Kubotas at play. Er, I mean work!

Merry Christmas everyone!
Gas if you made the outside "circle" 1 link shorter between each cross chain you'd have a smaller circle on the outside that (hopefully) would pull the whole deal to the outside giving you the inside clearance you need. I would find someone you could borrow a tire chain tool from. They are over $100 to buy but make the job easy opening/closing the connecting links.

 

I lifted the front of the tractor off the ground today and blocked it up. Readjusted the chains and tightened them to a really nice fit. Installing lock washers and lock nuts so that those nuts couldn’t loosen.


I went to work with the M59. The chains stayed tight. And the one on the left tire still walked inward. I couldn’t get them any tighter.


Frustrating and keeping me from getting much done with the tractor. So I blocked it back up and took the chains right off. Then went and got some work done with the tractor.


I went with the chains for the front tires because they were cheaper. $496 for the fronts. Ouch


But the same chains for the rear tires were almost $1,000. And I would of had to buy the spacers for the rears at about $490. I guess I should have went with the rears.

fuelrod , I don’t think I could have gotten them any tighter.

 

Gasifier I assume your front tires are not filled.. Deflate tire a little.. Tighten chain and re fill air

 

Did that already.

 

Gasifier, I know the frustration from previous tractors I’ve had. I’ve never run chains on the front so I’m short on ideas. Spend some time studying pictures of setups that do work (e.g., look back a page or two at fuelrod pictures). I like how his chains fit on the sides, stopping well short of the rim. Maybe your chains are too wide, putting them too close to the edge (too wide on the center part). Maybe you need more cross links on a smaller diameter tire.

Regardless, the chain looks like great quality, and will be the bees knees once you find their sweet spot on your tires.

I would back away from the tightening contraption, and give it a go again without all that - I just picture that getting caught in heavy brush and tearing something up. It should be doable without that.

 

The ‘bota helping with wood chores!

 

I think part of the problem is the length of the two chains that go around the tires with the studs on them are too long.

I had them plenty tight going the other way from pulling them with tensioner on the outside.

I do not have a tire chain tool, that would probably help.

Letting air out of tire, shorten them another link, get them on with a tire chain tool, then refill tire.

I don’t know.

 

On my bigger tires, the primary tensioning is done on the studded portion, first. I’ve borrowed a tool, but have found my come-a-long also works (larger diameter gives me more room than you will have). Maybe several smaller ratchet straps? I’m using the full force of the come-a-long, and driving back and forth to work out slack. When I’m ready to put on the shackles you can’t slide a hand under the chain anywhere, but it invariably loosens a little once the shackle is on.

 

I tried it two more times and could not keep the chains on the left front tire. Then I did something I usually don’t do. I quit. I’ve had enough with chains on front, R-4 industrial tires.

A while back I contacted the company and told them about my troubles and asked them if they would take them back. He said he would contact the manufacturer and ask them about it. Yesterday he contacted me and told me they would take them back as long as I cleaned them up. Even sent me a couple of Fed Ex shipping labels to return them in two different boxes. I told him I appreciate it very much. They are cleaned up, dried, and boxed up. And get picked up Monday.

I’m very impressed with Midwest Traction’s return policy. Very nice company. Thank you very much.

 

Been doing a little trail work today. Pulled several stumps. This larger Pine gave me a bit of hard time, but the M59 can be persuasive.

 

Let's not see any pics of peeled back buckets.

 

Worry not my friend. It’s a Kubota. They have quality control.

 

Today’s additions:


Did some trail work today for about an hour and a half. Dug a ditch along one side of a real wet spot, draining the trail into it, and put that dirt up onto the trail. The two foot bucket is nice for moving a good amount of dirt.

I wish I had got out there two hours earlier. I couldn’t finish before dark and it was getting cold fast. So I stopped for the night. Everything is going to freeze up, probably too hard by the time I get back to it.

 

Tractor Tire Studs | Grip Studs® Screw-In Tire Studs | Traction in Ice, Snow and Dirt | Tractor Tire

 

They do a good job in the snow & ice. Their not chains, but I have not had to put the chains on since I put in the studs. Not sure if you were planning on taking them out in the spring, but I'd just leave them in Gas. They leave a little hole in your tire lug and that spot is no longer available to take a stud next year.

 

Thanks fuelrod. No plans to take them out. I drive on ground and crushed stone only. Tractor stays right here on my property. I know they won’t give me the bite that chains will, won’t be as good in deeper snow and mud, but they will be better than the R-4s with nothing. That is for sure! LOL And I can plow the deeper snow out of the way, if need be, so I’m back to a frozen/hard surface.

 

I took the box blade off yesterday and mounted the snowblower. It’s an easy job with a quick hitch! I had to add the bushings for the QH and I discovered one bolt on the top hook was gone and the nut gone off the other so this changeover came just in time. I heard something metal fall behind me last time out with the BB but I couldn’t see what it was. Figured it would show up eventually
Not counting the trip to TSC for parts it was a 10 minute job, and without the usual wrestling match. I’m liking this QH more all the time.

 

Carrying out a few oak logs from a couple blow downs.