Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Any negative thoughts about putting tire chains on front only

[Fallon]

I run front only chains on my L4060 & former L3200, both with R4s. No issues yet. I figure traction with chains in snow is still worse than rubber on dry dirt. The L3200 had no room for rear chains without wheel spacers. I'm now lazy & putting on heavy fronts is something I only do if really needed. Really heavy rears just make my back hurt thinking about them.

 

[LD48750]

With all these warnings about damage to the drive train, has ANYONE actually HAD any that can be traced directly back to front chains?

Has anyone that didn't use front chains ever had problems with the front drive train?

 

[RickB]

That's very possible, there are so many variations on machines, tires, surfaces and weather. I consider my r4's to be worthless for winter traction here. One issue that makes things worse for me is 1000lbs of blower hanging off the back of a tractor that is about as small as i would want to put it on.
Too, in this area and i believe around chewelah there is a lot of wet snow and protracted cold so ice stays longer than many places I had seen in the Northeast when i lived there and traveled for work for a living. Where were you in New york? there's huge variety in the severity of winter conditions there.

Northeast Dutchess County. Plenty of ice, plenty of wet snow. Plenty of experience with split brakes and knowing how to use them. Putting several hundred hours a year on tractors in all kinds of conditions as a teenager and young adult helps make snow and ice not such a big deal.

But my question was directed at Oosick who said something to the effect he would chain all 4 or not at all which taken at face value makes no sense to me whatsoever.

 

[Amvcane]

With all these warnings about damage to the drive train, has ANYONE actually HAD any that can be traced directly back to front chains?

Has anyone that didn't use front chains ever had problems with the front drive train?

Excellent questions. We all know the answer to #2.
I am thinking about chaining up my front tires only. My fronts lose traction going up hill and slide sideways. My main worry is going up hill and the rears lose all traction leaving the fronts to pull the weight of the entire tractor and implements.
The 500lb blower on the back makes the front light and a loader bucket full of snow isn't always enough to solve the problem.
Very interested in any responses to question 1.

 

[LD48750]

Excellent questions. We all know the answer to #2.
I am thinking about chaining up my front tires only. My fronts lose traction going up hill and slide sideways. My main worry is going up hill and the rears lose all traction leaving the fronts to pull the weight of the entire tractor and implements.
The 500lb blower on the back makes the front light and a loader bucket full of snow isn't always enough to solve the problem.
Very interested in any responses to question 1.

Interesting to me is some of the people saying front chains will hurt are the same people that advocate running in 4wd ALL the time on ALL surfaces.

 

[RickB]

Tracing a failure directly to a cause is sometimes difficult, sometimes impossible. I have seen and repaired New Holland front differentials with catastrophic damage. Some had been running front chains, some had not, Did front chains cause the failures to broken tractors that sported front chains? Or were ALL the failures attributable to front axle overloading and driveline shock loads to which front chains were one of many possible causes?

There are no definitive answers. Every tractor owner has to gather the info, weigh the odds and decide for themselves.

 

[mikester]

Thanks folks. I posted hoping to learn from your experience and I have, thanks.

Steering control is my issue. I have weighted rears and carrying a heavy woods box blade for weight. Front likes to take off to one side while pushing an angle blade. Always seems to be ice under the heavy wet snow... I can take off layers at a time though an avoid that to a point. Plus I already have some truck chains that fit already.

So...any suggestions on where/what chains to buy for the rear?

I've been using front only chains and have a 3PH snowblower. I only put the chains on after freezing rain has made my driveway an ice rink and I have zero traction. This year ice happened early and right now I have a difficult time walking to the barn. I take chains off as soon as the ice melts. If steering is your issue front chains will help immensely. I find rear only chains don't help as much with the steering issues.

I use double ladder chains on my R4's because they were the second cheapest option and they ride rough and like to walk. Put on a good strong set of spiders. Spend time fitting the chains and removing excess links to minimize slack and wandering. That makes them tricky to put on and get tight. If money was no object I would put euro style chains on all four tires.

Your tractor is relatively light and if you aren't doing a lot of loader work to strain the front end I wouldn't hesitate to put on front only chains.

 

[fishhead]

Not sure if I am being lumped in this group as i would never opt for 4wd when traction is good/adequate on level surfaces etc.
but...


There are differences to the potential damage done by each option. Running 4wd when not needed runs the risk of added wear/damage to drivetrain from mismatched wheel travel in straight or turns. The tires and driveline slop probably allow some slip probably at the cost of increased tire wear.

IMHO running fronts only does 2 things the impact of which would be heavily influenced by surface, grade and exposure.
first there would be wear due to the bulk or all of the tractive or motive force being provided by the front drivetrain which may or may not be beefy enough to do this long term. This would be most an issue on slick surfaces like a steep iced gravel drive which in a place like here would be ice for 5-6 months

The second impact is more of a potential risk but in my mind is the bigger reason. Without rear chains on a steep iced road you won't have any brakes. You might be able to engage the 4wd while sliding but the shock to the drivetrain and sudden traction in the front are likely to cause issues.

I live on the side of a mountain. The valley area 400 ft below and a 1/4 mile away probably gets 100 or so inches a year the ridge top about 2 miles behind my house is about 3500ft higher and averages over 400 inches a year- the snow will melt there some time in july usually. Most drives and roads around here are quite steep with lots of exposure and in the case of county roads limited winter maintenance. Going off a drive or road here can be quite serious and we can have ice issues that are more severe and long lasting than the bulk of lower 48 mountain or northern areas.

Chewelah, the OP's location, lies in a small valley at the edge of mountains, most which have similar microclimate effects. His climate is probably very slightly warmer than mine but also wetter. Due east of chewelah and not very far is a ski area called 49N.

Interesting to me is some of the people saying front chains will hurt are the same people that advocate running in 4wd ALL the time on ALL surfaces.

 

[fishhead]

Matune,
Are you down in the Valley there?
Gravel drive?

 

[fishhead]

I will echo Lou regarding the ride quality of euro style chains and the more even traction.

Well I guess I'll just keep repeating myself;
if you need chains for traction get the Aquiline Talon style.
There is no comparison of this style of chain for traction and ride quality.
On frozen ground or snow pack the traction will be almost the same as hard gravel or even better,
The ride is the best of any style of chain,
at low speed it is no different then rubber only,
at high speed you will hear noise on dry pavement, no bouncing or jarring.
For those that wish to run front chains on some of the smaller tractors look at utv/atv chains
in the same or similar patterns.
The clearance of the Euro style chains is the same or sometimes a bit better as any others.

As far as chaining up just the front;
yes it could put more wear on the front.
However it would not be loading or working it any harder then using max force while
digging or carrying heavy loads on hard surfaces in the summer.
To my thinking the conventional style chain with its grip and slip action and
vibration would be rougher on the front axle then the Euro style.

Also a great many people seem to be concerned about the side loading of their front end loaders,
add chains to the front and you will increase it more.

I normally just run rear chains on my snow removal tractors,
if a major ice storm is forecast I will often get out and mount the fronts,
If my front end is getting pushed I'll just use a bit of brake steer.