Chains?

   / Chains? #1  

Grande

Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2002
Messages
25
Location
Southern Vermont
Tractor
Kubota L3010HST
I'm shopping for chains for my Kubota L3010 to deal with the slimey weather and terrain here in VT. Any advice on what and where to buy? Mail order/local? What should I be considering when buying besides $$$? Are any easier to put on than others?

This is probably a subject that's had much attention in the past but I'm kind o' new around here...

Thanks,
Grande
 
   / Chains? #2  
Hi Grande. You are correct that tire chains have been discussed here before. Check out <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=custom&Number=194955&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=tire%20chains&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=50&Old=allposts&Main=194955>this thread</A>. Also, do a "phrase" search on 'tire chains', you'll have plenty of info I'm sure.
 
   / Chains? #3  
Grande- I had started that prior thread on the availability of chains for my L3010. After much input and discussion from members of this forum, I decided to order standard duo-grip chains and side tensioners from Tirechain. com. I received them in approx. 3 days; I was very pleased with both the speed of delivery and the knowledgeable sales rep I spoke with. There may be a less expensive way to obtain a set of chains, but this was convienent and quick for a novice that doesn't have a lot of extra time to make his own setup. As an added plus, each chain set weighs approximately 80 lbs. How do you plan to move snow? I have a rear blade, a front bucket, and R4 tires, but I found out last winter in the only snow we had that the rear blade wasn't nearly enough weight- the tires like to spin on hills. I purchased a tire fill adaptor from my local NAPA store and will add a washer solvent/ water mix for added weight, it takes about 61 gallons per tire and should add around 500 lbs. per tire (I hope). This should do the trick, I hope. BRING ON THE WHITE STUFF! Have a great time in the snow, remember- more rear weight than you think you could need, and the farther you push on the hydrostat pedal, the higher the gear you go into- that will just make your tires spin more. Try to increase the engine speed if you need to go faster.
 
   / Chains? #4  
Assuming your tractor is 4WD, try a second hand set of auto chains on the front wheels, that may be all you need in the mud. Easy on and off also. bcs
 
   / Chains?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Gents,

Thanks for the advice. Very helpful. One last question. I may not be as dumb as I look but how do you put 'em on? A friend bought a set of chains for his JD4400 locally and returned them 'cause they were just too difficult to mount. Yes, they were the correct size and the dealer took them back without a hitch.

Grande
 
   / Chains? #6  
Should be a lot easier with a tractor than it was w/ my 2D Ford way back when. I parked the truck on a flat surface, and positioned the chains like a ladder leading away behind the tires. Orient the chains so the bends of the links connecting the crossbars to the side chains face out - anything sharp needs to face away from the tire.

Back over the chains and park there. I used to stop so the connection to be made was at about 9:00 or so. That let me flip the chains over the top of the tire so gravity would be my friend.

Fasten the back side first, then wrestle the slack out of the chain, and fasten the outside.

Next install a set of "stretchers". They come in different configurations, some like a big blak rubber band with 5 hooks, some look like springs with hooks. I made a set for an old Cub from screendoor springs.

Drive slowly for a short distance to get additional slack out, then refasten to gain a link or two if possibble. That's it..................chim
 
   / Chains? #7  
You've received some good advice so far. I'll add this, take the air pressure down on the tires first, then mount the chains, then repressurize. Chains end up tight without additional tensioners. Its usually good for a link's worth of tension.
AND, for cheaper chain prices check with your local TSCor other farm supply place or truck stop, and buy truck tire chains from Peerless or other manufacturers. They are smaller links so not quite as aggressive. They also fit where larger ones won't if you have close fenders or three-pt links, etc. The smaller links are also quite a bit lighter for lifting and installing. For a flat profiled tire like a turf, you really bounce around with a large tire chain, so the smaller links give a nicer ride. Turfs with truck tire chains is a great combo. Mine cost less than $80 for the rear tires (<$80 for both). BTW, take your tire dimensions with you 'cause they wont have a chart for your tractor, and take both the metric and inch size numbers, for whatever their chart says. You may have to cut off a few links when your putting them on the first time, borrow or buy a big bolt cutter, or use your 4" angle grinder or hacksaw. Cut them to fit perfectly, your tires will never grow, it makes it easier to fit every year if there are no extra links, no decisions.
 
   / Chains? #8  
Just an additional thought on chains. I had a bit of different size tire on my tractor, 9.5 - 22, Firestone Turf & Field, lug design. I could not find an off the shelf chain from any of the tire chain suppliers and would have required me to do some cut down on the next larger size. I was able to get some custom made to fit by Custom Chain Service in Montrose, Colorado. They have a website. Ron and Pam are very nice to work with... he even went to the Firestone Ag website to make sure he had the right dimensions, length, etc.

Ron makes the chains from new but surplus military chains. Not fancy but the pair of chains was only $65.00 plus shipping and arrived within a week of placing my order. I also ordered chain tensioners for $14.00. I am doing some last of year cleanup on the property and the chains go on next week.
 
   / Chains? #10  
i have a 4310 4wd hst r4 tires with curtis plow(Just got the plow and havent used it yet). i have used my front end loader to clean up my hilly driveway in the past and have slipped a bit occasionally on ice . Would the use of chains on just the front wheels make sense? nothing in the kubota manual about chains exept to use them on ice.
 
 
 
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