Chains Chains on front tires only VS. rear only

[GlennaR]

Thanks, good to know this.

Suspect the chance of getting a second hand setO tires n wheels for my Kub are slim so guess chains it must be. However never considered the clearance, better take a good look C first......

 

[Oldpath05]

I looked up the rules on reviving 6 year old threads, and Rule No. 1 says as long someone has been a member longer then 6 years, its a good thing, but to reopen, he/she must have a tractor, store bought or home made, then it's fine, ethical, and politically correct.

But I found there could be a slight problem with a 6 year old thread, the links to putting studs/buying in the front tires don't work, at least not for me, and I read through it all, where's the rule on links not working hummmmmmm

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Personally, I wouldn't just chain up the front tires, in fact, I won't chain up the front tires on any of my tractors... I would just run chains on the rears, if it was me.

SR

 

[RickB]

Chains on the rear only for me. But my tractor is 2WD.:duh:

Seriously, I try to dissuade my customers from chaining front tires, especially without chaining the rears.

 

[PILOON]

Seriously, I try to dissuade my customers from chaining front tires, especially without chaining the rears.

Duh'
Just look at the component sizes, i.e. axles, joints etc and all driven by same HP.
Even worst is that same torque reduced to the smaller diameter wheel.

 

[RickB]

Duh'
Just look at the component sizes, i.e. axles, joints etc and all driven by same HP.
Even worst is that same torque reduced to the smaller diameter wheel.

That's it. But a surprising percentage of owners don't want to hear it. It's all good till a pinion shaft shears or a ring gear sheds a tooth. Then it gets ugly fast.

 

[Billrog]

I disagree with the opinions expressed here from personal experience. This is the first winter I haven't kept 3 or 4 miles of mt. trails open with chains on the front wheels of my small tractor in 23 yrs. . The universals and differential are original and still solid. Smaller wheels take less power to turn is the reason for smaller axles and dif. The average home owner would never put the stress any where near what I have on their tractor with chains on the front. If there was room I may have put chains on the back wheels as well.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Yup, it works pretty good UNTIL it doesn't!

Just something to think about... I saw a guy with a B series Kubota that chipped the pinion gear in the front end. The PARTS were over $1,000 bucks, then there's labor too!!

I wouldn't want that bill, NO matter how it happened!

SR

 

[RickB]

I disagree with the opinions expressed here from personal experience. This is the first winter I haven't kept 3 or 4 miles of mt. trails open with chains on the front wheels of my small tractor in 23 yrs. . The universals and differential are original and still solid. Smaller wheels take less power to turn is the reason for smaller axles and dif. The average home owner would never put the stress any where near what I have on their tractor with chains on the front. If there was room I may have put chains on the back wheels as well. View attachment 410623
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View attachment 410625

Here's where your logic is flawed: Catastrophic failures linked to front chain use are not cumulative, they typically result from instant shock loading from specific events. A chain on a spinning tire grabbing a frozen lump of dirt and instantly re-establishing traction, for instance. You have enjoyed good luck, and perhaps you are a very careful operator, but I've seen guys cry about repair cost after boasting that chains on front wheels was no problem for them.

 

[Agvg]

A normal front axle on a tractor have reduction gear at the wheels to reduce loads on the rest of the axle, it must be design to take a lot of abuse because a lot of situations will make much of the torque of the engine out only on the front, an example are backing very heavy trailers up very steep hills.
Its very common to only use front chains and on commercial grade tractors its not a problem, but as always if the the driver are an idiot everything can and will give in.