Tire Chain Use

bill18163 · Jan 12, 2003

I'm having trouble with traction using ladder type chains on my B2710 with R4's. Chains are the standard ladder type spaced every fourth side link. My driveway is quite steep and is gravel. I have spent the last hour or so reading previous posts on tire chains and my R4's are sucking the cross chains down into the lugs just as some have posted here. I am going to rework the chains myself and am looking for some input. I was thinking of buying two(four total for the set) pieces of chain that would be attached under the ladder cross chains and would travel the circumferance of the tire. I would space the two chains such that they would hold the cross chains up out of the R4 lugs. Or I could buy the chain that comes in an "X" pattern(purchase as individual parts) and add them to my chains. Think any of this will work?
I know from previous posts that front end chains are supposed to be a no-no but my front end just slides from side to side if I try to go up my driveway. Works somewhat better in reverse except I almost couldn't get up the driveway the other day. Snow was about 8" deep with a crust about 4" with 4" powder on top of it. Tractor just wants to float on the snow. Had the FEL on it too, for weight. Any ideas on what I could do in regards to the front tires?

ronjhall · Jan 12, 2003

Bill
Do you have any weight on 3PH of the tractor?
Adding 2 short side chains to the sides of every other set of cross chains should improve the grip.
Try using the cruise control to move forward. Then use the individual brakes to steer tractor.
R4 are not know for having good traction.
I have Turf tires and have not used my chains since I bought them. My drive does not have a very steep grade.
Check out this thread. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=photos&Number=69540&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1> Click Here</A> Some of the pictures are no longer available. But the ones with a 2001 date are.

beenthere · Jan 12, 2003

<font color=blue>""Snow was about 8" deep with a crust about 4" with 4" powder on top of it. Tractor just wants to float on the snow. "" <font color=black>

Your description makes it sound like you are trying to go through snow rather than plowing the snow first. If so, chains that you have will not do much good, and it is only partially the fault of the cross chains falling between the lugs of the R-4's.
First, by plowing down to the gravel will then give you traction that is needed to get up the steep drive.

Or is there something about this situation that I am not understanding? Entirely possible.

rdbrumfield · Jan 14, 2003

I built a set of tracks for each tire. Sure cures the problem of chains getting inbetween the lugs. Although I built mine for a different reason, I'm sure a modified version of this would work for you.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 14, 2003

Bill,

You have four link chains. I have two link chains on my b2910. That means I have double the number of cross chains.

Now on my R4s, it is true that about have of each cross chain falls into the spaces between the lugs. But there is still half of each cross chain that is above the rubber and digs in pretty good.

Reworking chains is a lot of work. Well, maybe not that bad, but it does take time. I had to shorten my chains, as the supplier sent the next size up as what I ordered was not in stock. It took an hour to do that. Sounds like what you want to do would take several hours.

Trouble is that I could not find anything more aggressive than 2 link chains for the tire size on the b27/2910. My guess is that with double the cross chains I get more than twice the improvement over the four link chains like you have.

You might want to consider just buying a set of two link chains first, and then using your original chains for the extra parts needed to make a set of really aggressive chains by adding to the two link chains as required to do so.

Good luck in whatever you do....

Bill in Pgh, PA

snowman · Jan 15, 2003

bill18163

For what it's worth, I have R4's with four link chains - attached is a pick.

I haven't had problems with the chains falling between the lugs, as the chain drapes over the lug.

You may just need to reposition them rather than physically changing the chains.

bill18163 · Jan 15, 2003

Bill,
I found a place in Maine that makes a good looking set of chains for 12.4-16 tires. I have an e-mail into them asking how much they want for them. Have no answer yet. I also asked them if the 12.4-16 chains that they show in their picture will fit on R4 tires because the picture shows them on Ag tires. Do you happen to know if the chains would fit both type of tire since they are 12.4-16???? Here's a link to the site. http://www.wallingfords.com/BABAC Tractor Forwarder Chain.htm

beenthere · Jan 15, 2003

Appears your chains are too big for the tires, both for the cross chains as well as the side chains. But if they work okay for you, that's great.

I agree with your comments that you made about the cross chains not falling between lugs on R-4's, to the point a change in chains should be necessary. I keep enough slack in my chains so each cross chain falls out of a lug just before it comes down to the ground/tire contact as the wheel turns.

snowman · Jan 15, 2003

Got them from Tirechains.com - they were ordered for my specific tire size (used their chart)

I don't recall any option when they were ordered relative to the link size.

I assume that the links for a particular style of chain are basically the same size no matter what size your tire is (how large your set of chains are).

rbargeron · Jan 16, 2003

I've used regular automotive tire chains on my 12x16.5 R4's. They're on the front of my rig. I didn't know there was a problem running front chains - done it for years. Just have to keep them tight enough to stay out of the steering linkage.
Could be my R4's are worn enough that the chains don't disappear between the ribs.