Kubotas at play. Er, I mean work!

Alexa plow!

 

Block heater is essential here. The local dealer adds them on new sales without asking. Our tractor gets started at least every other day all winter for feeding chores, and we are on our third heater (they do die, sometimes inconveniently). Simple to change. The WiFi switch is next on my list. Right now there is a dedicated 12ga extension cord left plugged into the outlet all winter, with the loose end coiled and hung on a post right next to where the tractor sleeps.

 

Well my good neighbor/friend helped me by finishing up the tightening of the chains. I’ve been busy working so we did a little here and there for an hour in the mornings. It turned out with the fasteners (tension adjusters) left on they and chain were going to hit on the mechanical parts of front drive and steering. So we came up with the solution to take the fasteners (tension adjusters) right off. Then pull the chains as tight as we could get them and put them together with the four couplings that came with the chains. Appears that it should work very well. All I’ve had time to do is take it for a test drive and see that nothing is going to hit. We will see how tight they stay when I put it to work this week. I have a vacation and wife and kids are in school. So I’ll be out on the woods cutting firewood while opening up a new trail. Can’t wait!

 

Those look like they should provide a bit of traction .

 

That has to be a hoss for turning while pushing a bucket full of snow. Or for travelling through deep snow, for that matter

 

I used to use a clock timer for the heater with one of my trucks. I find that several hours of heating is all that's needed and the heater if the truck was 1500 watts. I think it was HD that had what looks like a normal light timer but was rated to (iirc) 1800 watts. About $30.

 

If those chains don't stay tight, let some air out of the tires, reattach the chains tight then air up the tires. That'll take care of that slack!

 

I’m going to have to do something. I put some fairly heavy springs on the outside to try to prevent the chains from moving. Didn’t work. They are moving. And starting to rub on the inside. I brought it up to my other neighbor to see if he wanted a job. He said sure. He’ll try to figure it out. He has all the tools of metal working and a lot of experience. Machinist/Welder/Fabricator. I have faith in him.

 

That picture of the interior of the front wheel, from that angle looks like the side chains are to long. Would think taking one link off of each chain might help a bunch.

 

Agree. And have to stop the “walking”. The one on the left front was walking right off the tire. Nothing is ever easy.

 

From here in VT it looks like the chains are a link too wide (a link on each side). That would do away with some of the extra length in the side chain by enlarging the circle they form.

 

I agree. Here is what I discussed in my last text with my neighbor.

“The more I think about it I think you are going to have to shorten the side chains by removing one link on both sides. It's like the chains were too big for those tires. (Maybe wrong chains, I don't know.) Or made big enough for R-1 Ag tires. We cut 8" off the length the chains with studs around tires after we had them tight. “

 

Time for an upgrade?

 

My good neighbor was real busy with another project So, I found these through google searching chain tensioner and clicking images.

Then we came up with a customized version and I bought some hardware, neighbor made the plates, and cut some chain he had for me,


He is going to weld the hooks closed for me after Christmas. I’ve never seen so many $&(/shackles used at one time in my life! I’m going to give them a try tomorrow and see how they work. It was cold working on them in the barn today!

 

That looks great! The tighter the better

 

Failure. I worked the tractor for about ten minutes. Not even. Chains loosened and walked. Appears the nuts loosened right up. The chains will need re-adjusting, then re-tightening and I guess I will add lock nuts. Ugh! But I have long lost company home for the holidays so I’m not spending the time working on tractor chains. Time to have fun and relax.


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Another nut on each one used as a jam nut would work also.