), and it's much kinder on the drive components.

Thanks I am looking now at getting 5/16 on the front as well, just waiting for pricing from 2 places

Thanks to everybody that replied to me, yes I am daft to open up dead thread, I know what it`s like to post a question at a forum and have nobody answer, but see 211 views type of thing