Snow Blade Ready for Winter

[RoyJackson]

cspont, Although I have no personal experience with snow chains on your front tires with 4WD. I recall some of our forum member threads discouraging the use of chains on the front axle particulary while pushing heavy snow. Too, much stress on front drive. Some of our readers may have more to share on this item.

Although I've seen quite a few pics on TBN and vids on YouTube with chains on the front wheels only, I know Deere discourages this practice. That front wheel assist is just the...an assist. The rear wheels and axle is your primary driver.
So, if you're willing to take that risk (since warranty claims may be denied)...put the chains on the axle you prefer.
Me, I bought then for the rear tires...

 

[flyingcow]

I'm also in the camp of not putting chains on the front tires. Not a good idea. Put 'em on the rear and you'll have plenty of pushing power, and won't tear your front end apart. You may not even need to put it in 4WD very often, you'll be surprised how much you can push with chains on the back.

 

[cspot]

Although I've seen quite a few pics on TBN and vids on YouTube with chains on the front wheels only, I know Deere discourages this practice. That front wheel assist is just the...an assist. The rear wheels and axle is your primary driver.
So, if you're willing to take that risk (since warranty claims may be denied)...put the chains on the axle you prefer.
Me, I bought then for the rear tires...

The dealer when I bought the tractor told me that I only need to chain the front, so that is why I bought them. Maybe something with the Deere system causes problems that other brands don't have. I don't see how it would hurt the front end except maybe if you ran it alot on dry pavement and was making sharp turns. Does anybody know what it does to the front end that it wouldn't do to the rear end with chains?

 

[RoyJackson]

The dealer when I bought the tractor told me that I only need to chain the front, so that is why I bought them. Maybe something with the Deere system causes problems that other brands don't have. I don't see how it would hurt the front end except maybe if you ran it alot on dry pavement and was making sharp turns. Does anybody know what it does to the front end that it wouldn't do to the rear end with chains?

The gears that drive the front axles aren't as robust as those in the rear final drive. With most (or all) Deere CUTS (and most other brand CUTS, I would opine), front wheel drive is strictly an assist...not a full time function. They aren't built for continuous operation.
Most folks probably wouldn't ever see a problem due to the relatively low hours used annually.
Is Deere covering their butt? Probably, however, their logic does make sense.

Of course, there are a lot of TBN members who have used front chains only for years with no problems, so take that in account and use some common sense when pushing snow.

 

[cspot]

The gears that drive the front axles aren't as robust as those in the rear final drive. With most (or all) Deere CUTS (and most other brand CUTS, I would opine), front wheel drive is strictly an assist...not a full time function. They aren't built for continuous operation.
Most folks probably wouldn't ever see a problem due to the relatively low hours used annually.
Is Deere covering their butt? Probably, however, their logic does make sense.

Of course, there are a lot of TBN members who have used front chains only for years with no problems, so take that in account and use some common sense when pushing snow.

I gave it some thought and this could be a reason why. When in 4WD all the tires have to turn at the same road speed. The front ones have more RPM than the back ones to stay at the same road speed since they are smaller. The transmission is made to do this based on the tire size. When you have chains on the front you increase the diamter of the tire and therefore it is turning faster than it was before. This could cause strain on the transmission especially if running on paved roads. It would probably not hurt when running on the ground or snow. It is similar to why they tell you to have matched tires on a vehicle. I agree with the couple of hours I spend a year pushing snow it probably wouldn't hurt anything especially since I don't run hardly at all on the bare paved road.

 

[RoyJackson]

After the back to back blizzards we had this year (Nor'Easter), I decided to go for chains. I just decided the best way to go was the rear tires. Just didn't want to chance screwing up the front axle. Reckon I'll have less need for 4 wheel assist too.
I will say one thing about chains for the rears..these suckers are heavy!!!!

BTW, if you think you want chains (front or rear..or both), get 'em now. They won't be available if you wait until it snows.
As far as prices, got mine from tirechains.com. Tire size is 41-14-20's (turfs). Price for the chains, binders and shipping came to a little over $200.00 (shipping was $32.00 UPS Ground).

 

[cspot]

After the back to back blizzards we had this year (Nor'Easter), I decided to go for chains. I just decided the best way to go was the rear tires. Just didn't want to chance screwing up the front axle. Reckon I'll have less need for 4 wheel assist too.
I will say one thing about chains for the rears..these suckers are heavy!!!!

BTW, if you think you want chains (front or rear..or both), get 'em now. They won't be available if you wait until it snows.
As far as prices, got mine from tirechains.com. Tire size is 41-14-20's (turfs). Price for the chains, binders and shipping came to a little over $200.00 (shipping was $32.00 UPS Ground).

Yes I bought the front chains when I bought the tractor. My plan was to see how they do this winter and if I need the rears then I will buy them before next year. I don't think with 4WD and chains on the front that I will need the ones in the rear. I know what you mean by the weight the front ones on mine (9.5-20) are pretty heavy themselves. The ones for the back (16.9 - 29) wouldn't be fun at all to put on.

 

[flyingcow]

By the way, I live in northern Maine. Many a places get more snow than me, but we usually average 8 maybe 10ft a yr of snowfall. Not on the ground, but total measurable snowfall. I've had quite a few 2-WD tractors. Old iron, big blowers. Never have had chains. I have a 650ft driveway. Up a moderate hill. Now I have a 4WD that had chains(on rears) on it when I bought it. Took 'em off, never looked back.

In the old days...had a couple of old 3/4ton pickups that i plowed the driveway with. Put chains on the front, did not have problems in the 1st yr or 2. But always had u-joint/ front axle problems eventually. Plowed snow all my life. No matter how you figure it, you will cause undue stress on the front housing of any vehicle. It does not just drive, it steers.

Good Luck

 

[cspot]

By the way, I live in northern Maine. Many a places get more snow than me, but we usually average 8 maybe 10ft a yr of snowfall. Not on the ground, but total measurable snowfall. I've had quite a few 2-WD tractors. Old iron, big blowers. Never have had chains. I have a 650ft driveway. Up a moderate hill. Now I have a 4WD that had chains(on rears) on it when I bought it. Took 'em off, never looked back.

In the old days...had a couple of old 3/4ton pickups that i plowed the driveway with. Put chains on the front, did not have problems in the 1st yr or 2. But always had u-joint/ front axle problems eventually. Plowed snow all my life. No matter how you figure it, you will cause undue stress on the front housing of any vehicle. It does not just drive, it steers.

Good Luck

My driveway is on a pretty good grade and chains were a necessity when I had a 2WD tractor. Without them I couldn't get around good at all especially when you get a hard pack of ice on the driveway. I don't know how 4WD will be without chains. I will find out this winter.

 

[Ford850]

My driveway is on a pretty good grade and chains were a necessity when I had a 2WD tractor. Without them I couldn't get around good at all especially when you get a hard pack of ice on the driveway. I don't know how 4WD will be without chains. I will find out this winter.

I plow my 1000' drive with a similar set up. I do use a 1000lb rear ballast , and I have ag tires too. Most of the drive is gravel and I have zero issues with traction even with ice. The paved portion does give me some traction issues with ice, but very rarely. I wouldn't want chains on the paved area though.
I used to plow with a 2wd with filled tires but no chains. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of traction you'll have with that plow hanging on there.