Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Chains for Snow

[smfcpacfp]

If you are going to consider blowing, then you are unlikely to need chains. I helped out a friend of mine who had a 20% grade and when I started the job, I found that I couldn't blow up the hill,the tractor would just slide sideways. You can see my rig below. I thought, "oh s%$# what am I going to do" since I promised his wife I would do it, and I always honor my promises. Well I just drove the tractor up the hill with the blower up and was able to snowblow downhill with no difficulties

You said you gave up snowblowing because you were using a "walk behind". A front blower with some kind of protection from the elements will convert a chore into a pleasureable task. I love to snowblow. It costs a little more to have the front blower, but it is worth it.

 

[tatra805]

Another thing to consider regarding chains on the front is the fact that in many cases the front wheels have a higher ground speed than the back ones in 4x4 on tractors. (try it out on dry pavement in a straight line and you will see the markings of the front wheels)

Now, this is done to aid steering. Otherwise your front wheels risk being pushed forward by the back wheel traction in slippery conditions. (and one of the reasons on hard pavement it is a bad thing to leave your 4x4 engaged)

Just picture it as the front axle pulling the rest of the tractor in the direction the front wheels aim while the back axle is there for straight forward traction.

Another benefit of this is that with a blocked rear differential you still have steering possibilities whereas in the other case your back traction would just push you forward with no steering as eg with 4x4 vehicles equiped with a locker in the back.

Now, this all put extra stress on the drivetrain etc etc BUT chains will not break things. AG tires in soft ground have much more bite than a chain on ice or snow.

Btw, alldrive systems as audi quatro etc al require chains in the front prior to putting them on the back wheels just and only to increase safety by adding steering traction and abs functionality in curves.

just my 2 cents

 

[Johndeere3720]

This winter, I plan to use my Yanmar 169D and rear blade to move snow. I know I will need chains but im not sure weather to get them on the front of the back tires. The rear tires are loaded with calcium.

 

[Charles Billings]

Smfcpacfp, I agree with you that a snow blower reduces the need for chains, because you are not relying on traction to push the snow. New snow generally provides pretty good traction when all the tractor needs to do is move the snowblower, not push the snow. However, my experience has been that once auto traffic packs the snow, and it goes through a few freeze-thaw cyles, that it becomes more like ice. Then, new snow on this ice pack becomes very slippery. That is when I want/need some help with chains, even with my snow blower. If you can sand the ice pack, then I would agree that you wouldn't really need chains. In fact I do call in the local guy to sand when things get too bad, but the chains let me handle most situations. P.S. Like your cab--it must make snow enjoyable compared with my open-to-the-weather situation.

 

[Gil Case]

For those skeptics out there, this came up on the first page if you search for 3pt snowblowers.

Snowblower, 3 Pt. - $1200 (Frankfort) - Frankfort 49635
Frankfort 49635
snowblower, 2 stage, 3 pt., hydraulic shute controll location: frankfort it's not ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
craigslist - 2009/10/24

Ebay

3 POINT SNOWBLOWER
HEAVY DUTY PTO DRIVEN SNOWBLOWER
Location: Minnesota

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$665.00

 

[smfcpacfp]

Smfcpacfp, I agree with you that a snow blower reduces the need for chains, because you are not relying on traction to push the snow. New snow generally provides pretty good traction when all the tractor needs to do is move the snowblower, not push the snow. However, my experience has been that once auto traffic packs the snow, and it goes through a few freeze-thaw cyles, that it becomes more like ice. Then, new snow on this ice pack becomes very slippery. That is when I want/need some help with chains, even with my snow blower. If you can sand the ice pack, then I would agree that you wouldn't really need chains. In fact I do call in the local guy to sand when things get too bad, but the chains let me handle most situations. P.S. Like your cab--it must make snow enjoyable compared with my open-to-the-weather situation.

We don't get many freeze / thaw cycles, and most of our snowfalls occur in very cold weather. However I have blown snow on an icy base and had no problems, but my driveway is very flat and the new snow digs in a bit to create adequate grip. I definitely do understand that in some situatuations that chains are needed.

If you look at my old Kimpex blower mounted on my ATV, I did need chains. My rear tires are filled on my Kubota, so I have some additional weight here.

 

[mike194]

for like $100 bucks i would just buy some chains and try them out. alot of times when i used and angled rear blade the snow would pull my rear end over and sometimes off the road. 4 link chains can be a little rough riding but they are the cheapest. Tirechains.com is a pretty good deal.

 

[csquared63]

This is a great thread. I'm very curious to see how my recently acquired JD 790 (R4s no chains) does with the 60" front blade on snow. I have a rear ballast box which I'll use at about 500 lbs., but what about front weights? The blade weighs about 400 lbs. My tires are not filled. Our driveway has a slight slope, but nothing too great.

Both my neighbors have turf tires (no chains) on their NH's and use the FELs on similarly-sloped driveways, but I've heard from several 'tractor' people that a plow blade beats a FEL every time for efficient snow removal.

 

[LBrown59]

1*Sounds like having a blade and a bucket is a good set-up. I'm going to go with that for this year.

2*Does the blade need to come off the tractor to change from push to pull, or does it swivel 360 degrees on the tractor.??

1*

2*Not with this arrangement .
I don't need chains for this either.

 

[HardlyWarcane]

Question: If your going to but a blade on the 3-pt hitch what are you going to do about weight? Your wood box is gone!
I got an old 45 gal drum ,built a 3-pt mount.
I then walked into a cement plant with two boxes of dounuts and asked how much to fill the drum with cement, the guy sitting at the scale controls said drop the drum over there and the dounuts in the lunch room over there and come back tomorrow with a way of moving about 800lbs -if you'd like that drum full.
Know not every one knows how to weld or has a welder handy, but after telling my story. I've done the welding for two other guys that came to me with some bit's of steel and an empty drum and now I'm up two boxes of dounut's ... get the picture!
I have balast in my rear tires and Kal tire (Canada) has a new prosses of pressure injecting a rubber compound into your front tires that stays plyable and with the right amount of psi ,so that the tires work like normall but weight is about 100 plus per tire ... I'll never get another flat!
With all that weight front and rear and my 4 in 1 bucket with it's leveling rod (witch is so easy to make also)I've never dug into my gravel drive yet!
Know - I got luck and found a cheap 59" front mount JD blower that if I can make it work on the front I'll change over ,but other wise.
Sorry ...this is way to long a message!