Wet snow no problem

[leabassett@sbcglobal.net 114]

Well we got about 6" of heavy wet snow today and my 312-8 did well. Only had to back up and go at it a few times. My only problem was trying to steer. Do the small front wheel weights Make much of a difference?

[ebinmaine 63,228]

Weight creates friction. 

Friction creates traction.  

 

Chains also create friction.  

 

More weight will be your friend.  

You could also try wrapping the front tires in roller chain. 

 

Personally I think a snowblower tire is very effective for steering.  

 

 

[leabassett@sbcglobal.net 114]

4 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Weight creates friction. 

Friction creates traction.  

 

Chains also create friction.  

 

More weight will be your friend.  

You could also try wrapping the front tires in roller chain. 

 

Personally I think a snowblower tire is very effective for steering.  

 

 

So a narrow snowblower tire will steer better? The less snow under the tractor made steering worse believe it or not.

[ri702bill 7,346]

AG tires, tubed. Filled with WW fluid. AND 25 lb weights. Better, not "perfect" with the plow angled. 

[ebinmaine 63,228]

2 minutes ago, leabassett@sbcglobal.net said:

So a narrow snowblower tire will steer better? The less snow under the tractor made steering worse believe it or not.

 

Snowblower tires have a VERY aggressive tread specifically made for biting snow. 

Any rubber on any frozen surface won't be perfect.  

 

Softer is better. 

 

Chains would be better. 

Heavier would be better.  

 

I run very oversized front tires and a very oversized plow.  

20 x 8 x 8 tires.  Plain turfs. Fluid filled with 5 gallons of Rimguard in each. 

110 lbs fluid weight in the front steers.  

 

 

 

[wallfish 15,937]

I went skinnier tires and roller chain. Makes a huge difference. Added weight would help even more but the 520 does well without it

[Ed Kennell 35,874]

Weight makes the difference.       Steel chains are best on ice and packed snow .      Rubber is best on bare pavement.

[leabassett@sbcglobal.net 114]

I have to take a look at my pressure I may have too much in the front. Should I drop it down to 3 or 4 PSI for better traction in the snow?

[wallfish 15,937]

Air pressure will have a very minimal effect. Chains are better traction in the snow along with more weight. Lots of weight and snowblower tires worked well too.

 

[8ntruck 6,384]

Weight, chains and skinny tires will be helpful in snow.

[Blasterdad 2,564]

10 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

Weight, chains and skinny tires will be helpful in snow.

                               

                                

 

[peter lena 8,076]

@Blasterdad  for me looking right at it , the belt idler pulleys AND THE MOVEABLE FRAME THEY ARE ON . is a critical rusty hang up , have also put on a stiffer pull spring , that frame should be lubricated , so it can follow belt , have re greased those tiny bearings on the idler pulleys , also made up a  plastic snow slider gasket for the blower chute base , silicone spray ,  moves with ease . also how easily does the blower itself move , by hand on the belt drive ?  nothing sarcastic , or intended , just went after operational running ease . pete

[pfrederi 17,152]

Narrower tires with roller chain, wheel weights, and hang more weight on the front of the tractor

[leabassett@sbcglobal.net 114]

22 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Weight makes the difference.       Steel chains are best on ice and packed snow .      Rubber is best on bare pavement.

How much dose that shoebox weigh hanging on the front of your tractor?

[C-85 653]

I attempted to solve this by adding lots of front wheel weights, a weight platform that's independent of the plow, and changed the turf tires to Sno Hog tires and it's better, but can still slip some.  If I had to do this again I would have tried the roller chain trick, that seems like a very good option! 

 

 

 

C-85

[ebinmaine 63,228]

6 minutes ago, C-85 said:

.  If I had to do this again I would have tried the roller chain trick, that seems like a very good option!

 

Roller chains are good. But weight is still the key. 

 

At some point I'll be swapping the front of  my Automatic tractor to a set of 5 lug trailer hubs. When that happens I'll space the wheels far enough from the spindles to use traditional full wrap chains.  

 

 

 

[WHX?? 46,825]

Wet sloppy concrete stuff is always a problem. A quick uplift on the Hydro you will steer where you want chains weights no matter.

This is why a hydro is best for plowing/blowing snow. Kinda of pain but not insurmountable on a lever lift.