SS stuck in snow twice, tire chains?

JOHNTHOMAS · Jan 25, 2016

Traded Kubota tractors to GEHL3640e SS. Have 16" to 24" plus drifts on the ground. SS now stuck off drive in yard. Been stuck twice when I get off level drive, slides sideways or gets at angle (not level ground and I live on a hillside) and gets stuck. Also now remember why I moved from BX to B Kubota tractors, ground clearance.
Are tire chains the answer. Tires are 27x 8.5x 15HD. Deere on internet offering chains for $100 plus shipping. Ebay seller has them for $88 with shp but has for LT tires and mine are HD, does that make a difference for the chains?

George2615 · Jan 25, 2016

Can't answer about LT or HD chains difference if any. Chains will help with traction but as you mentioned, they won't give you any more ground clearance. We have a Bobcat SS at work and the guys are always getting it stuck high centering it when they try to go thru a snow pile with the snow bucket up. Not much ground clearance under them so chains won't help if high centered or not on level ground. These guys are inexperienced operators also and haven't figured how to use the bucket to push themselves off the snow.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jan 25, 2016

George2615 said:
Can't answer about LT or HD chains difference if any. Chains will help with traction but as you mentioned, they won't give you any more ground clearance. We have a Bobcat SS at work and the guys are always getting it stuck high centering it when they try to go thru a snow pile with the snow bucket up. Not much ground clearance under them so chains won't help if high centered or not on level ground. These guys are inexperienced operators also and haven't figured how to use the bucket to push themselves off the snow.

Thanks. I was able to get movement while on pavement by using bucket to pull me but once I got off and now into yard bucket won't pull me by dropping and scraping forward. Going to use chains/straps and wrap around bucket and a tree or vehicle to pull myself out.....just one or two feet and I'm free!!!

For awhile.

So, you for or against chains on sloping property as the answer for traction on SS? Better solution? I don't want to waste $100 if it won't help much.

aczlan · Jan 25, 2016

JOHNTHOMAS said:
Thanks. I was able to get movement while on pavement by using bucket to pull me but once I got off and now into yard bucket won't pull me by dropping and scraping forward. Going to use chains/straps and wrap around bucket and a tree or vehicle to pull myself out.....just one or two feet and I'm free!!! For awhile.
So, you for or against chains on sloping property as the answer for traction on SS? Better solution? I don't want to waste $100 if it won't help much.

Chains will help greatly. You will want some chains which have a row (or two) of chains that run parallel to the side chains to help resist sliding sideways.
As for getting out, have you tried dumping the bucket all the way, putting the cutting edge on the ground and curling the bucket?
That should push you backwards and might get you out.

Aaron Z

oldnslo · Jan 25, 2016

Skid sters are hard on chains since every time you turn you are twisting them so don't be surprised on how fast they wear or break.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jan 25, 2016

aczlan said:
Chains will help greatly. You will want some chains which have a row (or two) of chains that run parallel to the side chains to help resist sliding sideways.
As for getting out, have you tried dumping the bucket all the way, putting the cutting edge on the ground and curling the bucket?
That should push you backwards and might get you out.

Aaron Z

Back end is up against a tree so I can't go backward. Tried pulling forward with bucket curl which I've done many times with tractor FEL but no go. Hooked to Kubota RTV and tried pulling while trying to drive forward to no avail. Kubota just spun tires even with dif lock engaged, Have a Toyota Tacoma 4wd at the bottom of drive way that I can't get up so I'll try pulling the SS out when drive way is clear with Tacoma and throw some gravel under the tires and dig the mud out that piled up now in front of front tires due to trying bucket curl pull out. Tried bucket curl with chain on bucket and around tree but chain to short so used 3"/4" tie down strap to make up the distance and the strap stretched the amount of gain from the bucket curl. Couple days and this snow will be gone and I'll get it out but then I won't need to use it.

ovrszd · Jan 25, 2016

oldnslo said:
Skid sters are hard on chains since every time you turn you are twisting them so don't be surprised on how fast they wear or break.

And you need to deflate the tires, mount the chains, then air up. If you don't put them on real tight you'll twist your way right out of them. Hopefully they fall off to the outside......

JOHNTHOMAS · Jan 25, 2016

Ebay seller has them for $88 with shp but has for LT tires and mine are HD, does that make a difference for the chains?
Ebay seller said these will not work on a SS. I had asked him and he just replied.
I won't use the chains very often and maybe never since we normally don't have much snow in this part of Ky but we've gotten bunches last year and the one time this year.

truckdiagnostics · Jan 25, 2016

Have set of chains that we use on the old luged tires. Help big time. We put them on just the rear. Does not seem to rip things up too bad. When we replaced the tires went to a turf tire, have not used them since. yes, i know what you mean you get it sideways get stuck easy. I have found if you can spin your self around you can push yourself out with the bucket. However, back against a tree not going to work. I slid it into a ditch head first one year. Such that your feet where on the window in the door. Had to climb out the back window. Got the chains the next year. I stay away from the ditch!

Luke'sScreenName · Jan 25, 2016

Put some sand down. Can really improve traction on frozen ground.

Rustyiron · Jan 25, 2016

Ya got to be very carefull with a SS. They have a ridgid frame (no suspension or axle movement) and unless it is on flat ground (not necessary level), you have only one wheel on each side firmly on the ground diagonal from each other, and 2 wheels "light" if not touching the ground at all. Imagine putting a 4 legged table down with one leg on the carpet with the others on the wood floor. That equals 2 wheel drive. Chain it up on all 4 corners. IIRC you just got this machine, you will come to know how to use it.:thumbsup:

ovrszd · Jan 25, 2016

Rustyiron said:
Ya got to be very carefull with a SS. They have a ridgid frame (no suspension or axle movement) and unless it is on flat ground (not necessary level), you have only one wheel on each side firmly on the ground diagonal from each other, and 2 wheels "light" if not touching the ground at all. Imagine putting a 4 legged table down with one leg on the carpet with the others on the wood floor. That equals 2 wheel drive. Chain it up on all 4 corners. IIRC you just got this machine, you will come to know how to use it.:thumbsup:

I like.

Tomtint · Jan 25, 2016

My Cat 246 was a tire machine and it was not very good in the snow or mud. I bought a Loegering undercarriage with 18" tracks....it's a animal now.

oldpilgrim · Jan 25, 2016

I used to get my old 2wd Ferguson tractor stuck all the time, year round. Most of the time I got it out with a come-a-long tied to a tree.

GPintheMitten · Jan 25, 2016

How about a winch.
9000 lb. Off-Road Vehicle Electric Winch with Automatic Load-Holding Brake

KYErik · Jan 25, 2016

Are there holes in the rims that you can run a bolt through? If so, you could bolt a single chain holding a 2 X 2 piece of scrap steel or lumber. I once chained a small wood fence post to my tractor tire and it got me out of the divot I had made. Just be really careful and stop after 25 % of one revolution of the spinning wheel.

GPintheMitten · Jan 25, 2016

I used that trick once on my Ford 2N. Be very careful

MinnesotaEric · Jan 25, 2016

JOHNTHOMAS said:
Traded Kubota tractors to GEHL3640e SS. Have 16" to 24" plus drifts on the ground. SS now stuck off drive in yard. Been stuck twice when I get off level drive, slides sideways or gets at angle (not level ground and I live on a hillside) and gets stuck. Also now remember why I moved from BX to B Kubota tractors, ground clearance.
Are tire chains the answer. Tires are 27x 8.5x 15HD. Deere on internet offering chains for $100 plus shipping. Ebay seller has them for $88 with shp but has for LT tires and mine are HD, does that make a difference for the chains?

Purchase larger diameter winter tires and wheels for your SS.