Chains Had to put the front chains on

[piercedtiger]

I keep telling everyone, move to the flat land. None of this is an issue down here. :confused3:

My driveway IS flat and I still had almost zero traction on it the first snow fall. My driveway is paved, and I suspect it's sealed as even my truck needs 4WD to back around and leave after it snows. Sometimes even when I have snow tires and 300lbs of pellets in the bed.

Needless to say my gc2600 was unable to steer the first time. Wheels cranked all the way to the right, still going straight. In the middle of the night it occurred to me the BB could be unloading the front, so the next morning I took it off. Much better! However, I still spin tires and struggle to turn pushing snow with the loader and sometimes even with the loader raised. I had to back up several times to get a running start on the sidewalk to get the snow from the plow moving. It was wet, heavy snow, but once I was moving it pushed ok.

Traction is fine on the lawn, but this flat (aside from low spots) driveway is a pain in the butt! Are chains my only option, or is it worth trying to put more weight? I was thinking of putting the BB back on, and seeing if shortening the top link to tip it up would help with the unloading issue. I need to do something. I'd almost be better off shoveling due to the lack of traction. I got R4's instead of turfs thinking they would be better for traction, and I don't care if they mark up the lawn a little. I planned on taking the tractor to other people's houses, going in the woods, maybe fields, etc so traction was my priority. Now it feels like it's useless on the paved/concrete surfaces.

 

[Pixguy]

My driveway IS flat and I still had almost zero traction on it the first snow fall. My driveway is paved, and I suspect it's sealed as even my truck needs 4WD to back around and leave after it snows. Sometimes even when I have snow tires and 300lbs of pellets in the bed. Needless to say my gc2600 was unable to steer the first time. Wheels cranked all the way to the right, still going straight. In the middle of the night it occurred to me the BB could be unloading the front, so the next morning I took it off. Much better! However, I still spin tires and struggle to turn pushing snow with the loader and sometimes even with the loader raised. I had to back up several times to get a running start on the sidewalk to get the snow from the plow moving. It was wet, heavy snow, but once I was moving it pushed ok. Traction is fine on the lawn, but this flat (aside from low spots) driveway is a pain in the butt! Are chains my only option, or is it worth trying to put more weight? I was thinking of putting the BB back on, and seeing if shortening the top link to tip it up would help with the unloading issue. I need to do something. I'd almost be better off shoveling due to the lack of traction. I got R4's instead of turfs thinking they would be better for traction, and I don't care if they mark up the lawn a little. I planned on taking the tractor to other people's houses, going in the woods, maybe fields, etc so traction was my priority. Now it feels like it's useless on the paved/concrete surfaces.

I have issues going uphill but none on my flat areas and basically have the same setup but I use 4wd, have chains on the rear and don't push the show but blow it, so maybe my 2360 blower weight on the front helps me.
Of course, steering is difficult on ice without chains regardless of grade.

 

[piercedtiger]

I have issues going uphill but none on my flat areas and basically have the same setup but I use 4wd, have chains on the rear and don't push the show but blow it, so maybe my 2360 blower weight on the front helps me.
Of course, steering is difficult on ice without chains regardless of grade.

I'm wondering if the driveway not being flat is a problem. As in the spots I need to fill causing the tractor to not sit level on all 4 tires. Rear chains would cost me about $80 I think so not too bad, but the steering concerns me. I should probably just bite the bullet and get them. I can make turns in my lawn and feel the back end drift around the corner. So even thought I don't get stuck, can push snow, and have steering in a few inches of snow there are still traction issues. I also slid sideways on a slight incline in the yard, so chains would probably help with that too. Makes me wonder about being in the woods, on wet leaves, working on a slope. So I might want the chains for more than just snow removal even thought I don't do logging, or deal with a lot of mud.

 

[irvingj]

I've had turf tires from day one, and, as Pixguy pointed out, when blowing you clear your own path -- but I think, on relatively firm surfaces, turf tires do work best. If there's a chance they'll load up, however, your R4s would be better. I believe those tread lugs on R4s need a soft surface to be able to dig into.

I've always thought that the increased contact surface area of the turfs (again, not in mud or slush where they'd quickly fill) worked best on hard surfaces, not to mention the way they squish down to conform to the base. And yes, your BB on the rear will, just like my BH, serve to unload the front. (Try that going uphill: even worse!)

See if you can try a tractor with turfs on it, in the snow on a paved surface -- if you're ever over this way, I'd be happy to let you try mine. It might be worthwhile for you to get a set of them. As mentioned above, a week ago with all the ice was the very first time ever I've needed chains.

OTOH, when I head off the lawn & into the woods a bit, I sure with I had a set like yours! :drool:

 

[Pixguy]

I live on a boney PC of property on the side of a small Mtn. and I've never had steering issues even in the mud except for wintery ice conditions. I'm contemplating getting chains for the front as well but I have a combination of my paved driveway and gravel road so I'm hesitant to add them cuz I want to avoid issues when I forget to take it out of 4wd. And just like forgetting the brake I will forget about that.

 

[piercedtiger]

Yeah, that's my problem too. *sigh* I figured if I went with turf's I regret it late tilling the garden, or going up in the woods. I just didn't realize R4's would suck so bad on the asphalt!

I can get 4 link for front and rear off tirechains.com shipped for just under $80, so I guess that's the cheapest/easiest route. Pick up some rubber bungee cords and be done with it.

 

[piercedtiger]

Do chains on the front, in 2wd, help with steering? Like a rudder on a boat. They just slide sideways now, so would the chains dig in and force the wheels to turn in the direction I want to go? If that's the case, I could probably live in 2WD most of the time.

 

[ray66v]

Turf's are definitely better for traction in the snow.

Sorry, you are having trouble. I could not be happier with mine, and I leave the backhoe on. I plow 325' of gravel driveway.

Sometimes, I forget to put it in 4wd, and it still moves the snow very well.

 

[piercedtiger]

I almost wish I had a gravel driveway! I did 2 friend's driveways over the weekend, one paved, one dirt. I had no issues on the dirt one. I was pushing snow all over the place, cleared out enough space for a few cars to park and turn around. Next one was paved, and same problem. Wife sat in the truck that time and commented on me sliding around when I got in to head home. I was fine clearing the end near the road, but getting down where they park (and again assume it was sealed at some point) I had trouble.

One of the things I expected to do with the tractor was scrape hard pack and ice off the drive. At this point, I can't get enough traction to even try it.

 

[Pixguy]

Here's what I used until last week when I replaced the rear drum for a grader blade. The drum worked real well but the unfrozen gravel road cost me 7 sheer bolts the first storm.