Chains Front tire chains

[deerechas]

I have a TC35D with R-4 tires and SS . Has anyone put a set of chains on these tires on this model? Did you have any problems with them? Thanks

 

[JerryG]

You will get the full spectrum of answers to this question. Just let me say a few things. The front drive system is weaker than the rear. The front drive runs at a faster speed than the rear. Because of these things the front runs in a constant slip situation. It someone creates a situation to where the front has as much or more traction or you could say less slip than it was designed to have, you will then create a situation where the front is in constant strain. When this is done, the front components will wear at an accelerated rate or they will break.

 

[DocHeb]

There have been proponents of "Rear-Only" and "Front & Rear" chains in past discussions. The general consensus has been that front chains add extra stress to the front wheels/axle and may not be good for the tractor. It also may increase the chance of Front Axle/Rear Axle binding in 4WD unless you are in very slippery conditions. Your SuperSteer may even exacerbate that stress.

That's not to say that the "Front & Rear" group is wrong, and that setup may work for you as your mileage may certainly vary.



Edit: Like Jerry said /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[hazmat]

Well I'll third what Doc & Jerry said. Is it an official "bandwagon" yet? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I know that the rear doesn't have a lot of clearance with the R4 tires. Here's a shot of Dad's TC40 close up. I think chains would fit, but if they ever got loose, they'd tear up the fender /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.

a SWAG on my part, but I'm going to guess that the class III boomers have enough weight behind them to plow without chains, unless your driveway is real steep, or you're in an ice prone area...

 

[thcri]

I have a concrete driveway with a pretty steep slope. I plow even up hill with with no problems. I am sure with super-steer that my tractor does go in 4 wheel from time to time. I do have to lock the rear differential when it is glare ice. That is the only time I wish I had chains.

murph

 

[tc35dforme]

I may regret this....I have a TC35D and I run front only chains....now before you attack, wait for the explaination.

The Class III Boomers are indeed capable of great traction due to their weight and such, but I find I need a bit on grip up front to aid in steering and slide control. That said, I only run the chains when needed, and only on my gravel drive and in the fields crossing to the drive from the 'garage'.

I feel that if you use some common sense, and don't try to bully the snow, the chains won't do any damage. As stated, I use the chains more for steering control and don't use them as a traction aid to push huge piles or climb ice walls. I had found that when pushing with the plow angled a bit, especially on hardpack or ice, the tractor wanted to crab sideways. The chains definitely help here.

In addition. when coming out of storage 'garage', the chains sure help crossing the field, hardpack, and drifts.

I probably run less than 20 hours in the winter with chains...all slow and careful operation. No problems yet.

 

[chickenfarmer]

Right... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[kozak]

A mechanic once told me that slip is the whole premise behind 4 wheel drive. Without it you will start binding the front axle differential creating premature wear. Obviously you will be greatly reducing slip between front & rear with front tire chains. (assuming rear chains as well)

 

[AndyMA]

I agree with Jerry. While in my 45+ years tractor use in snowy and icy New England I have never run chains, when I considered them I never considered front chains. My dealer for whom I have great respect said never to run front chains due to the stress on the front drive line. Good enought for me.

Andy

 

[chickenfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( assuming rear chains as well )</font>

If you run them on the front you don't need them on the back.

 

[tc35dforme]

Jerry, where are you thinking the slip is occuring ??? The driveshaft and differential should'nt slip ( mechanical connection )....correct. The transmission should also be without slippage ?? Are you referring to the slip between the rubber and the ground ??

I'm not trying to argue...just learn.

 

[hazmat]

<font color="blue">Are you referring to the slip between the rubber and the ground </font>

Yup.

 

[tc35dforme]

Haz....If so then so....

Would it then be logical for me to say that when in '4WD' with front chains mounted, there will be no slip between the tires/chains and the ground....traction = 100 % or near to it.

I'm not buying that. I would argue that in most cases, the grip with chains on is less than without. I would say that the traction profile is more dynamic. The grab would continuously shift from one link .... slip, shift to another chain link...slip. Each grab would surely dig in, but as the wheel turns, that link looses grip. There has to be points along the way where there is no grab for a the chain...hence slippage.

I just don't see where the tire chain is giving so much traction that its going to affect the driveline.

Now the argument should focus not on this 'slip', but on the affect that the tire chains have on the overall diameter of the tire. This change in diameter will, if great enough, affect the distance the tire will roll in one revolution. Since the front and rear tires are of different diameters, a gear ratio has been built into the gearboxes to allow the two axles to cover the same distance even though the front wheel is spinning faster than the rear. On the TC35D its between 1.63 and 1.69:1 meaning that the front axle will turn 1.65 times for each rotation of the rear. If the chain causes the front tire to grow, therby making it try to cover more distance than the axle, we have a problem.

 

[rambler]

Actually, 'slip' is the issue. The front tires need to be a tiny bit larger, 2% or so, to prevent binding. With the tire flexing around the chain, it won't make much difference to have the chain on.

You say chains do not increase traction, there might be more slip with chains than without??????

Think about that - why do people put chains on? To _increase_ traction........ Your agrument doesn't hold.....

Probably not so important on little tractors, but on the big ag tires, you get 1 flat & you need to change all 4.

Actually chains on the rear slightly increases the chance of binding, but chains on the front greatly increases the front axle driveline wear. Chains on all 4 will give you problems over the long term.

We can look at little pieces & micro-manage this issue. The bottom line, for the whole tractor, is that chains on the rear are best for the tractor, chains on the front only will add wear to the front (expensive) driveline, and chains on all 4 wheels will greatly increase that wear on the driveline.

Any chains will increase wear tho, and there are times that we do what we do to make the tool work for us. Nothing wrong with rear _or_ front chains. If we didn't want to wear the tractor, we would need to leave it parked after all! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif But I would think long & hard before putting chains on all 4....

--->Paul

 

[Woodan]

Here's my two cents...for what that's worth...

As far as tire chains go, I don't see any issue. The reason you put chains on it to get better traction. The reason you need better traction is because of ice or snow. No one in their right mind would run chains, front or rear, on pavement year round. You wouldn't run 4wd on pavement! When the snow/ice goes away so should the chains.

Damaging binding effects will not happen when running on ice or snow. The slippery surface is forgiving. If it does then the manu hasn't built the component strong enough.

My R4's are absolutely terrible on snow and ice here in PA(tc33). Any slight grade with the back blade down or even the snow blower down and I can't get out of my own way. I've even got stuck in the road(crossways) turning around. I had to use the fel to get myself moving. Even with the fel down scraping the slush and ice off the driveway will cause the tracter to go towards the ditch, because of the slight crown in the driveway and the lack of traction on the front end.

I've had rear chains and absolutely hated them. I got so jarred left to right that I took them off and haven't had them on since. They're for sale if anyone is interested!!!

My tn65 with ag tires has no problems....so far.

I love the forum. A lot of good info. Keep it up.