Chains L2501 Chains without spacer? R4's

[YukonKing]

Hey All,

Anybody run chains on a L2501 with R4's and no spacers?

 

[old and tired]

Not unless something has changed... serious Kubota, this has been a problem since the L2800 in 2004. Are you going to change anything???

 

[JWR]

Not unless something has changed... serious Kubota, this has been a problem since the L2800 in 2004. Are you going to change anything???

It was a problem long before 2004. The B2150 which came out in 1988 lacked room under the rear fenders for chains (well, reasonable room unless you wanted to tear things up.) I would bet there are other Kubota models before that with the same problem. And essentially none of them had any way to widen the rear tread other than spacers.

 

[YukonKing]

I'm waiting on my chains. Planning on spacers. Depending on how they fit and how far over the shoulder of the tread they come down. I'm just disappointed how expensive they are, after a fit-up I will decide if I can make them. If I can get away with 1" I will make them, but more than that I will order. Don't really feel like having to machine and play with 2" material.

 

[JWR]

I have told several owners that I bought chains for the front only of my B2150 that I use for snow removal in the mountains. With AG tires on it I have not yet needed to put on chains but COULD if needed. My application is much different & less demanding than yours in the Yukon ! Front-only is cheap and much easier than rear tires and of course NOT as effective but probably would keep users from getting hung in a good % of cases. [There is a chorus claiming horrors of using chains on the front, claiming front axel stress, etc, etc. Bunk as far as I am concerned.] With R4 tires you are definitely going to need chains I think with the high amounts of snowfall, very low temps, and long season that you deal with. About spacers: I bought Bora brand 6" for each side. That is for stability on steep ground on another B2150, not for chains. They are made from a solid machined billet of aluminum & come with good instructions and bolts. Neat and really well figured out in small details. I recommend them highly. There are several manufacturers and various sizes ranging from 1" up to 6."

 

[YukonKing]

I do have chains I can put on the front as well. My hope was to run the rear H pattern V-bar and be able to run in 2wheel drive more often. Using the front only as steer tires or when I so get stuck. I will have my rear chains soon. Likely will have to add spacers but this will create a delay for sure. Regardless fronts can go on now. But like you said they can add stress. But is it enough to cause a failure...doubt it.

I have popped the front axles on my old Jinma 254....but that was with a loader bucket lifting and pulling backwards with the rears almost off the ground. I would like to think that the Kubota would handle front chains in the winter. I will update with photos if it works.

Currently -25 Celsius here.

 

[Fallon]

Same as the previous economy Ls (L3200, L3800, etc) with R4s... rear chains won't fit without spacers. 1" is not enough clearance as chains move around a tiny bit (or more likely a fair bit).

I just ran chains on my former L3200 & current L4060hstc only on the front. Not ideal, but plenty of clearance, lighter, easier to install, etc. If you are running chains, your front has less traction than without chains on non-slick ground anyway. So it's not worse for the front drivetrain.