Chains B7800 Front Chains, Wheel Flip

[ThisldooFarm]

I need front chains in addition to the rears I already have for the icy hills and Ind tires. There is only 3/4" clearance from the tie rods. I have read about flipping the front wheels to gain more clearance. The manual does not recommend this. Is this OK for Winter only? Has anyone actually done this? What harm could it do? What chains? I can only find Ladder type, 2-link v-bar, not duo-grip. Thanks.

 

[JoeL4330]

I can only find Ladder type, 2-link v-bar, not duo-grip. Thanks.

Tractor Tire Chain shows several types

but, I would also call them and see if there is an interchangeable truck class-S set that will fit if you think clearance is the issue. Irrespective, adjust them for a tight fit, cut as required, and use chain adjusters.

 

[ThisldooFarm]

Thanks. The front tire size for a B7800 is 23 x 8.5 x 14. The only listed chains are ladder type. I looked at other sites as well. Any advice would be appreciated

 

[Northland]

Thanks. The front tire size for a B7800 is 23 x 8.5 x 14. The only listed chains are ladder type. I looked at other sites as well. Any advice would be appreciated

Do you have R4's on your B7800? If so, I am in the same boat as you are as I need front chains to compliment the rear v-bar ladder chains. I don't want to reverse my front wheels and then add the chains so I would like to find chains that would fit tight but give me the required clerance. Maybe Tractor Supply Company?

 

[ThisldooFarm]

Yes. I do have R4 Industrial tires. There is not enough room, IMO, on the inside for chains to clear the tie rods. Reversing the wheels may be the only option. Has anyone really done this? What are the options?
Thanks.

 

[hermesj]

Thanks. The front tire size for a B7800 is 23 x 8.5 x 14. The only listed chains are ladder type. I looked at other sites as well. Any advice would be appreciated

I have the turf tires, and back in late fall I also discovered that the chains I bought for the front do not clear the steering. Reluctantly, I took them back to Anderson Equipment who had them made up for me (V-type). I thought for sure, with only the rears on chains (V-type , every second link) I won't be able to do the work I had planned.

The work consists of maneuvering very hilly terrain, in snow and ice, with 50 to 80' feet hardwood trees in tow. To my amazement, the rears alone gave me enough tractions to do my work without any major problems. When things got too hard for the 7800, I cut the tree in half and made two trips.The fronts are only weight down by a subframe and dozer blade, the rears are filled.
The only time I noticed an issue was this morning, we had freezing rain on top of a smooth road and while the rears grabbed the road nicely, I had very little steering. However, I did not have to resort to braking/steering with the rears.
Jurgen

 

[ThisldooFarm]

Progress. It was warm, so I removed and flipped the front wheels. It is easy, and they work perfectly. Now there is about 4+" of space, plenty for chains, and no obstruction. On a B7800, the fronts still track inside the rears with them flipped.

Now, the problem...one of the lugs was loose, probably tightened too much at the factory, and spun when I removed it. There are six lugs. Should I care? Can I get splined replacements? They are threaded.

Any thoughts welcomed.

 

[Northland]

Progress. It was warm, so I removed and flipped the front wheels. It is easy, and they work perfectly. Now there is about 4+" of space, plenty for chains, and no obstruction. On a B7800, the fronts still track inside the rears with them flipped.

Now, the problem...one of the lugs was loose, probably tightened too much at the factory, and spun when I removed it. There are six lugs. Should I care? Can I get splined replacements? They are threaded.

Any thoughts welcomed.

Congrats on your success with the front wheels. I spent the day chiseling off one cross section on each of my back v-bar ladder chains in order to get them to fit tighter. One side went well enough and then as the day turned cold and snowy I got tired of it all and inadvertently chiseled off the wrong cross section of the second chain. Fortunately that one connector was hardened, unlike the rest of them, so I was able to bang it back into place. I wish I would have follwed madref's advice and went with the 2 link chains and not the 4 link v-bars. The v-bars are a major pain in the butt to get placed correcty and I am concerned with the v-bars digging into the tire ever so often.
I am often persisent enough to be stupid, like today. Tomorrow I am going back out in the morning to get that that chain back on the tire.

I am not sure about your lug nut issue..hopefully someone will give some guidance

 

[hermesj]

Progress. It was warm, so I removed and flipped the front wheels. It is easy, and they work perfectly. Now there is about 4+" of space, plenty for chains, and no obstruction. On a B7800, the fronts still track inside the rears with them flipped.

Now, the problem...one of the lugs was loose, probably tightened too much at the factory, and spun when I removed it. There are six lugs. Should I care? Can I get splined replacements? They are threaded.

Any thoughts welcomed.

That's great news that you got the front reversed, I think I will do the same and get those front chains back. It will definately help in steering, especially with some weight in the front.

The log thats spinning, if you can knock it right out, place it in the vice (without damaging the thread), and take the cold chisel to the shoulder where you probably see some kind of a knurl. I would chissel six lenghtwise burs into the shoulder and then make sure that the nut will run freely up and down the thread, Now you can tap the lug back into its place, hand tighten the nut and then gently increase the torque.
If that fails, a spring washer at the head might give you some of the needed friction, as long as you get enough thread into the nut (it should be filled).

 

[SeymourBota]

I made a set of chains for the front of my 2410 by adding links on the inside and upping the tension on the outside.

Ultimately, I bought a second set of rims and mounted a different tire with more of an ag type tread that eliminated the need for chains. Just be sure the circumference of the tires is the same as your R4s.