SNOW

[Oleozz]

Victor---Sorry to hear that you had some snow , must have been lake effect In the part of Pa where I live we have just had a few flurries so far and would suit me fine if it stayed that way all winter. Glad your 30 is doing the job, I debated about getting the R4's but do some field work in the spring and thought maybe I needed the extra traction.

 

[LarryRB]

Hard on the drive train not recommended.
Been several post about this.

Well, maybe so, however,, for the last hundred years or so, here in New England all municipalities and contractors have always used chains on the front tires only. I worked the local highway dpt myself, and never once can remember chains on the rears of any loader or backhoe tractor.... Even those few good years, some years back now, that the "bull" blade was mounted on our grader, it was chains on the front only... You have tremendous pulling power with chained front tires. I have never known or heard of chained fronts to cause a single problem for any contractor or municipality yet...

 

[Thomas]

Morning LarryRB.
One town over from us there highway department run chains on ther Cat 9?? loader,the loader has 45 degree plow w/wing and used for plowing snow on dirt roads also steep grade roads...man ole man its something to watch that Cat loader wing back those snow banks.

 

[Oleozz]

So what is the truth about running chains on the front tires of 4wd tractors? I went back and reread about 100 posts on chain use and some people are adament about not using them and others put them on and say they have no problems.

 

[LBrown59]

So what is the truth about running chains on the front tires of 4wd tractors? I went back and reread about 100 posts on chain use and some people are adament about not using them and others put them on and say they have no problems.

I'm inclined to lean toward the Nay Sayers.

 

[LarryRB]

I'm inclined to lean toward the Nay Sayers.

Well
pretty hard to argue with many, many years of municipalities that use chains on fronts only and no one has had problems. I've run probably three thousand hours, over a thirty year period on JD 710 TLB's, and these are about the largest loader backhoes one can get on rubber tires. All were four wheel drive, all ran St. Pierre roller chains on front. Never had a problem. Never ruined a tire or axle part.,.. Hundreds and hundreds of New England towns and many in upper New York state have been doing this since four wheel tractors have been around,, I have yet to hear of a problem. Of course there can be one somewhere and I or others are not aware of it.. Now, I have a Kubota L48 TLB with R4's. I have no need for chains even though my driveway is sloped upwards and 1600 ft long. IF I ever had to obtain chains,, they would be for the front tires only.

 

[williekioti]

Well
pretty hard to argue with many, many years of municipalities that use chains on fronts only and no one has had problems. I've run probably three thousand hours, over a thirty year period on JD 710 TLB's, and these are about the largest loader backhoes one can get on rubber tires. All were four wheel drive, all ran St. Pierre roller chains on front. Never had a problem. Never ruined a tire or axle part.,.. Hundreds and hundreds of New England towns and many in upper New York state have been doing this since four wheel tractors have been around,, I have yet to hear of a problem. Of course there can be one somewhere and I or others are not aware of it.. Now, I have a Kubota L48 TLB with R4's. I have no need for chains even though my driveway is sloped upwards and 1600 ft long. IF I ever had to obtain chains,, they would be for the front tires only.

I was considering chains, but didn't want to be restricted to them on all the time. Fronts would be easier to change out. Now that you mention it, alot of the municipalities do run front chains on their loaders and graders in the winter around here as well. I'll check with my dealer for availability/compatability. I usually deferr to experience over the spoken opinions, thanks.

 

[LBrown59]

Are we talking about 2 or 4 wheel drive here?

 

[LBrown59]

I was considering chains, but didn't want to be restricted to them on all the time. Fronts would be easier to change out. Now that you mention it, alot of the municipalities do run front chains on their loaders and graders in the winter around here as well. I'll check with my dealer for availability/compatability. I usually deferr to experience over the spoken opinions, thanks.

Chains on the front might be ok but not on tractors with 4 wheel drive.

 

[LarryRB]

I was considering chains, but didn't want to be restricted to them on all the time. Fronts would be easier to change out. Now that you mention it, alot of the municipalities do run front chains on their loaders and graders in the winter around here as well. I'll check with my dealer for availability/compatability. I usually deferr to experience over the spoken opinions, thanks.

every tractor I've seen was four wheel drive or four wheel assist. In either case we always used "roller" chains. Simply put, the chains roll with the tire, this is why no damages.