Snow plow size and chain all 4 wheels on a TC33D?

[RickB]

The guy at the dealership was right. Front drivetrains on CUTs of any brand are designed to transmit a fraction of available torque. Shock loading of the front drive can be detrimental to components and is easily accomplished by those who choose to use front chains only because of rear tire clearance issues or cost concerns. Chaining all 4 is somewhat less problematic because of the additional traction provided by the rear chains.

 

[CobyRupert]

How would manufacturers limit the amount of torque on from axle to just a fraction of available torque?
Unless they had very strict guidelines about ballast when using the FEL so that front axle only has a small fraction of the traction when fully loaded. Seems like that would be a lot of ballast.
Seems like using chains on front with a well ballasted rear end blower would put very little torque on front end compared to a fully loaded FEL.

 

[RickB]

How would manufacturers limit the amount of torque on from axle to just a fraction of available torque?
Unless they had very strict guidelines about ballast when using the FEL so that front axle only has a small fraction of the traction when fully loaded. Seems like that would be a lot of ballast.
Seems like using chains on front with a well ballasted rear end blower would put very little torque on front end compared to a fully loaded FEL.

Nowhere did I say the applied torque is limited. The design of driveline components limit the amount of torque that can be transmitted without failure.
This is not a debate. I care little whether the failures I have seen affect what anyone does or believes possible.
Like I said, if I were the OP I would probably chain all 4 wheels.

 

[LouNY]

Just my two cents:2cents: on the discussion;
The front axles on many tractors are built some what light,
chained up with conventional chains especially if the rear is not chained would worry me,
mainly because with conventional cross link chains you will get traction then slip/spin and the grab traction again.
The continual banging from grabbing traction then spinning and grabing again could certainly stress the front end components.
The diamond patterned Euro style or ATV chains with their continuous grip I would expect to be much easier to the front axle system,
because it is a more uniform loading with less slip and grab even though it is also capable of providing much more traction.
When chaining up both just the front or all 4 wheels you will find an increase in the lead of the front wheels drive.

 

[RickB]

Just my two cents:2cents: on the discussion;
The front axles on many tractors are built some what light,
chained up with conventional chains especially if the rear is not chained would worry me,
mainly because with conventional cross link chains you will get traction then slip/spin and the grab traction again.
The continual banging from grabbing traction then spinning and grabing again could certainly stress the front end components.
Exactly.
The diamond patterned Euro style or ATV chains with their continuous grip I would expect to be much easier to the front axle system,
because it is a more uniform loading with less slip and grab even though it is also capable of providing much more traction.
I would agree with that
When chaining up both just the front or all 4 wheels you will find an increase in the lead of the front wheels drive.

Good info.