Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Cutting / Groving / Siping R-4 for snow

[gladehound]

I have loaded R4's with V-bar chains on the rear. No problem with traction.
Front slide/traction is my only problem.

I ordered and received my Ideal Heated Knife. I was ready to do my front R4's I have on the shelf and then looked at the new turfs I currently have on the tractor. The turfs that I have look like a very aggressive winter tread pattern.

Do you think grooving my R4's would give better traction than an aggressive turf?

I think it might be hard to make them better than an aggressive turf. JMHO. Is an angle plow pushing the front? If so, setting it up so the plow blade is closer to the front wheels will give it less leverage to push them. If that does not work - V bar chains!

 

[gladehound]

So you have a set of chains for sale yet?? :laughing: Went to the farm show looking for a tire groover, came up empty handed!

What do the vehicles weigh? Might make a difference...

I have a set of v-bar chains for the front. I'll keep them just in case we get an ice storm then a big snow before i can do anything about the ice. Keeps the front end from walking.

For the record, v-bar chains work better than anything I have ever tried for ice and hard packed snow. They are even better than other chains on asphalt only because most chains will slide on asphalt but the v-bars are so sharp they just tear right into it (not good for the asphalt). If I only plowed on gravel drives I would just chain all four. But I'm constantly going from gravel to asphalt and I need something that works everywhere without damaging anything.

Truck 7000 pounds
van 4500 pounds
tractor 5000 pounds
car 3500 pounds

 

[Deadman]

Here is my results. Grooved them myself.
I needed side traction in front, so i cut my fronts opposite as yours.

They even look hardcore now! :thumbsup:

 

[Usta]

Here is my results. Grooved them myself.
I needed side traction in front, so i cut my fronts opposite as yours.

Let us know how those fronts work.
My problem is side slide of the front also. I do a lot of snow removal on a side slope.
I bought a groover and planned on doing my front R4's I have on the shelf until I looked at the turfs I have on the front of the tractor. I dont think I could improve on the winter type tread of the turfs. I then desided I wanted to put V-Bar chains on the front but the Kubota dealer said there is not enough clearance on the front hubs on the BX 2660.
I asked about carbide screw in studs and we spent a lot of time checking different stud lengths on their turfs and R4's. I desided I would go with the studs until he told me the screw in studs were a dollar thirty a piece. I have no problem throwing money around but hate to spend more for studs than V-Bar chains would cost me.
I am thinking now I might groove my front turfs with a couple straight line grooves similar to what you did on your fronts.

 

[DAY]

Awesome job, Gladehound! I just found this thread, and (live outside Reading, PA) have a similar winters tale. My JD 850 has turfs, which are useless, so I considered chains. Or wait for Spring!
Why does a 4WD pickup with a Myers angle plow do such a good job, when the tractor doesn't? Would a front mount snow blower 'git 'er done'? I hate to spend $3500 and not get any snow for a decade- eastern PA ain't snow country!

 

[Deadman]

Here is my results. Grooved them myself.
I needed side traction in front, so i cut my fronts opposite as yours.

They even look hardcore now! :thumbsup:

BTW, I used a #5 blade on my rear tires, so the groove was larger, and the fronts I used #3 Blade and made more cuts.
They look impressive, I only hope they grip as good as they look! :thumbsup:

 

[gladehound]

Deadman - Those look Sweet! Really nice job!

Day - Why does a truck plow better than your JD 850??? Well, the truck is a whole lot bigger! Also, the long wheel base of a truck helps keep the front tires from being pushed sideways because the angle plow has less leverage on them than on a short wheelbase tractor. But a JD 850 is big enough to plow anything we had this winter if it's set up right. Can you take a picture so we can see how you have it set up to plow snow and what the turf tires look like?

Here are a few things I've learned:

1. Maximize the weight on the wheels
2. attach the plow to the tractor as close to the ground as possible (causes force from the blade to lift the front less)
3. set it up so the blade is a close to the front wheels as possible (this means not on the bucket). This decrease the leverage that an angled plow has to push the front sideways.
4. If you can, run the plow mount under the front axle to the rear of the tractor. this will cause the force from the plow to push up on the rear not the front so you won't lose steering.

Again - show us how it's set up and maybe we can help.

Ron

 

[Deadman]

I used a block of wood for a measuring stick! :thumbsup:
On the outside row of cuts I used it to make a mark of where to start, and then make 90 degree angles straight across the bars, so they stay uniform looking. The centers, I just cut the whole tire right down the center-line. The middle row of cuts, I just went from the corner of the lug to the other corner. It was so simple. I FIRST took a Silver Sharpie and mapped out a few scenarios of cuts, and after trying a few different ones, this pattern was the OBVIOUS way to make them look good and perform. The angled cuts will offer side and forward traction both! :thumbsup: I'm mostly after the stability sideways, as the R4 has NO side traction.

I'm hoping to play on it tomorrow a little to get the feel of how they perform!

Gladehound, thanks so much for the great idea! You deserve all the credit, I would have NEVER thought of this on my own! Thanks man! :thumbsup:

 

[BrierPatch]

This is great. I have been thinking about this alot lately. This year is the first time in 8 years I have not been able to make it back up my driveway in the winter. However I have only had R4's for 3 years.

I am sold. Thanks Guys ! :thumbsup:

 

[DAY]

Never did this- hope the jpegs load.

The 850 was a golf course mower; blade is a Tractor Supply cheapo.
The Ford 4500 does a better job- and the backhoe gets me out of trouble!