Chains: Front or Back

[OrangeAgain]

I have front and back chains for my 70HP tractor, but am thinking of only putting them on either the front or back. Which is better? Why?

 

[JJT]

This topic has been beaten to death very recently. Time to do a simple search.

 

[ruffdog]

Here is one thread:

Chains on front or rear tractor tires for pushing snow

 

[Smokeydog]

Just this weekend cut down some old tire chains for the front of the B26.

Pretty smooth on gravel.
Fronts are easy to put on.
Don’t get much snow here and when we do paralyzes the city. Freeze/thaw/freeze makes for a lot of ice. Sometimes have to scarify thru the ice to expose a little gravel. Tire chains do that on their own sometimes. Or wait a week and it will rain.

 

[rScotty]

I have front and back chains for my 70HP tractor, but am thinking of only putting them on either the front or back. Which is better? Why?

I don't know anything about your tractor other than it has 70 hp., but when I put a set of 15" chains on the front of our John Deere 530 they didn't seem to help much at all in the snow.

rScotty

 

[Jstpssng]

Look at the size of your front differential, then look at the size of that on the rear. Then ask yourself which will take more stress.
For the best traction of course, put them on all four wheels.

 

[oosik]

I had HD V-bar tractor chains for my Ford 1700. Front and rear. The Ford was 4WD. If I had to go with only one set - go with the rear. More weight - better traction.

 

[rScotty]

Not sure I'd want to chain all 4 wheels on a 4WD. Traction is awesome if you do, and I did it myself for years - but use caution when the traction gets too good. There is a real mechanical danger of breaking something in the drive train. Tractors need tire slippage in 4wd to protect the drive train. If it is hard to shift back OUT of 4wd then there is too much "windup" in the drive train. Windup means eventual breakage.

If the tires cannot slip - as in AWD cars - then to protect the drivetrand and maintain steering a center differential is required between front and rear axles.
No tractor I'm aware of has that center differential. Possible Fendt or some European models do...
rScotty

 

[Hoobie]

Not sure I'd want to chain all 4 wheels on a 4WD. Traction is awesome if you do, and I did it myself for years - but use caution when the traction gets too good. There is a real mechanical danger of breaking something in the drive train. Tractors need tire slippage in 4wd to protect the drive train. If it is hard to shift back OUT of 4wd then there is too much "windup" in the drive train. Windup means eventual breakage.

If the tires cannot slip - as in AWD cars - then to protect the drivetrand and maintain steering a center differential is required between front and rear axles.
No tractor I'm aware of has that center differential. Possible Fendt or some European models do...
rScotty

I agree with this statement. "Four wheel drive " tractors are really front wheel assist. And with the front lead design built into them they are always slipping a little on turf. Anything restricting this slippage will stress the front drive train, such as driving in fwd on pavement. Aggressive front chains can do the same.
When I was buying aggressive studded chains a number of years ago my dealer strongly advised against putting them on the front for this reason. They had seen a number of customers damage their tractors this way.
I manage just fine with just rears. Plowing snow, logging etc.
I know many have them both front and rear and have had no problem. But for me I am heeding the advice of the dealer .

 

[Rockbadchild]

Not sure I'd want to chain all 4 wheels on a 4WD. Traction is awesome if you do, and I did it myself for years - but use caution when the traction gets too good. There is a real mechanical danger of breaking something in the drive train. Tractors need tire slippage in 4wd to protect the drive train. If it is hard to shift back OUT of 4wd then there is too much "windup" in the drive train. Windup means eventual breakage.

If the tires cannot slip - as in AWD cars - then to protect the drivetrand and maintain steering a center differential is required between front and rear axles.
No tractor I'm aware of has that center differential. Possible Fendt or some European models do...
rScotty

I understand your point but to think chain on ice/gravel or even asphalt would get traction to the point of drive train failure is comical ... 4 wheel drive on bare asphalt that I can see but if you want to reduce traction on bare asphalt chain would accomplish that.

 

[Wolfy]

If you can only do one axle, the rear. I have a really steep driveway and we get blasted with super wet dense snow. My only 4wd tractor needs v bar chains front and rear to climb said driveway and apply small crushed stones with my Herd 3pt spreader. Rear chains and 4wd is often not enough. I also run chains all around on my yard plow truck.

 

[Yoseph]

Hi,
In my experience i always have tire chain on my multiple tractors, my John Deere lawn tractor equipped with adapted craftsman blower, and my International Harvester 275, and actually have a MF 1010 hydro 4 WD, noticed if you have more load on the front tire, you should have tire chain on the front, especially if you terrain is fully of slopes.
The rear tires chains are more effective on traction, the front are less on traction unless they are loaded.

 

[Helogabals]

I have an issue with CUT (Y 424) when pushing snow in floating (blade is on FEL). Sometimes snow is so heavy tractor's front tires start to lift. I have no traction problem at rear (with turf tires BTW) but basically tractor becomes un-steerable (IDK can I use such word). I can just point and shoot straight
I cant use very aggressive chains as all my operations are on asphalt / concrete
So I have got "snow socks". For front axle only
Cant say it miraculous solution for all your problems. But it improves a lot
Big Q is about how long they will last. That I will say you in April
And another big "+" is - they could be put on / off in seconds, without tools, anything. Just push up front and put them on, literally like socks

OK when snow is very wet, that doesn't help much as front tires are in the air completely. Bot it allows to extend use of floating for a good while

 

[Rockbadchild]

I have an issue with CUT (Y 424) when pushing snow in floating (blade is on FEL). Sometimes snow is so heavy tractor's front tires start to lift. I have no traction problem at rear (with turf tires BTW) but basically tractor becomes un-steerable (IDK can I use such word). I can just point and shoot straight
I cant use very aggressive chains as all my operations are on asphalt / concrete
So I have got "snow socks". For front axle only
Cant say it miraculous solution for all your problems. But it improves a lot
Big Q is about how long they will last. That I will say you in April
And another big "+" is - they could be put on / off in seconds, without tools, anything. Just push up front and put them on, literally like socks

OK when snow is very wet, that doesn't help much as front tires are in the air completely. Bot it allows to extend use of floating for a good while

View attachment 774665

I wouldn't use float then, obviously there is too much pressure on the FEL and it need to be lift up, unless you want to scrape the snow off then that's good but if you want to turn then you need to find that middle ground between blade ground contact and front wheel pressure / friction.

 

[LouNY]

I run studded Euro style chains, my 2wd of course only has them on the rear. The 4wd gets rear chains the entire winter
with the front ones getting mounted as needed. When I am anticipating possible heavy icing such as the storm forecast for this week
with wet snow, rain and mixed I'll mount the front chains to be more comfortable with the sander trailer trying to push the tractor
as I go down the steep slippery driveway with a few tons pushing me. I can drive up or down or stop anywhere with only rear chains
untill I put a heavy load behind me.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I run Euro style chains on the rear all winter and have rarely on occasion put v-bar on the front.
If you have separate brakes however you can assist steering when plowing by using one or the other when needed.