Front chains only on 4WD?

[woolyAcres]

What do folks think about chains ONLY on the front of a 4WD Yanmar (YM240D)?

I've got a set of chains that will fit the front ag tires on my tractor and they could be useful for snow removal but I wanted to see what folks thought. I don't have chains large enough for the rears so this would be front only. I plan to use my back blade and FEL for snow removal this winter and my experience (last year) is that after the snow packs down and gets slick, ag tires aren't much use.

My drive is gravel, road is gravel. I don't see any way these would end up on pavement, in case that's important. I know, from previous discussions about the tires on these, that the front and rears don't rotate at the same rate.

 

[CurlyDave]

I ran front wheel only chains on my backhoe for 2 or 3 years and they worked fine.

OTOH, I was always worried that if I needed the chains for traction, there was a chance the machine would spin around going downhill if the rear wheels lost traction and the fronts did not. There were a couple of places on my drive where doing that would have led to a fatal accident off a cliff, so I bought a set of chains for the rears, and a set of spacers about 2 years ago. It was expensive, but I thought my life was worth it...

 

[normde2001]

What do folks think about chains ONLY on the front of a 4WD Yanmar (YM240D)?

I've got a set of chains that will fit the front ag tires on my tractor and they could be useful for snow removal but I wanted to see what folks thought. I don't have chains large enough for the rears so this would be front only. I plan to use my back blade and FEL for snow removal this winter and my experience (last year) is that after the snow packs down and gets slick, ag tires aren't much use.

My drive is gravel, road is gravel. I don't see any way these would end up on pavement, in case that's important. I know, from previous discussions about the tires on these, that the front and rears don't rotate at the same rate.

Your front wheel drive is very lightly constructed compared to the rear. Anything you do to increase traction is going to assist in it's demise, much like driving on hard surfaces.

 

[California]

Agree with Norm.

These were designed primarily as rice paddy tractors to spend a lifetime in sloppy mud. I doubt the front wheel drive option was built for heavy pulling from the front axle alone, or the sudden shock load when it grabs some traction.

Yanmar builds everything near indestructible - but I wouldn't want to learn the limit of what that 35 year old 4x4 front axle can take. That sounds expensive.

 

[woolyAcres]

Thanks for the input. It doesn't sound like it's worth the risk. Besides, we had a few flurries several weeks ago and haven't seen a flake since. Maybe we'll get through this winter without much snow. :cool2:

 

[prs]

Well, let me knock on wood, but my 1982 JD 650 wears front only chains on its turf tires, I have chains for the big/fat Pillow Dia rears, but I rarely use them as that necessitates removing the fenders. The front chains work very well in snow and also when coming down these WV slopes. I have broken a rear final drive pinion gear, but the front has been trouble free.

prs

 

[woolyAcres]

@prs- I'm glad to hear you haven't had any trouble. Ironic that the rears have given you trouble. I'll keep it in mind in case this winter gets particularly icy or slippery. I feel like infrequent use at a slow speed would be acceptable.