Chains on 4x4 Front Wheels

[bcuster]

So can you or shouldn't you use chains on the front tires of sub-compact Kubota tractors?

 

[85Hokie]

So can you or shouldn't you use chains on the front tires of sub-compact Kubota tractors?

O you can do it, but should not - several have and it works fine, but the strain on the front end is a bit more excessive that you want to pay for later. In a 4wd system - you do want some wheel slippage, chains will provide too much grip and not allow the tires to spin just a little when under bind.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I would avoid chains, too easy to damage things and very little real gain.

I personally have foam filled front tires, so I have my fronts studded for Ice and snow use.

 

[kubotasam]

I run them on the front and rear of my B7100 tractors. I have done it this way for years. I use my truck for most of the plowing on tar. The tractors I use with either a rear blower or loader to clear other areas and push back snow banks. If I am on tar I only use 2 wheel drive. I am not saying you should do it, just it works for me and is necessary for some of the snow clearing I need to do.

 

[dholt53]

I plow with a L35 and. Only run chains on the rear and in 2wd as much as possible . The front gears are half the size of the rears so they are weaker .


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[bcuster]

Thanks everyone for the advice! Looks like I'll plan to avoid front tire chains.

 

[cerlawson]

Babying a tractor by not using front wheel chains is OK for the worry warts. However, if the maker of the tractor didn't make it strong though for all sorts of extra loads not usually recommended, I'd not buy it. As yet with varying makes of tractors and use of front wheel chains, I have never had or even heard of a failure due to that usage. I have had some damage when the chains didn't fit right and damaged the boot on the tie rod, but that was my fault, not the maker.

 

[wv bc owner]

I have a bx 2200 and the service manager at my local dealer told me not to run chains on the front at all and definitely not to chain all four.

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[Tooljunkie]

If you plow snow like my old supervisor,front chains would make no difference whatsoever. Front wheels were always in the air. I dont mean just off the ground, way up in the air and cranked all way to right or left.

Winter before last i spent 6-8 hours a day clearing snow at least once a week.
It was a brutal winter. That being said, the L4610 Hst with industrial tires did just fine without chains. Including snowdrifts and deep snow i only had to paddle myself out a few times.

 

[RCW]

I've been tempted, and REALLY don't think I would damage anything during the winter. Like these guys said, only use 4WD when necessary.

But with that said - ain't takin' the chance.

 

[aeblank]

Front and rear v-bar here. Only one year for me, but dad has the same setup for more than a dozen years. Tractors aren't made of balsa wood.

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[emmett518]

So can you or shouldn't you use chains on the front tires of sub-compact Kubota tractors?

Think about this.

When you have a bucket full of gravel, or sand, or dirt, the weight in that bucket is incredible. All of that weight is mostly on the front tires / hubs / axles. The axle has to drive, turn and brake with that huge amount of weight.

Snow or even slush weights much less than gravel. There is not much chance that snow is going to stress a front end any worse than gravel. Just don't drive like an idiot.

I did call my local Kubota dealer, and they said they run fronts, and have seen no issues.

 

[iank]

I have an L3560 4WD with a snow plow on the front. Having trouble getting enough steering traction - if the plow digs in, it will take the front of the tractor sideways against the direction I'm steering. Front wheels are then skidding along the road sort of sideways. I can correct this by lifting the plow and putting weight on the front wheels, but this is troublesome to do continually. I'm wondering if front chains will help, or if they should even be used on this tractor for fear of damage to the drive components?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I have an L3560 4WD with a snow plow on the front. Having trouble getting enough steering traction - if the plow digs in, it will take the front of the tractor sideways against the direction I'm steering. Front wheels are then skidding along the road sort of sideways. I can correct this by lifting the plow and putting weight on the front wheels, but this is troublesome to do continually. I'm wondering if front chains will help, or if they should even be used on this tractor for fear of damage to the drive components?

They will help.
But you need to put the plow in float in order for it to not have enough down force to let the front wheels have traction.

 

[iank]

They will help.
But you need to put the plow in float in order for it to not have enough down force to let the front wheels have traction.

Yes, thanks Wolfman, I do run the plow in float whenever possible, and that's when the wheels slip. It's way out in front on a skid-steer connector on the loader arms.

 

[SDT]

I have an L3560 4WD with a snow plow on the front. Having trouble getting enough steering traction - if the plow digs in, it will take the front of the tractor sideways against the direction I'm steering. Front wheels are then skidding along the road sort of sideways. I can correct this by lifting the plow and putting weight on the front wheels, but this is troublesome to do continually. I'm wondering if front chains will help, or if they should even be used on this tractor for fear of damage to the drive components?

I've used F & R chains on multiple tractors in snow for decades.

No issues.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yes, thanks Wolfman, I do run the plow in float whenever possible, and that's when the wheels slip. It's way out in front on a skid-steer connector on the loader arms.

Yea that kind of setup is not the most ideal for a plow.
It just takes some seat time to get good at running them.

 

[mikester]

Chain up all four tires. Also consider studs.

Plowing is hard on equipment.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I'll disagree, plowing isn't hard on equipment it's the OPERATOR that is ! As long as the equipment is properly maintained and the operator works responsibly, you'll not damage anything.
My first ride was a '73 CJ-5 with 6'6 plow. Would plow 8-12 lots before going to my day job in steel mill. never broke anything, never burned out the clutch. did upgrade the manual swivel to hydraulics, that was NICE ! Have had 20-25 farm tractors over 3 decades, never broke anything.
It's down to the operator ,how long his equipment will last.

 

[SDT]

I'll disagree, plowing isn't hard on equipment it's the OPERATOR that is ! As long as the equipment is properly maintained and the operator works responsibly, you'll not damage anything.
My first ride was a '73 CJ-5 with 6'6 plow. Would plow 8-12 lots before going to my day job in steel mill. never broke anything, never burned out the clutch. did upgrade the manual swivel to hydraulics, that was NICE ! Have had 20-25 farm tractors over 3 decades, never broke anything.
It's down to the operator ,how long his equipment will last.

Absolute agreement.