Snow Snow Plow and Chains question

[estamas142]

I have a JD 4410 4 WD and I am thinking of putting chains on my FRONT wheels for plowing hilly driveway. Since I have oversize r-4's on rear it would be difficult and more expensive to do rears. Does anyone have any input whether this would be OK?

 

[jimgerken]

Can't really answer your question, but, here's what I did. I was trying to chain up all fours on a 4100. There was not enough clearance between the turf fronts and the steering mechanism to apply chains. So I settled for the rears only. But it was tight clearance in the rear also, so I called my local TSC store and they ordered truck tire chains for me. They are nice compact links, not overly heavy. But still do a great job. I had to cut them down to size a little, but it was easy. If you try to do this, have both the metric and english size numbers with you, they will have better luck finding compatible chains. Peerless Chain manufactures many truck and tractor chains and TSC can order them. Good luck!

 

[Steven]

what do you meen by oversize? if this is in diameter you may have problems. when 4wd is engaged on tractors with 4wd tires are matched in the gearing and this could cause the front tires to want to spin faster than the back. this can put stain on the 4wd system and cause something to break.

 

[BayView]

Why? I've used my 855 with turf tires and a plow on the loader arms for years. I've never put on chains and so far, have had no problems. The key is to plow prudently and if it's really deep, take small bites.I even rescued a Kubota with a snow blower stuck on a neighbors steep driveway. Have fun.
David

 

[beenthere]

I was thinking that oversize on the rear (and not matched on the front) would cause the fronts to slide a bit rather than try to spin faster. Maybe the fronts are matched to the rears, and both are oversized respectively though.
If matched tires, the outside (circumference) tire speed would be the same. If the oversize was only on the rear, the outside (circumference) speed of the rears would be faster than the front outside (circumference) speed. Or am I confused?

 

[Steve_in_Ont]

I plow in FWD with a TC21D, with no chains. Perhaps if you get into some really nasty hills, it could help though. I would not bother with chaining the front (and I really don't think that in the limited traction of snow and ice that you need to worry about a slight change in rolling circumference). Also, if your drive is paved, be prepared for the chains to perhaps do a bit of damage to the surface.

 

[Thomas]

Rear chains on turf tires and little ballast never had problem pushing the snow around w/B7100,even on a slope driveway.

 

[MikePA]

I used to get a number of four wheel drive magazines (in my younger days) and the thing I recall reading is that the effective gear ratios in both the front and rear axles have to be the same or you can do nasty things to the driveline. In other words, if the tires are the same size (circumference) all around, then the ratios in both pumpkins have to be the same. If the tire sizes are different between the two axles, then the gear ratios have to be different in the pumpkins.

Perhaps it's not as big a deal with slow speed tractors as long as the tires can slip. However, add chains and substantially increase traction, then somethings gotta give. I figure that the manufacturer has already determined what the axle ratios have to be given the tires they recommend. Given that the dealer can switch you from turf, to R4 to R1 all the tires must have approximately the same rolling circumference.

In other words, I would not deviate from the manufacturs recommendation regarding tires or chains. But that's just me. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif