Calling all winter experts!!!

[TerryinMD]

Ok - now that I have your attention. Tire chains!!! As you may have noticed, I'm asking a lot of questions about preparing to use my tractor for winter. I live in Western MD and our winters can be very mild to darn right brutal with usually something in between. Just want to CMA (opposite of CYA) and be prepared. I have a short driveway (200' give or take) with a bit of a grade. My JD4100 has R4s which I expect to work in most situations and I'll be using the FEL and a rear blade. Should I bite the bullet and get a set of chains or play the waiting game? I know that the chains can be slightly expensive and the CFO is making me submit by requests in triplicate/crawling on hands and knees.

Also, some pros and cons.

Terry

 

[MikePA]

To piggyback on Terry's questions...

What's the proper technique for plowing snow with the FEL? I also have a rear blade (plus a 2 stage, tracked, 9 hp snow blower) but it would appear to be easier to clear the snow going forward than backward.

 

[cowboydoc]

Terry,
Very little to say. The R4's are pretty worthless in snow and ice. Get the chains, put them on early before the snow and ice comes and you're out there in sub-zero weather trying to put them on. HMMM now why do I know that? Because I played the waiting game last year thinking that I had 4wd I didn't need chains. The first ice took care of that notion and there I was in a snowstorm and 10 below putting on chains.

 

[cowboydoc]

Mike,
I use both the loader and rear blade. I push way one way with the loader and then go back with the blade. I just keep pushing all of mine to the pastures in big snowpiles.

 

[TerryinMD]

Cowboydoc,

Thanks for the info.

Geez, I forgot to add something to my original post. Oldtimers disease.... Good place to buy chains. I know that more than likely that I'll bypass the JD dealer.

Terry

 

[MikePA]

http://www.tirechains.com

 

[glennmac]

I'd wait and see how it goes.

We had a lot of deep wet snow last winter and I had little problems with my 2910 R4's with fel and 6' rear blade. My rear tires are filled, which I also believe helps a lot in snow.

Ice, of course, is a different story. Didn't have that problem last year, and I'm not so sure chains would be too helpful.

 

[TerryinMD]

Mike,

Thank you for the link. They appear to be located not to far from my in-laws. May have to make a visit to the in-laws to save shipping charges. Doh! Wait - then I have to pay PA taxes. Geez - ya just can't win. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Terry

 

[DaveM]

Terry,

I'd suggest you get some if you plan to work in snow. You may want to read this thread for my experience W/O chains, some photos and links. here
Have fun!

Dave

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The hardest part of plowing with the loader is if your on a gravel driveway you have to keep the bucket level or you will take more driveway then you want. Practice makes perfect. I use a box blade and the front loader with no chains as my tractor has plenty of weight on its own to keep the tires to the ground. I would rather add weight to the tractor instead of buying chains as chains make for a rough ride on paved surfaces.

<font color=blue>Robert Turk Jr.</font color=blue>
<font color=blue>Whitetail Splendor Deer Farms</font color=blue>
<font color=blue>Silver Creek, NY</font color=blue>