TDF5G 2,073 #1 Posted February 1, 2019 (edited) I've not visited the forum in the past few months. Returning is like seeing old friends I've not seen in a while. RS is the best forum I've ever interacted with! Anyhow, I wanted to share my recent experience pushing snow with my B-100. I used to run AGs and chains with no weight. At the suggestion of many members here few years back, I switched to turf tires with chains and I also added weights, front and rear. WOW! What a difference! We've had very mild winters the past few years with minimal snow amounts here NE of Kansas City MO since I switched over, so I've not had a chance to test it out until this year. I was out of town the weekend of Jan 11-13. I returned home to 11" of wet heavy snow that Sunday afternoon. The old pushed it like a hoss! I hardly spun a wheel. If I had known how much difference there was I would have changed 25 years ago! Thanks for the great advice! Next project is to rig up some 2 link chains for it. I've got enough old chains laying around to make a set. Just need time to get 'er done. Since the pic I've added inner rear weights also. Todd Edited February 1, 2019 by TDF5G 8 6 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 8,450 #2 Posted February 1, 2019 I use that same set up to till also, work great. Running a C145 Hydro. The only thing about the front wheel weights, seems to give the steering an odd fill, but they work good for steering. I also have my front wheels wrapped with #50 chain. good for steering on a slope, tough on the concrete. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,376 #3 Posted February 1, 2019 @TDF5G, we all have our opinions on the tire type and chains and I'm glad you having good luck with your set-up, but I have had the more traditional straight bar AG tires before and needed chains for wintervtraction but I have recently replaced them with OTR LAWN TRAC R1S, these tires have more of an angled bar much like the Carlisle Tru-Powers, of course I have them fluid filled as well as iron weights and let me say without chains I'm having extremely good traction on both my blower and plow 520s. 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,719 #4 Posted February 1, 2019 You can have all the weights you want but when you raise the blower and try to back uphill on packed snow/ice with just AGs you will have issues. 6.00x12 snow tires with chains and weight work best for me. My Farmall M with beet fuice in the rears and 150 lb weights on each side doesn't back up hill when I raise the blade.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,376 #5 Posted February 1, 2019 31 minutes ago, pfrederi said: You can have all the weights you want but when you raise the blower and try to back uphill on packed snow/ice with just AGs you will have issues. From my experience so far not the case for me plus that's the beauty of a hydro just feather in the drive and speed very little spinning even on packed snow/ice frozen ground 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cschannuth 3,817 #6 Posted February 2, 2019 (edited) When my dad had the C-161 he had Ags with chains and a 42” snow blade. He never used it because he couldn’t push snow effectively on his black top driveway. After I got it I put some wider Tru Powers on it with fluid, inside/outside weights, and no chains. I also upsized to a 54” blade. The thing pushes it like it’s not even there. Even the 12” of wet stuff we had a couple weeks ago. I used to have chains on a 520 with no weight pushing a 48” and it would spin and scar the concrete ocasionally. For me, the Ags with weight work better. I put dad’s 42” on the rat 606 with fluid and inside weights and it pushes it effortlessly on my steep drive. I do agree chains would be a must for ice. Sorry for rambling on. Edited February 2, 2019 by cschannuth 4 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,376 #7 Posted February 2, 2019 Notice a pattern here between Craig @cschannuth, and myself not all AGs are created equal and ballast as well as air pressure(5-10 PSI) and ply rating (2-4 P.R.) is a very important part of the tractive equation... it does boil down to personal preference, as most turf tires are 2-4PR for a softer ride also making them more pliable during cold winter work vs harder 4-6PR that most AGs are for "ground breaking" work in the summertime... for non marking on paved surfaces lots of guys are recommending the rubber chains vs steel, Jeff. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 8,450 #8 Posted February 5, 2019 (edited) I think I have tried every possible combination. AG, AG with weight, turf, turf with weight and chains, ATV tires with weight etc. I have a 16% slope, 9 degree, asphalt 200 ft long drive, that goes across my place that serves 4 homes and my pole building shop on the back 40. By far the best set up for traction is the turf tires , 50 lbs. on each rear wheel, and two link space chains. When I tried to use AG tires and chains, one of the problems is where the chain crosses the AG Bar and causes a hump that make the wheel slip and spin a bit. I actually spun out coming down the hill trying to stop. one wheel landed on a flat area of chain the other on a hump and I went around. You can see this example in Jeff's pic of the AG comparison. The bare AG tires with weight worked on the gravel flat area pretty good. I suppose if you have concrete that is pretty level and don't want to mark it up the AG tires would be close to having rubber chains, if not better. My neighbor has a BX with R4 tires he can plow down and drive up, but can't plow up if the snow is deep. I had a set of rear tire chains from my D he borrowed. I am not much a fan of the R4 tires for any reason. Like you guys said, if it works use it. All situations require different thinking. I just think this thing is the ultimate test. Edited February 7, 2019 by OILUJ52 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TDF5G 2,073 #9 Posted February 5, 2019 1 hour ago, OILUJ52 said: I think I have tried every possible combination. AG, AG with weight, turf, turf with weight and chains, ATV tires with weight etc. I have a 6% slope asphalt drive that goes across my place that serves 4 homes and my pole building shop on the back 40. By far the best set up for traction is the turf tires , 50 lbs. on each rear wheel, and two link space chains. When I tried to use AG tires and chains, one of the problems is where the chain crosses the AG Bar and causes a hump that make the wheel slip and spin a bit. I actually spun out coming down the hill trying to stop. one wheel landed on a flat area of chain the other on a hump and I went around. You can see this example in Jeff's pic of the AG comparison. The bare AG tires with weight worked on the gravel flat area pretty good. I suppose if you have concrete that is pretty level and don't want to mark it up the AG tires would be close to having rubber chains, if not better. My neighbor has a BX with R4 tires he can plow down and drive up, but can't plow up if the snow is deep. I had a set of rear tire chains from my D he borrowed. I am not much a fan of the R4 tires for any reason. Like you guys said, if it works use it. All situations require different thinking. I just think this thing is the ultimate test. 1 hour ago, OILUJ52 said: I agree. You have to do what works for you. I used to push snow with regular old AGs and chains, no weight, which was a lot of wheel spinning. The neighbors asphalt drive on a hill was a lot of work. My dad has a 314-8 he uses on level concrete drive with AGs and weights, no chains (as he doesn't want to damage the driveway), and gets by very well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,376 #10 Posted February 5, 2019 @OILUJ52, I hope these couple pics puts things in perspective on how steep and what surfaces I mow and plow snow on, I do stand by my new AGs vs the ones I had chains on...you can see in my post #3 above the 520 with cab heading towards the cabin in the last pic below, Jeff , and I agree that each situation requires the correct tool for the job at hand. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,613 #11 Posted February 6, 2019 Interesting way to bypass climbing up steps....or is it a way to get to the carport if the ground is too soft? 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,376 #12 Posted February 6, 2019 7 hours ago, T-Mo said: Interesting way to bypass climbing up steps....or is it a way to get to the carport if the ground is too soft? That's to keep the "unwanteds" out... Then you go the "easy" way into and out of the house... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites