I don't have enough tractor/traction, what now?

2ndhalf · Nov 28, 2015

Fallon said:
Well, my plans of finding a cheap blower this summer were derailed on Thanksgiving. On the way to a friends place I found a nice 61" sitting in a field with a for sale sign. The guy didn't want to fire up the tractor while it was this cold, but we agreed on $800, which is better than I've seen in the past year at least keeping an eye on Craigslist. Might have to put a few inches of wings on it or something if I do get the wheel spacers, but it was to good of a deal to turn down. Will be picking it up either today or this weekend. Currently 14f out so I'm not too motivated, as likely is the guy that is selling it.

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Sounds like a great buy for this time of year. I was going to suggest snow fence, I put one up every year to kill drifts... but that's not as much fun as a blower!

Fallon · Nov 28, 2015

Blower is now torn apart. Welded on plates to the side of the toplink & cit out the bar under the hole so my quick hitch top hook would fit. A little heat & a sledge hammer persuaded the outside of the clevis hitch for the lift pins to shrink 1/2" so my quick hitch will fit outside. Just need to fond some 3/8" x 2" bar stock to add another pair of ears outside the quick hitch.

Toplink to lift link height was fine, just needed it a fair bit wider to be quick hitch compliant. 1 evening into it so far & another to go. So not to bad for a fun little project.

The guy is a mechanic it sounds like. When I picked it up he was demoing the tractor it was attached to to somebody else. He also mentioned he had a 66" JD blower with hydro chute angle, but at $1500 it was over my budget.

RedNeckRacin · Nov 28, 2015

I plowed for many years with 2 link v bars chains on the FRONT AXLE ONLY. The l3400 is still running strong but I upgraded to a heated cab 2 years ago... never did end up doing chains and spacers on the rear but the r4 tires def need some help on the ice.

bigtiller · Nov 29, 2015

MFWA or Mechanical Front Wheel Assist. In my opinion, the key word in that acronym is assist. It isn't as strong as a true 4 wheel drive unit.

Some guys chain just the front and never have a problem but I'm not willing to take the risk.

ovrszd · Nov 29, 2015

bigtiller said:
MFWA or Mechanical Front Wheel Assist. In my opinion, the key word in that acronym is assist. It isn't as strong as a true 4 wheel drive unit.

Some guys chain just the front and never have a problem but I'm not willing to take the risk.

I agree. To each their own. No argument from me.

Ralph Copp · Dec 6, 2015

I agree, that lifting the blower slightly will make a big difference when going up a hill in deep snow. I do quite a few driveways within a 5 mile radius and several are steep and can be very icy. I run maxigrip studs front and back to help with the ice. Not as good as chains but better than nothing.

davesl708 · Dec 6, 2015

k0ua said:
You are probably right, but I have seen people that could tear up anvils....

They need to make those anvils better and stronger. I am tired of buying new ones.:laughing:

RedNeckRacin · Dec 6, 2015

davesl708 said:
They need to make those anvils better and stronger. I am tired of buying new ones.:laughing:

I feel like I am one of those ppl sometimes! If I don't get the double extra heavy spec, I'm going to break it in shortorder. ....

Fallon · Dec 15, 2015

My tirechain.com 2 link Vbars for the fronts came in & got mounted after my first attempt at plowing today. They increased my plowing capacity at least 30% & I can now turn while plowing with a decent pile infront. I'm now noticeably power limited. Used the blower a bit & it kicked *** (other than getting dusted bad when I had to blow into the wind), but mostly plowed. Very happy with this setup... Except for the fact I don't have a cab.

I know the chains will put a bit more strain on the front axle, but I don't think it's that bad or is likely to cause problems. While they do add a lot of traction I still have a lot less traction than trying to dig up a bucket full of dirt at a pile, which I'm betting puts a lot more load & stress on the front axle. Probably not pursuing wheel spacers for my rear tires at this point.

doxford jim · Dec 16, 2015

The added weight of the rear blower will make a difference on it's own. I am sure front chains will make a difference too.
I have a slope on my driveway and manage to clear it fine with just the snow blower on the back and FEL, but then I am using ag. tires (R1), which are ideal in the snow FWIW.
I have thought of buying chains (my old MF65 had them and filled rear tires) but haven't felt the real need as yet. Fortunately we don't get too much ice where I am but that could change at any time. One time I couldn't get up the drive with a 4x4 F250 with BFG all terrain tires - kept sliding sideways on the ice and had to "help" the truck with my old JD450 to tow it - about 15ft at a time until I got past the slope and back onto level ground.