Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Cutting / Groving / Siping R-4 for snow

[PhysAssist]

That's an awesome video. That IS perfection. Cool post.

Hi Ken,

I have to agree, it is amazing!!

As you can see from the video, half the battle is being prepared with everything in the optimal place at the right time, with the right tools and adequate skill set to use them efficiently....

Which also explains why it sometimes takes me an hour or so to check and top up the air in one tire on my vehicle, although to be fair, after the first one, it prolly only takes me about 10-15 minutes for each of the rest of them.

Part of the reason I'm SO happy that we finally got our barn built after living without a covered work area for >20 years is that I no longer have to go down into our basement TNTC [too numerous to count] times per job to fetch tools and the like- now it's no more than about 3-4 for each new job before I have everything I need in the barn.

When we finally get the electrical wiring done, I'll be moving most of the work benches and tool chests/caddies/stands up to the barn, and just leaving a little handyman's kit in the house for easy retrieval.

The only things I plan on leaving in the basement are those items damaged by the cold- aerosol cans and hydrated solutions that can freeze.

Thomas

 

[kyles974]

If you can get away with just water fill in your area, you would be out about $9 for the fill adapter if you didn't like the ride, just let the water back out. Best of both world's, you can fill the tires for next to nothing, and let it out or refill as often as you wish. You don't even need a pump, just your water pressure will fill the tires, as long as you burp often to keep the pressure to reasonable levels.

Be sure to put a handy inline shutoff valve before the fill valve to make burping easier. Shut off water, burp tire with the burp button, and resume filling. Personally I couldn't tell any degradation of ride quality, but perhaps I was not sensitive to it.

You're exactly right. I think I will give it a try.
Thanks.
And special thanks for the tip on the shut off valve. This will be WELL WORTH me because I hate turning water on/off. (Next spicket I install will be 3-4ft high...lol)(my back thanks you...lol)

Ok.....now I be quiet and let thread get back on the topic.
Thanks

 

[Garandman]

I grooved my R4s a year ago. Pics on page 19 of this thread. There is a noticable improvement in traction in snow/ice and mud. I have not seen any chunking or tear out of tread. I have put 100 hours on my tractor since grooving the tires and have no regrets. Wiil not give you the traction of chains but is well worth the cost of the tool.

That's the dilemma for me: we have slopes on each end of the driveway and I'm not sure if I should groove the tires or just get chains and be done with it.

 

[Bradbilt]

FYI, NOTHING beats chains. Sipping will help, but it canNOT replace chains

 

[Garandman]

I posted a thread in the NE forum. Still have conflicting advice on whether front chains are advisable. They certainly seem so.

 

[KenB2920]

I would suggest chains. The reason I am siping is I don't want to damage asphalt. So I can't wait to try it out and see if it is an improvement.

I

 

[skyhook]

Still have conflicting advice on whether front chains are advisable. They certainly seem so.

You'll always have this, unfortunately,
if their pulling the tractor (fronts) and your not going fast down the road, just doing your own thing on your property, and you feel they'd help, I would not hesitate to put them on. IMO

 

[MikePA]

10 minutes: I completed all the outside lugs on the front two tires

View attachment 391559

You have to share your secret.

It looks like there are at least 16 outside lugs/tire?

32 lugs in 10 minutes = 18.75 seconds/lug.

 

[DarkBlack]

You have to share your secret.

It looks like there are at least 16 outside lugs/tire?

32 lugs in 10 minutes = 18.75 seconds/lug.

I've already been here. It starts at post #267

 

[KenB2920]

http://youtu.be/1s89E23V74s