First disappointment

Signa · Feb 26, 2010

So I've had my B3200 now for almost a year and up until now there is absolutely nothing more I could ask for. I got it to help site-prep for the house we're building - it's moved logs, dug stumps, filled holes, moved wild dogwoods my wife wanted to save. It's been no problem at all in mud.

Yesterday I went out to play in the snow - I didn't really need to do anything since we're not built yet. I found that the loaded R4 rears had plenty of traction/weight. But I didn't have any lateral stability with the R4 fronts. When I would go forward on the slightest sideways incline, the tractor would just push downhill. 4WD engaged, no turn of the steering wheel could get it to turn uphill. I thought it was from having the bucket down pushing snow (float position), but even with it up, I was sliding.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't really want Ag tires b/c of expense and their over-agressiveness the rest of the year. Can I put chains on just the front tires? I still have the BH on - I'm sure it's helping with the rear traction, but wondering if it's helping take weight off the fronts?

TripleR · Feb 26, 2010

There is a thread discussing this on one of these forums with information regarding use on the front; sorry I don't remember the consensus, but some use them only on the front.

polo1665 · Feb 26, 2010

Signa said:
So I've had my B3200 now for almost a year and up until now there is absolutely nothing more I could ask for. I got it to help site-prep for the house we're building - it's moved logs, dug stumps, filled holes, moved wild dogwoods my wife wanted to save. It's been no problem at all in mud.

Yesterday I went out to play in the snow - I didn't really need to do anything since we're not built yet. I found that the loaded R4 rears had plenty of traction/weight. But I didn't have any lateral stability with the R4 fronts. When I would go forward on the slightest sideways incline, the tractor would just push downhill. 4WD engaged, no turn of the steering wheel could get it to turn uphill. I thought it was from having the bucket down pushing snow (float position), but even with it up, I was sliding.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't really want Ag tires b/c of expense and their over-agressiveness the rest of the year. Can I put chains on just the front tires? I still have the BH on - I'm sure it's helping with the rear traction, but wondering if it's helping take weight off the fronts?

Your Backhoe is almost certainly affecting the traction of your front tires. The first time I took the backhoe off of my tractor the front tires almost went flat

They were under pressure and I never realized it with the weight of the backhoe on the back. If you want to leave the backhoe on you will probably need to add weight to the front of your tractor.

LBrown59 · Feb 26, 2010

Signa said:
Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't really want Ag tires b/c of expense and their over-agressiveness the rest of the year. Can I put chains on just the front tires?
I still have the BH on - I'm sure it's helping with the rear traction, but wondering if it's helping take weight off the fronts .

polo1665 said:
Your Backhoe is almost certainly affecting the traction of your front tires. The first time I took the backhoe off of my tractor the front tires almost went flat They were under pressure and I never realized it with the weight of the backhoe on the back. If you want to leave the backhoe on you will probably need to add weight to the front of your tractor.

Need more weight on the front .

RoyJackson · Feb 26, 2010

I had the same problem...for me, it was time to learn to use the steering brakes.
I've made the decision to get tirechains for the rears but not the fronts. Chains on the fronts may be OK with some machines, but as robust as the 790 is, I don't think I want to put that much stress on the front axle.
As far as the OP's question...I suggest the BH may be more ballast then required for the snow plowing (which echoes others' posts).

JDGreenGrass · Feb 26, 2010

I too would guess that the BH is too much ballast on the rear.

I have lateral steering troubles from time to time when pushing snow with my bucket. I have AG tires on my JD770. That is with roughly 600lbs. of ballast off the rear.

How much does your Back Hoe weigh.??

polo1665 · Feb 26, 2010

Ditto on the steering brakes. I had forgot to mention that. I use mine constantly while moving snow. I'd ask if the B3200 was HST, and if it had the brakes on the same side as the HST pedals, but I don't want to open that can of worms again:laughing:

Mark

Gittyup · Feb 26, 2010

My tractor has way less front wheel traction with the bh on.

DK35vince · Feb 26, 2010

I tryed plowing snow with my backhoe on once. Couldn't steer. The front end would not go where I wanted it to.
It will steer much better with the backhoe off.