Front tire chains on 3720 with R4 tires

[Chuck on lake]

I took delivery of my 3720 late in last years snow season. I was pleased with it but the R4 tires were less useful in steering than my previous tractor with R1's had been. I found myself frequently using the rear brakes to maintain steering. So for this winter I decided to try chains on the front tires. Yesterday I got the chance to try them out. The snow started as rain and then changed to snow. When it quit the temperature dropped and the result was ice under new snow - not much snow just about 4 inches. I decided to see if there was any improvement in steering. WOW! A tremendous improvement. If you are having problems steering I suggest chains are the way to go. My rear R4's are loaded with Rim Guard.

I used 2-Link Ladder chains without the V Bars because I have a concrete apron in front of the garage. To take up the slack chain on the inside I used a stout (16 inch) Bungee cord. I slid one of the hooks down and put a knot in the cord to shorten it. My thinking is that the flexibility of the cord may make it less likely to break than other methods of taking up the slack chain. I used spring tensioners on the outside. After installing 4 of the springs I used a Hi-Lift jack to stretch them out and then attached the last spring.

My road is one mile long and I made four passes yesterday and the chains seemed to stay tight and in place. I am very pleased with the improved steering even with ice under the snow.

Chuck on lake

 

[KennedyDiesel]

Do you have a loader on this machine? I wonder how the chains will do with the hose bundle or if the chains fall between the lugs on the shoulders to protect the hoses?

I might have to try on mine this winter.

P.S. Lube your front driveshaft splines

 

[beenthere]

Chuck
Glad it is working out for you.

A pic of the chains on the front would help to further understand, but I'd bet the chains are too big for the front tires or else binders wouldn't be necessary. I don't use binders on mine and never had a problem with them coming off.

But whatever works. Chains do help on the front tires, as long as nothing is in the way when turning and that it does put additional strain on the front wheel assist parts.

Here is a vid of my 4300 with the front chains while demo'ing the wing plow, but the front chains were on at the time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4SJxqzm-hc

 

[Chuck on lake]

Here are some pictures. The loader hoses are not a problem. I hope that shows in the pictures. The 90 degree elbow on the power steering does get very close to the chains on the right hand side of the tractor. I have programmed myself to avoid the very sharpest right hand turns. Next year I plan to put the front tires in the wide position and that should give me a little more clearance.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I thought I had read in my owners manual that front chains should not be used? Can anyone confirm this?

Did that metal loop that the hoses run through come from the factory? Mine doesn't have that loop just the webbing.

Matt

 

[RoyJackson]

I thought I had read in my owners manual that front chains should not be used? Can anyone confirm this?

Matt

You could review your owner's manual...I don't think you'll find any reference to snow chain usage in the manual.

It has been posted more then once that Deere does not recommend using chains on the front tires...never an out and out prohibition though.

 

[Glen Watkins]

I thought I had read in my owners manual that front chains should not be used? Can anyone confirm this?

Did that metal loop that the hoses run through come from the factory? Mine doesn't have that loop just the webbing.

Matt

I thought I read this somewhere also but I think it might have been for smaller machines.

 

[Gizmo2]

Chuck, I think your chains are too narrow for that tire.

 

[beenthere]

Chuck, I think your chains are too narrow for that tire.

:laughing:
And I would say that they are too long.

But most important is that Chuck likes them and they work well for him.

 

[Gizmo2]

:laughing:
And I would say that they are too long.

But most important is that Chuck likes them and they work well for him.

:thumbsup: on both counts

 

[Chuck on lake]

I thought I had read in my owners manual that front chains should not be used? Can anyone confirm this?

Did that metal loop that the hoses run through come from the factory? Mine doesn't have that loop just the webbing.

Matt

The metal loop that the hoses run through was on my tractor when I bought it.

I had looked and looked for something that would suggest that front chains not be used and couldn't find anything. If something negative happens I will be sure and report it here.

 

[Chuck on lake]

If the chains are too narrow or too long I really don't know. They seem to be rock solid on the tire the way they are installed. The way I selected them was to simply select my tire size on TireChains.com and order them. Obviously I will be watching them closely over the next few months. We are overdue for a big snow event here in Northern Minnesota. If I experience anything negative I will let everyone know.

 

[JDgreen227]

When I used chains on the rear wheels of my Deere 318, I ended up removing a link or two to get them really, really tight. I would install the chain loosely, then deflate the tire, and get the chain as tight as possible then use a quick link for fastening the chain, then reinflate the tire. Before I did that and couldn't get them very tight, the clips used to secure the chains came loose on the outside one time and the chains wrapped around the rear axle. With the quick links installed I never had to worry about the chains coming loose again.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

I thought I had read in my owners manual that front chains should not be used? Can anyone confirm this?

Did that metal loop that the hoses run through come from the factory? Mine doesn't have that loop just the webbing.

Matt

The metal loop that the hoses run through was on my tractor when I bought it.

I had looked and looked for something that would suggest that front chains not be used and couldn't find anything. If something negative happens I will be sure and report it here.

Mine does not have the loop either. My tires rub on the hoses enough that the mesh is wearing through. Looks like maybe the mesh "sock" was traded off for a loop?

 

[KennedyDiesel]

The metal loop that the hoses run through was on my tractor when I bought it.

I had looked and looked for something that would suggest that front chains not be used and couldn't find anything. If something negative happens I will be sure and report it here.

I'm anxious to find this loop for my tractor. I had my dealer look and what he came up with was for a 59" blower kit. I don't think this is correct, but can't say for sure. It does look like there is an extra pair of hoses running out front for a hitch in Chuck's picture.

Being that Chucks tractor is a cab model there seems to be quite a bit of "different" plumbing going on. It would appear as though 2 hoses from the mid SCV ports are outside the mesh bag and 2 go to a point up and behind the SCVs

 

[bud4410]

on my 3520 the square loop for retaining the hoses came as part of the front hitch kit that is necessary to mount my 366 front snow blade. hope this helps..............bud

 

[beenthere]

There are some different shapes, but for my 455 hitch part number M96981 is what I use.

The model 3720 square loop is LVU17400
pictured here:

 

[grsthegreat]

I took delivery of my 3720 late in last years snow season. I was pleased with it but the R4 tires were less useful in steering than my previous tractor with R1's had been. I found myself frequently using the rear brakes to maintain steering. So for this winter I decided to try chains on the front tires. Yesterday I got the chance to try them out. The snow started as rain and then changed to snow. When it quit the temperature dropped and the result was ice under new snow - not much snow just about 4 inches. I decided to see if there was any improvement in steering. WOW! A tremendous improvement. If you are having problems steering I suggest chains are the way to go. My rear R4's are loaded with Rim Guard.

I used 2-Link Ladder chains without the V Bars because I have a concrete apron in front of the garage. To take up the slack chain on the inside I used a stout (16 inch) Bungee cord. I slid one of the hooks down and put a knot in the cord to shorten it. My thinking is that the flexibility of the cord may make it less likely to break than other methods of taking up the slack chain. I used spring tensioners on the outside. After installing 4 of the springs I used a Hi-Lift jack to stretch them out and then attached the last spring.

My road is one mile long and I made four passes yesterday and the chains seemed to stay tight and in place. I am very pleased with the improved steering even with ice under the snow.

Chuck on lake

i found the same on my dk45 with front 2 link chains. Without the chains the tractor would move to the side while pushing snow with my 8' plow whenever i angled the blade. Now with the chains i can fully angle the blade and there is no movement from the front end. LOVE them chains..

 

[grsthegreat]

:thumbsup: on both counts

they look good to me..... nice and tight

 

[Chuck on lake]

regarding the hose support------------------I did order a front mounted snowblower so perhaps the wire support came with that. We have had very little snow in northern Minnesota to date but the temperatures have been above normal right around 30 degrees during the day. That has resulted in very slippery conditions and I am very pleased with the steering control of the 3720 with front chains now. I am currently using loader arm mounted blade because the road is still wide enough so I don't have to blow the snow over and beyond the banks.