Chains on front tires for pushing snow

[ray66v]

Chains are not ideal, if you want to keep your gravel in place.

I plow 325' of gravel drive, (flat), with a loader mounted plow, turfs, no chains, no problem.

I added pneumatic, catering gauge wheels to my plow, so it stays and inch or two, above the gravel.

I keep the backhoe on, for ballast.

Packing down the first 3-4 inches of snow, is definitely the best way to keep the gravel in place.

In the spring, I have almost no gravel in the lawn.

 

[Fallon]

I have rear chains for my Kubota L3200, but cant put em on without wheel spacers. Got front chains & went from a steering wheel that did little to nothing when plowing with my SSQA plow to it actually changing my direction a bit. Noticable traction increase too.

I agree that it puts more of a load on the weaker front axle. However even with chains my front has less traction in the snow & ice than on solid dry ground. So im not to worried about killing my axle.

 

[moeh1]

I'm in the same boat as Fallon. With a blower on the back, I need front chains to get any steering while plowing a gravel drive. I have a rubber edge on the plow and leave just a little snow, so the fronts wheels could slip if strain built up. I worried at first, but 15 years later, i don't give it much thought.

 

[oosik]

I used chains - front & rear - on my previous tractor, Ford 1700 4WD. It helped a lot when ice formed on my mile long gravel driveway. Had little effect with just snow. I hated using chains - such a PITA to install, especially the rear ones and the tractor rode like a cob with chains.

I don't need chains with my current tractor - Kubota M6040 - its more than heavy enough to stay right in place.

I never had/saw any indication that chains on all four caused any problems. There was always plenty of slippage even with the chains. I used the chains on/off for 25 years with the little Ford 1700 and had no problems.

 

[Egon]

I had chains all around on my Kubota B7100. They made a very noticeable difference in snow, on ice or in mud. No damage to front axle.

The tractor manufacturer may have the best say on front chains. With four wheel drive I don't understand why the front drive should be weaker???

 

[SPYDERLK]

Is it a good idea to use chains on the front tires (with chains on the rear tires) when using a front snow blade? Would it put too much stress on the less robust front drivetrain? When I have the snow blade angled a lot, the tractor gets pushed sideways so would front chains help some with keeping the tractor going straight? Thanks!

Chains do not gain enough traction in snow to be a danger to front end parts. The problem you are seeing with putting chains on the back only is that you essentially make the back tires larger. This change is probably enough that the fronts no longer have lead and are being pushed. If you are able to accomplish the job at all w/o chains you might want to then try front chains only. This will increase front lead and should give great steering response.
... Unfortunately, I suspect you do not have AGs and wont be able to operate effectively w/o the rear chains. Bummer.

You can also improve directional control by using the split brakes. Trouble is, unless you can alternate the angled side, you will use one much more than the other.

 

[oldafretired]

My driveway eventually ends up becoming like a skating rink with sheet ice. I'm going to stick the front chains on this winter to give it a try when it gets icy. Might as well use them since I have them. On thing I noticed is that most of the rear chain links ended up in the grooves of the tires and hardly stick up above the rubber at all.

 

[oosik]

I had R1's on the Ford and they quite rapidly migrate to the valleys. The only real traction was where the chains passed over the ridges. Even at that they did improve traction, noticeably, on ice. I had the very heavy duty "H"style, V-bar tractor chains. I was sure glad to sell them when I traded in the Ford for the Kubota.

I just looked up the old receipt for them - $450. $275 for the rears and $175 for the fronts.

 

[k0ua]

I am certainly no expert, so take this for what it is worth. I ran chains on my B7500 on all four tires year around for the 8 years I had it. Nothing ever broke.

 

[Ford850]

As others have said, keep that blade slightly above the surface and you will see a dramatic improvement. I've tested that quite a bit with mine, and I was surprised at the difference it makes.