I was one of the many that suggested the "H" pattern chains last winter. Now you have the front wheel assist to keep in reserve. These smaller tractors were not really intended to run full-time four wheel drive. There's a load of math that covers contact patch size versus rolling resistance versus torque requirement versus hydrostatic overhead and loss. The point is that hydros are not super efficient, but super convenient, so using the lower range fixes the issue. You'll likely find you need to be in the lowest range to use the front wheel assist while under full load with the blower and ballast weights.
Good day William. Thanks - this is super helpful info. I will keep that in mind. I'll have the blower on soon and will keep mindful of the gear I am in and how it feels and sounds. Thanks again! I am pretty happy to have finally picked up the chains! Cheers!
I was smiling the whole time GP remembering the times I've chided you about getting chains for the snow and mud. The issue with running chains on the rears and not on the front in 4wd has to do with the actual change in circumference of the rears with the chains on and putting the drive train in a bind as a result of that perceived change in ratio. BUT.... imho, that really makes no matter in the real world because there is always slippage between the contact surface and the tires that will minimize any chance of real damage to the tractor....especially in off road conditions. By 'off-road" I mean anything but concrete and asphalt. And even then on concrete or other hard surface, the grippage of the chains are dramatically reduced and will spin easily. But it WILL decrease the life of the chains as they will wear down much quicker. I have sets of chains that are half way worn through and are 50 or 60 years old !! The thing we have to remember is that there is no right or wrong to anyone's concept of chain use as most concepts are opinioned choices. The main thing is you have them and choose to use them in a way in which they benefit you. I am glad to see you've come to the dark side.... LOL Thanks for the shot of the suction base. I have that one but am reluctant to use it....has it ever lost suction?? Another good video sir...as always!!
First, thanks T! You make a lot of sense and many others have expressed similar thoughts on using the 4wd. I am probably being a little over cautious - being still relatively new to having the tractor and still learning something new about it all the time. It makes sense to me. On the suction mount, here is what I have learned (thankfully not the hard way, but close a few times). (A) You have to make sure the surface is (i)wide enough that that the entire circumference of the suction cup can seat, (ii) that area must be completely flat - no ridges, stickers, or any uneven areas, (iii) must be clean - a rag and a little spit goes a long way. (B) spit on the suction cup and wipe it around - just a little does the trick, (C) When you seat the mount make sure that (i) the little bar (hinge thingy) is vertical and (ii) press on the little button fully and (iii) hold that button all the way until (iv) you have fully engaged the suction cup - (you have fully pushed that hinge thingy bar all the way horizontally over the button). Here's how you can tell whether it has fully sucked into position: (C) Pull firmly on the mount - it should not move whatsoever. You can tell it is not fully sucked on if (i) you can move the plastic mount at all, or (ii) you can see that when it moves you can see the sides of the clear rubber suction cup separate from the black plastic mount , or (iii) you can pull it off easily. When it is fully and properly attached, you can tell because (i) the rubber suction cup is tight to the round part of the black plastic mount - they look like one piece (not separate pieces) and (ii) you can not separate them at all without really yanking super hard on it. It feels solid. If the surface you want to attach it to has any imperfections and is not totally flat and clean, it won't stick properly and will eventually fall off. But honest, if you yank on it firmly and it doesn't move, you're good to go. I might suggest you practice putting it on and off on different parts of the tractor - nice clean flat parts and dirty or uneven surfaces. You will quickly notice the differences I have noted above and become comfortable with it once you have experienced the different conditions I noted above. Also try applying it without fully pressing the button down and you will see how it doesn't fully seat itself. I get it T. Last thing you want is to see that camera going under your tire chains. LOL. Good luck - hope that was kind of clear and not too confusing. Cheers!
💥 Those chains look like they’ll provide you plenty of traction. I wouldn’t worry about engaging four wheel drive with just chains on the back. Any ratio difference in the snow shouldn’t cause an issue. But like you said, if you don’t need it don’t use it I guess. 👍 Keep on tractoring!
I agree if you don’t need it don’t use it and if you need it there will not be enough resistance to bind up the gears to hurt the 4x4 anb when you do use 4x4 that tractor will be a snow moving animal
I agree with other commenters, using four wheel drive won't hurt it but you probably won't need it. If you were driving on dry tar it may be tough on it but if that were the case you wouldn't need 4WD or the chains. And my theory is that in high range and having it lug down at the top of the hill may be because that with the chains you are changing the diameter of your rear tires, making them larger thus taking more torque to turn them while climbing. I'd get a set for my tractor but I choose not to scratch up my driveway. if I had a gravel driveway, I'd certainly get a set of chains. Thanks for great videos.
I was told decades ago that the definition of 'four wheel drive' is: A device to get you stuck in more inaccessible areas. Chains, like other valuable tools, though expensive, its better to have them and not need them, than need them and not have them. Throw a couple spare shackles in the toolbox.
Ole Mother Nature won't be stopping you now GP. About 10 years ago I had an older gear drive 4x4 J.Deere tractor. I needed new front tires when i bought it. I found out that the tire size i needed was discontinued and couldn't be gotten. Long story short, after much research i rettled for a tire that was approx. 4"s taller than my old tires. I was worried that this might ruin my transmission and/or transfer case for the front wheel assist. The older guy that sold me these larger tires explained things to me that the only way to keep the ratio exactly the same was to have exactly the same size tires on the front and rear. I had 24s on the rear and 14s on the front. He said for the ratio to be exact I'd need 24"s the front and back. Now i know they alter this ratio with a gear reduction so as one won't override the other. But i can assure you this 4" difference in my front tires size never altered my tractor performance. It drove the same, in all ranges and all the gear selections. My tractor ground speed was 16 mph in 4th gear and high range. Now if it had 55 mph then front wheel assist might've been a problem. At a slow speed it will not overwhelm or wind up an over torque you transmission. I truly believe GP you'd be safe using 4 wheel drive with chains on the rear tires only. Hope this helps. Didn't mean to be so chatty. LOL
Good morning Dean ! Thanks this was great and happy to have the advice and for you to share the experience. Helps me a lot. And makes a lot of sense to me. I will give it a try soon, I think. This was very helpful my friend. Have a great week and talk again soon. Cheers!
I've never used the High option on my Kubota 4701. I also found that running the Diesel engine without higher RPM's kicks in the Diesel Filter Cleaning mechanism more often. I have 540 hours on it, a 2016 HST model, 90% of those hours in 4 wheel, no problems. I'm fairly certain these tractors are built to be used and not babied.
Morning Tim. Some good points there. Without the chains, I use 4wd regularly and virtually all winter long it never leaves 4wd. I will try it out at some point - I think you have a good point. They are built to be worked. Thanks and enjoy the weekend!
GP looks like the chains are going to transform your winter tractoring. Nice review and loved the slow motion shots. I've only one experience with chains, a few winters ago my wife and I decided to have a holiday in the snow fields. We hired some chains in the valley and the guy gave me a lesson on how to put them on while my wife sat in the car knitting. When we reached the point you had to fit chains I jumped out and despite the lesson couldn't figure out how to put them on. After a little while my wife got out and said whats the matter, I said I can't fit these dam things, she said give me a go and proceeded to put them on like she's done it a million times, I said how did you do that, she said its just commonsense, I guess I don't have any.
LOL!! That was classic. Too funny Mark. Gotta love our wives. That is a great story. Thanks for the morning humour. Hope you and your wifey have a wonderful week. Cheers!
That is great! It works very good. The music suggested some very important breaking news... It is! Now the two ultimate tests: On bare ice. You will be amazed. Then on wet snow, that is the toughest part. Thanks GP for sharing your thoughts!
I watched a video last year, I think it was messicks, I’m sure you have see there videos, if not there a kubota dealer. I remember them saying kubota doesn’t recommend putting chains on the front tires, it will mess up the 4 wheel drive over time. If I can find the video I’ll send it to you. Love the videos.
Good morning Woody. Yes, sir - I've seen it. My dealer always has the same advice. I don't think I will ever put the chains on the front. Looking forward to seeing whether I will still need to use 4WD this winter. Thanks for the help! All the best!
GP love your videos. I just picked up a B2601 a month ago now. I ordered my tractor with the Bar Turf tire combo. Man do these rear tires really dig. Dealer never orders tractors with the bar turf. He was surprised I wanted them. They are a shorter tire combo so you lose some ground clearance but gain power to the ground due to shorter tire height. The rear tires measure 31x15.5 so you get some great flotation as well. CHEERS! and keep up the great work!
Good morning Nathan and congrats on the new tractor! Santa came early! LOL. I saw a Messick's video on those tires back in the summer - Neal did a traction test against the R4 and they performed really well. Thanks for sharing the info. Have a very Merry Christmas and I hope you get lots of tractor time over the holidays!
Well GP....as they say "the proof is in the pudding"....you proved that the chains sure help the tractor get around in winter.....great test.....well stay safe and take care my friend........ :)
Hey GP, that’s a great game changer adding chains ! Glad you are enjoying your tractor more with the advantage of adding chains. They can be lifesavers in bad situations. I seen some critter track, looks like they are doing alright too. Be safe out there and keep having fun with your chores. Thanks for sharing with us.
LOL. Good day ODD! Yes sir, every morning I see new tracks from the night before. Different sizes etc. I saw 3 fox walk across the shore of the lake right in front of the cabin the other night. Could not get the camera out in time but was nice to see them - probably out looking for dinner. Have a good weekend and talk again soon!
Thanks for the update. Having to gear down may be due to the fact you now have zero wheel slippage, so be careful when pushing snow or front load hauling that you can still steer. A warm and safe Christmas to you , family, and neighbors.
Hi GP, Great set-up you have there! I've used double loop chains for the past 20 years or so, and 95% of the time they work fine. The other 5% though, hang on! Had some very bad ice last year, and really wished for the V Hook style. Also, my tractor is seldom in 2wd. I leave it in 4wd Winter and Summer, unless I'm on the road. (Dirt road) Tractor has never seen pavement. Be safe and the best to you and yours. Peace.
Hi Gord! Looks like those chains are doin’ it for you. I agree with T44 that you don’t have to worry about not having chains on the front tires in 4W drive unless you are driving on concrete or asphalt. There is certainly plenty of slip in the snow, ice and mud. Thanks for sharing!
Good morning and thanks for the advice martin. It is really helpful to get your views on it too. I will give it a try soon but I honestly have not needed it yet. Have a Happy New Years!
Wow! What a difference those chains make! On the video it is hard to see just how steep that hill in your driveway is, not your fault, we viewers are missing the third dimension. But if you can do something that you have not been able to do before, then you have success! I have noticed a huge traction difference between my old BX 2660 and my new B2601 doing snow plowing. I don't have chains but do use 4WD all the time. Thanks for doing the video, GP! Cheers!
Morning Mike. Yes the camera seems to "mute" the landscape - I have never been able to ascend that hill without 4wd and alot of weight on the back. But if you are able to maintain good traction on your property then all good. I used it the last 2 winters and get great traction except for those nasty icey, or slippery snow conditions on those hills. Have a great weekend and all the best!
I have a set of those on AG tires and they do great! The standard chains fall between the lugs and help very little. I use them on an M Series with four wheel drive and can’t tell it causes any issue. But I don’t need to use them very often.
On the basis you aren’t plowing snow and are using a front snow blower, you might not need to engage 4wd. But will be curious to find out when you need to dig out of a larger snow event. Keep the updates coming! Looking at the updated chain video and over the past month of working on my B2650 chain set up, I would say that if you really wanted to “dial in” the overall set up you will want to adjust further the inside and outside chain links. The chain tighteners are pulling a lot of excess chain over onto the sidewalls, an indicator of having too many links on either the inside or outside perimeter links. As long as the chains you received from the supplier are within a certain percentage margin fit, you should be able to better adjust them. The other component are the cross links/chain pattern. These are more difficult to adjust, yet within a certain margin can be adjusted. In theory, as I have learnt only recently, a perfectly fitted chain does not require a chain tightener (or bungees).
Good day Ron. Thanks for the great info. I am looking forward to seeing how well it runs with the front blower - especially up the inclines. Some good points on the chains. I did notice that I can see there is more chain over the sidewalls as you suggest so I may try to do some adjustments. Thanks and have a good weekend!
Looks like I'm going to get a set of chains for my L3901. Tried pushing snow ( 20" ) on the trails in my woods and it's not a problem until I get to a hill. Half way up all 4 tires spin. Chains should take care of the problem. Have a great day and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for Wisconsin.
G P very interesting going down the hill proves they work very little sliding or skipping we have a hill going from shed to house and going is tuff it slides when going back to shed after blowing but chains would be hard for us most blowing is on cement Thank you God Bless PaK
I ordered my wheel spacers bc of your advice. thank you. another con in my opinion is all the clanking noise those chains make. hopefully wheel spacers will help prevent rubbing.
Chains always rattle a bit, but that's a minor inconvenience compared to sliding to the side and polishing up a rut that will keep pulling you that way.
Good day Jay! Good stuff. I think you will find minimal clanking after you get the spacers on. I also took some wire and tie-wrapped all the hanging chains and shackles down to minimize them banging around. Good luck with yours, and enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Enjoyed the video GP! I'm glad the chains are helping out! You have some steep inclines to climb! I look forward to seeing how they do through the winter. Have a good week GP!! Stay warm my friend and say Hi to Guy for me! lol
Hallo gord,best disition to purchase the chains.the will help you to the intire winter,and as seen as well in mud .and by the way nice kubota jacket .unfortnatly only for the north american market.but kubota is growing very fast here and i am looking forward to get one as soon as posdible.
Good day and nice to hear from you Michael! The chains have certainly made a noticeable difference for me. I have never driven the tractor on the driveway in 2wd before - always 4wd. We'll see how they do over the next few months. I am really happy with this tractor to date. Have a wonderful weekend!
I think I may be needing a pair of those chains, Gord! I have a nasty north facing hill on my driveway that has already been iced up twice this year (and melted down as it’s doing again today in heavy rain hear in southeastern Ontario). However the rain may turn to snow tonight and we’ll be back to ice with the temperature falling and all the water in the ground. The L4060 has proven itself to be a great unit but rubber on ice has its limitations! I think your region is in for some serious snow today so enjoy!! I’m a bit envious - I’d far rather be white than wet 😁 Cheers and best wishes to you and your family!
Good evening Dave! Yes indeed, the flakes are falling as we speak. So far those chains have surprised me Dave. I've never been able to ascend that hill in the winter without 4WD and sometimes even the differential lock. Pretty impressed today. As you know, I don't practice things before I film, I show you folks everything so I had no idea whether I was going to get up the hill or not. LOL. Makes it kind of exciting for me too. :)) Good so far but I am looking forward to seeing how they work in a couple of feet of snow and ice, and whether I will be able to use the blower going up the hill or not. Be safe and stay warm out there. Cheers!
I too will be interested to see how that style of chains work on your tractor in the deep snow and with the blower ... mainly because I may eventually move from a rear to front blower! I think I have mentioned in a prior comment that I had a full set of v-bar chains for my old ‘93 Kawi 400 ATV and they were fantastic for plowing, even on the lake to make a rink. However if you didn’t keep the snow moved out of the way in front of you and the snow started packing up under the frame, you could certainly still get stuck. I think with the clearance on the Kubota tractors, that shouldn’t be an issue unless you get into REALLY deep stuff. Looking forward to further videos as the winter sets in! Cheers! Dave
The chains will really help out in the mud and snow , but if you only use two wheel drive, you do not have four wheel braking and the advantage of the front wheels pulling the tractor in the direction that you want to go when steering. I use four wheel drive on my B2650 for stopping going down hill more than anything, everything is hilly around here.
Those are some great points Malcolm. I have given it a lot of thought over the last while and I agree with you. Going downhill with a load or lots of weight will require the 4wd assist. I will see how the turning is when I have the blower on the front (450 lbs) and go from there. I am looking to keep using it with just the chains for a while in different conditions to see how they work on their own before adding the 4wd , but of course, not to the extent of being unsafe. Thanks for sharing some good advice and ideas. Cheers and all the best!
GP you will LOVE them i used 4 link V-Bar all the time on our trucks and tractors but yes you are right on hard ground they are ruff but all chains are ! and if you get stuck and need the 4 wheel in snow are mud i cant see why it would hurt to use it ! but if you have weight on the back you should not need it with them chains makes a 2 wheel in to a 4 wheel drive if you get stuck with them on i say you really got in to some thing big !!! LOL But have a Merry Christmas ! Kioti Curt :-)
Good morning and great to hear from you Curt! Thanks - So far I am pretty happy I chose that style. They weren't cheap though but I figured I should have them for life. Hope all is well and have a Merry Christmas Curt!
Another super helpful video GP! One thing I noticed though is that when comparing pros and cons you didn’t mention cost. While those chains offer killer traction THEY ARE PRICEY! I’m considering some for my 1025R as I’ve already noticed how pathetic R4’s are on snow and ice. But man the vbar chains pack a hefty price tag. Merry Christmas! Cheers
ALLO GP it seems like a small treat A bit of speed going up heels for the Comfort of knowing your going make it . I’m pretty sure if you need 4 wheel drive it would be ok I think you’re front wheel would slip before you break it.
Thanks Denis. I think so too. At some point I will try the 4wd as well. It feesl really good knowing I won't be getting stuck or not able to make it up those inclines now. Have a great weekend!
Once you chain up you never want to take them off lol. Chains will blow you mind to how much more efficient you will be. I bet it will cut your time down 25% on how long it takes you to clear your driveway. Mitch
If i had to use chains , the way you are using this setup, 2 wheel drive, would be the way i would go. Joe's ,Case tractor proves that in spades. Just keep thinking , you have "Front wheel assist, not 4 wheel drive " imho. Take care over this holiday season and all the best !!!
Hey good day and great to hear from you Mr. Fixit. Thanks - always appreciate the advice and help. I will be mounting the front blower soon so we will see how it does, once we start getting a good snowfall to clear. Thanks again!
GP, there is only 1 issue to front chains and using 4wd on your tractor during warranty coverage. That is the opinion of your servicing dealer for warranty claims. Once you are out of warranty coverage, the biggie then is the rolling circumference ratio of your rear tires to your front tires. Since any damage will then be your dimes, I would recommend continuing to follow your dealers warranty guidelines, realizing that should be a recommendation to reduce the chances of drive line damage.
I have a 1998 L3010 and live on the side of a mountain near Yellowstone Park. Trust me, you need chains on all four, Rimguard in the wheels and always in 4wd. Anything short of that is dangerous and stupid. So, I've been doing this for 22 years with this tractor, nearly always in medium range and have ever had a problem. Another commenter compared the real world with a laboratory world. I couldn't agree more and in my real world it's ballast, chains, 4wd and anything else I can think of.
Just watched this video but am concerned about the chains, I was told by dealer don’t use them unless you keep updating your tractor (trading) because eventually you will have problems with the drive line, I also noticed you just traded tractors. Is that the reason? I also checked out the owners manual, on my BX2380) it says do not use ballast in tires and chains as well. My dealer told me to use tire studs and they are easy to install,yourself. My set up is a bit different than yours though, I have a rear mounted snow blower, so will have about 500lbs on the rear which might make a difference and I will leave the loader on to stop any icy slides (hopefully). If things are real bad I will install the studs, was told it is easy to do yourself. Let me know what you think. I just got a tractor and love these channels just for this reason. Can talk to like minded individuals no matter where they are. Dean
Good morning Dean. Thanks for the great comment. No, not at all. No trouble at all using chains - in the manner I did. I did alot of research and fielded a lot of comments/opinions from tractor owners, including several discussions with several kubota dealers, over a period of several months. Bottom line (although some folks will disagree with this); it is safe to use the chains, but on the rear tires ONLY. Not all 4 tires, on this B2601. (many people feel I am wrong and that it is ok to use them on all four, but I am not so sure, based on my research). However it is recommended NOT to use the tractor in 4 wheel drive if you are going to put chains on the back. (again, many long time tractor owners also disagree with this - they believe it should be fine so long as you are on a surface that allows the tires to slip when necessary). So based on risk etc, and supported by several Kubota dealers, I chose to put chains on the rear only and to only use 2 wheel drive (even though I did try it a few times to see the difference, in snowy/icy conditions). With the chains, I never ran into a situation where I ever needed the 4 wd, so all good. The difference in traction with chains on my big steep hills was like night and day. No trouble with the tractor or trouble or interference with the difference in circumference between the rear and front tires, or differential etc. Please remember I am not an expert but perhaps it would be interesting if you asked your dealer if there is any issue with chains on the rear tires only and only to use it in 2 wheel drive. If he says it is not good for the tractor, ask him to explain exactly why. Not generally, exactly why. I promise I spent a good 6 months on this before I decided because I loved my tractor and wanted to ensure I didn't hurt it. Sorry for the long note but boy I did a lot of background work on this one. LOL. And I consistently never did anything with my tractor unless my dealer confirmed it was ok to do it. (Didn't want to void my warranty..:)) So, I hope this helps a bit. Good luck - always great to hear other opinions and share info on things. Helps us all, for sure. Take good care and all the best with your decision. Cheers!
@Ro Bear Morning Ro. Always enjoy your straightforward and honest comments. I just re-watched the video. And must respectively disagree with you. Those are some of the many reasons I had to consider through the significant feedback and debate from subscribers in the comments of many videos during that time, however as you go through further videos during the winter, you will see that I tested them in 2WD, 4WD and used diff lock as well. Although I don't have a lot of experience, I have learned that short of buying a simple set of standard cross chains, any chains with a studded or hook pattern, will offer some level of uneven ride or discomfort, when on flat hard surfaces. Once the snow comes then it's not so bad and since these new ones are already better than the H pattern, I am expecting them to be much better in the snow and ice. Lastly, and respectfully, I am too old to lie about anything- ever. :). Hope that helps to clarify. Thanks again for your honest feedback and for watching. Cheers!
How's she goin'? With those chains on the rear, you should have no issues getting up or down your lane all winter, with or without a load. It's always tough to plow 'up' hill, but with the chains I bet you'll see a big difference when plowing up the lane. But like you say, for smooth terrain, the chains have to come off. In the woods, no matter the time of year, these chains will be fine. Thanks for the info and take care!!
I'm glad the chains are working out. That is interesting the tractor needs to be in a lower range in some cases. I know you added to the rotating mass of the rear wheels but I would think that should have made much of a difference. Maybe the chains are "chocking" the tires??? Nice jacket BTW.
@@GPOutdoors The heavier something is the harder it is going to turn. So it will take more HP to turn it. If you add rear wheel weights , you would notice that it would not pull hills as well. I also said about the chains chocking the tires, a better way to put that would be, the chains increase the rolling resistance. For example, if you took a rear tire of the tractor and rolled it across a concrete floor it would roll easily. Then if you put the chain on the tire, you would see it rolled harder. I'm going to guess and say that chains with v bars roll harder than chains without but v bars increase traction.
A little hint - now that you have chains, reserve 4 wheel to help you get out of what you increasingly will get into with 2 wheel drive. Does that tractor have a locking rear axle?
If you need 4x4 use it. Wont hurt a thing. Many peoples tractors never get taken out of 4x4... Mine is in all winter and 95% of the time the rest of the year... chains or not...
Hey GP, I stumbled on your video while doing research for my snow removal needs on a steep driveway. What would you estimate the incline on the steep section in your videos ? Great content for getting educated beforehand.
Hi GP. Question for you. What do you think about installing chains on front tire on tractor. Im pushing lot of heavy snow and lot of corner so my tractor always slip. Do you think it can be hard on my front axel. Thank You in advance. Mike
GP, just received my B2601 rear wheel spacer kit, and will be buying chains within a day or two. my question: Would you buy less aggressive chains next time around, now that you know how bouncy the H\V hooks patterns are? tx Dan
Good morning Dan. Good stuff. Boy, that's a great question. With my steep hills on the driveway and ice and snow etc I would have to say I would get them again. It's tough driving on flat surfaces with them but it's a small price to pay for guaranteed traction in the middle of winter. I was able to drive up the steepest hill pushing that snowblower for the first time, and in 2WD. They bite. I don't have enough experience to know if a less aggressive chain would have worked as well, so for sure, for winter use, I'd buy them again. Good luck and all the best Dan!
Hi Gord. Great video! I have looked into the chains for my tractor. You didn't mention if you have the standard duty or heavy duty chains. I have to plow today only 2" over ice cover so I will see how it goes. Since it's my first winter I don't want to jump the gun if i don't have to. Is your FEL similar in weight as your snowblower? If the blower is a little lighter it will also help with your traction in the deep of winter. You mention having to use mid range on the hill. Could it be that without the chains there is some wheel slip reducing the bogging down effect on machine? Have a good weekend.
Good day Alain. That's a really good approach I think. Try it without chains for a while, until you determine or start to find you may need to consider chains. The only reason I ended up with them is because of those inclines and ice. I am not sure of the rating on the chains but I know they are alot thicker than I thought they would be ( 60 lbs a piece). Enjoy the rest of the weekend and stay safe out there!
Good day Jace. I honestly have not tried regular H pattern without a v hook, but I can tell, that the v-hook digs right into the ice while I am driving, so I kind of figured, that if I was going to get chains for the winter (only) that I should get a good aggressive pattern so I would not find out after, with a regular chain, that the traction was still an issue. Hope that helps explain it a bit - we get alot of ice on those hills through the winter. Cheers and thanks for the question.
Morning and thanks Tom! I got some new chains for this winter - Aquiline Talons - much smoother ride and great traction . I got them from tirechainsrequired dot com down in the US. The guy's name there is Bill. Good luck and stay warm!
@@GPOutdoors thanks for the reply. You know, I watch a lot of videos on RUclips, but your channel is one of the BEST out there. Keep them coming, especially any kind that are Tractor related. Thank you again, from a Subscriber...
Great upgate there! BTW, I don't know if you have covered this but you may have at the beginning of your journey with the tractor...do you ever wish that you would have had a cab installed or are you happy as is?
Good morning Shaun. Thanks! Great question. I wish I had a cab this time of year and in the black fly season but being new to having a tractor, and because I spend the majority of the year driving through the forest, I chose no cab so I would have a smaller footprint weaving through trees and obstacles, and I don't have to worry about errant branches breaking through a window on the cab. My dealer told me it was about $1,000 CDN to replace a broken window panel on the cab model. Perhaps when I have a lot more experience I might reconsider. Thanks and have a great weekend!
Hi david. No, I purposely did not as I wanted to see how they worked all on their own. I have used the diff lock a few times with the chains on when I was in that deep mud in the forest about a month ago but not on this test. Thanks for the question - have a great weekend!
Hi Jace. It is still early for me to offer too much on the current setup. I am super happy so far - they dig great , but I always like to use equipment or things for a while so I can experience them in many circumstances. But so far so good. I doubt I will ever get chains for the front because (i) I have the subframe for the blower which I am 99% sure will "catch" the chains when I turn the wheels hard to the eft or right, and also, (ii) there is alot of debate on whether it is ok to put a set on the front as well. My dealer, as well as many other subscribers (and their dealers) have recommended against putting chains on all four tires on the compact tractor and using 4WD - something to do with strain or tension on the 4wd stuff. So for now, we'll see how the winter goes and then decide from there. But honestly, I have never been able to climb that hill without the need for 4WD and sometimes the differential lock on, to make it up in the winter. It's a really good sign, getting all the way up on ice, with those chains and in 2WD. Sorry for the long answer but hope that helps a little. Have a great weekend and stay safe out there!
GP Outdoors thanks very much. I have a 2650 and watch your videos for different ideas. I’ve been debating chains for awhile now. My dealer in Saskatchewan said nothing about only using 2wd.
Morning Jace. Maybe if you can, would you mind asking his opinion for us? It would be great to know his thoughts on it. And very helpful to share the information. Cheers!
Good morning Martin! I got them online at candianchains dot com. You just choose your tire size after you click on whatever type of chain you click on, and the prices are all there. Cheers!
Thanks Allen. I probably should have showed it and explained it. I will on the next update. Hopefully you know now or have googled it. Cheers and enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Never change your front tires. If you put your tractor in four-wheel drive and you have chains front and rear you have no area to slip. A little wheel spin is what protects your drive line. Chain everything up and put in four-wheel drive and you'll just break expensive parts.
Great video, I am looking forward to pushing snow for the first time this winter with my Mahindra Max. Ive been watching your videos for some time now are really enjoy the content. If you are interested, follow me along at K6 Outdoors. Cheers my friend
I was one of the many that suggested the "H" pattern chains last winter. Now you have the front wheel assist to keep in reserve. These smaller tractors were not really intended to run full-time four wheel drive. There's a load of math that covers contact patch size versus rolling resistance versus torque requirement versus hydrostatic overhead and loss. The point is that hydros are not super efficient, but super convenient, so using the lower range fixes the issue. You'll likely find you need to be in the lowest range to use the front wheel assist while under full load with the blower and ballast weights.
Good day William. Thanks - this is super helpful info. I will keep that in mind. I'll have the blower on soon and will keep mindful of the gear I am in and how it feels and sounds. Thanks again! I am pretty happy to have finally picked up the chains! Cheers!
I was smiling the whole time GP remembering the times I've chided you about getting chains for the snow and mud. The issue with running chains on the rears and not on the front in 4wd has to do with the actual change in circumference of the rears with the chains on and putting the drive train in a bind as a result of that perceived change in ratio. BUT.... imho, that really makes no matter in the real world because there is always slippage between the contact surface and the tires that will minimize any chance of real damage to the tractor....especially in off road conditions.
By 'off-road" I mean anything but concrete and asphalt. And even then on concrete or other hard surface, the grippage of the chains are dramatically reduced and will spin easily. But it WILL decrease the life of the chains as they will wear down much quicker. I have sets of chains that are half way worn through and are 50 or 60 years old !! The thing we have to remember is that there is no right or wrong to anyone's concept of chain use as most concepts are opinioned choices. The main thing is you have them and choose to use them in a way in which they benefit you. I am glad to see you've come to the dark side.... LOL Thanks for the shot of the suction base. I have that one but am reluctant to use it....has it ever lost suction?? Another good video sir...as always!!
First, thanks T! You make a lot of sense and many others have expressed similar thoughts on using the 4wd. I am probably being a little over cautious - being still relatively new to having the tractor and still learning something new about it all the time. It makes sense to me. On the suction mount, here is what I have learned (thankfully not the hard way, but close a few times). (A) You have to make sure the surface is (i)wide enough that that the entire circumference of the suction cup can seat, (ii) that area must be completely flat - no ridges, stickers, or any uneven areas, (iii) must be clean - a rag and a little spit goes a long way. (B) spit on the suction cup and wipe it around - just a little does the trick, (C) When you seat the mount make sure that (i) the little bar (hinge thingy) is vertical and (ii) press on the little button fully and (iii) hold that button all the way until (iv) you have fully engaged the suction cup - (you have fully pushed that hinge thingy bar all the way horizontally over the button). Here's how you can tell whether it has fully sucked into position: (C) Pull firmly on the mount - it should not move whatsoever. You can tell it is not fully sucked on if (i) you can move the plastic mount at all, or (ii) you can see that when it moves you can see the sides of the clear rubber suction cup separate from the black plastic mount , or (iii) you can pull it off easily. When it is fully and properly attached, you can tell because (i) the rubber suction cup is tight to the round part of the black plastic mount - they look like one piece (not separate pieces) and (ii) you can not separate them at all without really yanking super hard on it. It feels solid. If the surface you want to attach it to has any imperfections and is not totally flat and clean, it won't stick properly and will eventually fall off. But honest, if you yank on it firmly and it doesn't move, you're good to go. I might suggest you practice putting it on and off on different parts of the tractor - nice clean flat parts and dirty or uneven surfaces. You will quickly notice the differences I have noted above and become comfortable with it once you have experienced the different conditions I noted above. Also try applying it without fully pressing the button down and you will see how it doesn't fully seat itself. I get it T. Last thing you want is to see that camera going under your tire chains. LOL. Good luck - hope that was kind of clear and not too confusing. Cheers!
I’ve added a link to your video in mine! Enjoy the rest of our Ontario summer. 300! Kubota BX2380 review. Tips and Tricks!
💥 Those chains look like they’ll provide you plenty of traction. I wouldn’t worry about engaging four wheel drive with just chains on the back. Any ratio difference in the snow shouldn’t cause an issue. But like you said, if you don’t need it don’t use it I guess. 👍
Keep on tractoring!
Thanks Jon! Keep warm and safe!
I agree if you don’t need it don’t use it and if you need it there will not be enough resistance to bind up the gears to hurt the 4x4 anb when you do use 4x4 that tractor will be a snow moving animal
Glad to hear the "Grab a coffee" phrase and a thumbs up make a comeback. Those chains are going to make your life much easier this winter. Cheers!
LOL! Thanks BBS! Have a good one!
I agree with other commenters, using four wheel drive won't hurt it but you probably won't need it. If you were driving on dry tar it may be tough on it but if that were the case you wouldn't need 4WD or the chains. And my theory is that in high range and having it lug down at the top of the hill may be because that with the chains you are changing the diameter of your rear tires, making them larger thus taking more torque to turn them while climbing. I'd get a set for my tractor but I choose not to scratch up my driveway. if I had a gravel driveway, I'd certainly get a set of chains. Thanks for great videos.
I was told decades ago that the definition of 'four wheel drive' is: A device to get you stuck in more inaccessible areas.
Chains, like other valuable tools, though expensive, its better to have them and not need them, than need them and not have them. Throw a couple spare shackles in the toolbox.
LOL. I enjoyed that Rand. Thanks !
Thanks for giving us a honest opinion on the chains. I appreciate it. Stay safe.
You're very welcome. Thanks for watching!
Ole Mother Nature won't be stopping you now GP. About 10 years ago I had an older gear drive 4x4 J.Deere tractor. I needed new front tires when i bought it. I found out that the tire size i needed was discontinued and couldn't be gotten. Long story short, after much research i rettled for a tire that was approx. 4"s taller than my old tires. I was worried that this might ruin my transmission and/or transfer case for the front wheel assist. The older guy that sold me these larger tires explained things to me that the only way to keep the ratio exactly the same was to have exactly the same size tires on the front and rear. I had 24s on the rear and 14s on the front. He said for the ratio to be exact I'd need 24"s the front and back.
Now i know they alter this ratio with a gear reduction so as one won't override the other. But i can assure you this 4" difference in my front tires size never altered my tractor performance. It drove the same, in all ranges and all the gear selections. My tractor ground speed was 16 mph in 4th gear and high range. Now if it had 55 mph then front wheel assist might've been a problem. At a slow speed it will not overwhelm or wind up an over torque you transmission. I truly believe GP you'd be safe using 4 wheel drive with chains on the rear tires only. Hope this helps. Didn't mean to be so chatty. LOL
Good morning Dean ! Thanks this was great and happy to have the advice and for you to share the experience. Helps me a lot. And makes a lot of sense to me. I will give it a try soon, I think. This was very helpful my friend. Have a great week and talk again soon. Cheers!
I've never used the High option on my Kubota 4701. I also found that running the Diesel engine without higher RPM's kicks in the Diesel Filter Cleaning mechanism more often. I have 540 hours on it, a 2016 HST model, 90% of those hours in 4 wheel, no problems. I'm fairly certain these tractors are built to be used and not babied.
Morning Tim. Some good points there. Without the chains, I use 4wd regularly and virtually all winter long it never leaves 4wd. I will try it out at some point - I think you have a good point. They are built to be worked. Thanks and enjoy the weekend!
Thanks for the update GP. Glad they are working out for you. Will be looking forward to your next upload. cheers
Have a good weekend Roy!
Thanks for the update. Looking at adding a set for this winter now. Enjoy that fresh snow!
Great video GP. I have a four wheel truck, they alway say don’t use 4x4 until you get stuck. Then get out of there! Thanks much for sharing.
Thanks Michael! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
GP looks like the chains are going to transform your winter tractoring. Nice review and loved the slow motion shots. I've only one experience with chains, a few winters ago my wife and I decided to have a holiday in the snow fields. We hired some chains in the valley and the guy gave me a lesson on how to put them on while my wife sat in the car knitting. When we reached the point you had to fit chains I jumped out and despite the lesson couldn't figure out how to put them on. After a little while my wife got out and said whats the matter, I said I can't fit these dam things, she said give me a go and proceeded to put them on like she's done it a million times, I said how did you do that, she said its just commonsense, I guess I don't have any.
LOL!! That was classic. Too funny Mark. Gotta love our wives. That is a great story. Thanks for the morning humour. Hope you and your wifey have a wonderful week. Cheers!
That is great! It works very good. The music suggested some very important breaking news... It is! Now the two ultimate tests: On bare ice. You will be amazed. Then on wet snow, that is the toughest part. Thanks GP for sharing your thoughts!
Good morning Joe! So far so good. Waiting for those tests. Hope you are all ready for Christmas! Cheers and all the best!
I watched a video last year, I think it was messicks, I’m sure you have see there videos, if not there a kubota dealer. I remember them saying kubota doesn’t recommend putting chains on the front tires, it will mess up the 4 wheel drive over time. If I can find the video I’ll send it to you. Love the videos.
Good morning Woody. Yes, sir - I've seen it. My dealer always has the same advice. I don't think I will ever put the chains on the front. Looking forward to seeing whether I will still need to use 4WD this winter. Thanks for the help! All the best!
Looks like a winner you got there Goes. Be safe this Christmas season. CHEERS😁
Cheers and thanks Scott!
GP love your videos. I just picked up a B2601 a month ago now. I ordered my tractor with the Bar Turf tire combo. Man do these rear tires really dig. Dealer never orders tractors with the bar turf. He was surprised I wanted them. They are a shorter tire combo so you lose some ground clearance but gain power to the ground due to shorter tire height. The rear tires measure 31x15.5 so you get some great flotation as well. CHEERS! and keep up the great work!
Good morning Nathan and congrats on the new tractor! Santa came early! LOL. I saw a Messick's video on those tires back in the summer - Neal did a traction test against the R4 and they performed really well. Thanks for sharing the info. Have a very Merry Christmas and I hope you get lots of tractor time over the holidays!
Time to use an implement on the rear and see how it continues to perform with the snow chains. Enjoy the videos as always!
Well GP....as they say "the proof is in the pudding"....you proved that the chains sure help the tractor get around in winter.....great test.....well stay safe and take care my friend........ :)
Good morning Don! You too - enjoy the weekend kind sir!
Chains on frontwheels helps stering on ice. With or without 4-wheel drive.
Excellent video thanks for the update. 👍
Looks like you know what your doing, GP. Thank you for the update as I was wondering. Here’s to more snow! Merry Christmas!
Cheers
Hoping for a white Christmas Tom! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Very well done, thanks
That's awesome GP !!!
Remember wasn't that long ago NO ONE had 4wd.
Need more traction .............. add more read weight.
You bet! Thanks Bubba!
Lots of informative info. Thanks Gordy. 😁
You bet, Edward! Cheers!
Hey GP, that’s a great game changer adding chains ! Glad you are enjoying your tractor more with the advantage of adding chains. They can be lifesavers in bad situations. I seen some critter track, looks like they are doing alright too. Be safe out there and keep having fun with your chores. Thanks for sharing with us.
LOL. Good day ODD! Yes sir, every morning I see new tracks from the night before. Different sizes etc. I saw 3 fox walk across the shore of the lake right in front of the cabin the other night. Could not get the camera out in time but was nice to see them - probably out looking for dinner. Have a good weekend and talk again soon!
Thanks for the update. Having to gear down may be due to the fact you now have zero wheel slippage, so be careful when pushing snow or front load hauling that you can still steer. A warm and safe Christmas to you , family, and neighbors.
Good morning and thanks for the advice Ed! I will keep mindful of that going forward. Thanks again and Merry Christmas to you and yours too!
Hi GP,
Great set-up you have there! I've used double loop chains for the past 20 years or so, and 95% of the time they work fine. The other 5% though, hang on! Had some very bad ice last year, and really wished for the V Hook style. Also, my tractor is seldom in 2wd. I leave it in 4wd Winter and Summer, unless I'm on the road. (Dirt road) Tractor has never seen pavement. Be safe and the best to you and yours. Peace.
Great information Gordon!
Darn chains... they take all the fun and excitement out of winter. :-)
LOL Joe! Yup, kind of removes the adventure of sliding and loss of control. :)) Cheers and all the best!
Hi Gord! Looks like those chains are doin’ it for you. I agree with T44 that you don’t have to worry about not having chains on the front tires in 4W drive unless you are driving on concrete or asphalt. There is certainly plenty of slip in the snow, ice and mud. Thanks for sharing!
Good morning and thanks for the advice martin. It is really helpful to get your views on it too. I will give it a try soon but I honestly have not needed it yet. Have a Happy New Years!
Wow! What a difference those chains make! On the video it is hard to see just how steep that hill in your driveway is, not your fault, we viewers are missing the third dimension. But if you can do something that you have not been able to do before, then you have success! I have noticed a huge traction difference between my old BX 2660 and my new B2601 doing snow plowing. I don't have chains but do use 4WD all the time. Thanks for doing the video, GP!
Cheers!
Morning Mike. Yes the camera seems to "mute" the landscape - I have never been able to ascend that hill without 4wd and alot of weight on the back. But if you are able to maintain good traction on your property then all good. I used it the last 2 winters and get great traction except for those nasty icey, or slippery snow conditions on those hills. Have a great weekend and all the best!
👍... Y'all have a great weekend GP. ☺
You too, BB!
I have a set of those on AG tires and they do great! The standard chains fall between the lugs and help very little. I use them on an M Series with four wheel drive and can’t tell it causes any issue. But I don’t need to use them very often.
Thanks K&H! Really appreciate you sharing your experiences and thoughts on it. It is very helpful for me. Have a good weekend!
Where did you purchase the chains?
On the basis you aren’t plowing snow and are using a front snow blower, you might not need to engage 4wd. But will be curious to find out when you need to dig out of a larger snow event. Keep
the updates coming! Looking at the updated chain video and over the past month of working on my B2650 chain set up, I would say that if you really wanted to “dial in” the overall set up you will want to adjust further the inside and outside chain links. The chain tighteners are pulling a lot of excess chain over onto the sidewalls, an indicator of having too many links on either the inside or outside perimeter links. As long as the chains you received from the supplier are within a certain percentage margin fit, you should be able to better adjust them. The other component are the cross links/chain pattern. These are more difficult to adjust, yet within a certain margin can be adjusted. In theory, as I have learnt only recently, a perfectly fitted chain does not require a chain tightener (or bungees).
Good day Ron. Thanks for the great info. I am looking forward to seeing how well it runs with the front blower - especially up the inclines. Some good points on the chains. I did notice that I can see there is more chain over the sidewalls as you suggest so I may try to do some adjustments. Thanks and have a good weekend!
Looks like I'm going to get a set of chains for my L3901. Tried pushing snow ( 20" ) on the trails in my woods and it's not a problem until I get to a hill. Half way up all 4 tires spin. Chains should take care of the problem. Have a great day and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for Wisconsin.
Merry Christmas Scott! Good luck with the chains!
G P very interesting going down the hill proves they work very little sliding or skipping we have a hill going from shed to house and going is tuff it slides when going back to shed after blowing but chains would be hard for us most blowing is on cement
Thank you
God Bless
PaK
Good point Peter. Probably not good for cement or paved surfaces I think. All the best!
I ordered my wheel spacers bc of your advice. thank you.
another con in my opinion is all the clanking noise those chains make. hopefully wheel spacers will help prevent rubbing.
Chains always rattle a bit, but that's a minor inconvenience compared to sliding to the side and polishing up a rut that will keep pulling you that way.
Good day Jay! Good stuff. I think you will find minimal clanking after you get the spacers on. I also took some wire and tie-wrapped all the hanging chains and shackles down to minimize them banging around. Good luck with yours, and enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Enjoyed the video GP! I'm glad the chains are helping out! You have some steep inclines to climb! I look forward to seeing how they do through the winter. Have a good week GP!! Stay warm my friend and say Hi to Guy for me! lol
Good morning John! They certainly are. Will do. Have a great week out there!
Hallo gord,best disition to purchase the chains.the will help you to the intire winter,and as seen as well in mud .and by the way nice kubota jacket .unfortnatly only for the north american market.but kubota is growing very fast here and i am looking forward to get one as soon as posdible.
Good day and nice to hear from you Michael! The chains have certainly made a noticeable difference for me. I have never driven the tractor on the driveway in 2wd before - always 4wd. We'll see how they do over the next few months. I am really happy with this tractor to date. Have a wonderful weekend!
I think I may be needing a pair of those chains, Gord! I have a nasty north facing hill on my driveway that has already been iced up twice this year (and melted down as it’s doing again today in heavy rain hear in southeastern Ontario). However the rain may turn to snow tonight and we’ll be back to ice with the temperature falling and all the water in the ground. The L4060 has proven itself to be a great unit but rubber on ice has its limitations!
I think your region is in for some serious snow today so enjoy!! I’m a bit envious - I’d far rather be white than wet 😁
Cheers and best wishes to you and your family!
Good evening Dave! Yes indeed, the flakes are falling as we speak. So far those chains have surprised me Dave. I've never been able to ascend that hill in the winter without 4WD and sometimes even the differential lock. Pretty impressed today. As you know, I don't practice things before I film, I show you folks everything so I had no idea whether I was going to get up the hill or not. LOL. Makes it kind of exciting for me too. :)) Good so far but I am looking forward to seeing how they work in a couple of feet of snow and ice, and whether I will be able to use the blower going up the hill or not. Be safe and stay warm out there. Cheers!
I too will be interested to see how that style of chains work on your tractor in the deep snow and with the blower ... mainly because I may eventually move from a rear to front blower!
I think I have mentioned in a prior comment that I had a full set of v-bar chains for my old ‘93 Kawi 400 ATV and they were fantastic for plowing, even on the lake to make a rink. However if you didn’t keep the snow moved out of the way in front of you and the snow started packing up under the frame, you could certainly still get stuck. I think with the clearance on the Kubota tractors, that shouldn’t be an issue unless you get into REALLY deep stuff.
Looking forward to further videos as the winter sets in!
Cheers!
Dave
Good evening GP, I'm sincerely very happy for you that you like your chains !!! Cheers !!!
Thanks Dave! All the best!
The chains will really help out in the mud and snow , but if you only use two wheel drive, you do not have four wheel braking and the advantage of the front wheels pulling the tractor in the direction that you want to go when steering. I use four wheel drive on my B2650 for stopping going down hill more than anything, everything is hilly around here.
Those are some great points Malcolm. I have given it a lot of thought over the last while and I agree with you. Going downhill with a load or lots of weight will require the 4wd assist. I will see how the turning is when I have the blower on the front (450 lbs) and go from there. I am looking to keep using it with just the chains for a while in different conditions to see how they work on their own before adding the 4wd , but of course, not to the extent of being unsafe. Thanks for sharing some good advice and ideas. Cheers and all the best!
GP you will LOVE them i used 4 link V-Bar all the time on our trucks and tractors but yes you are right on hard ground they are ruff but all chains are ! and if you get stuck and need the 4 wheel in snow are mud i cant see why it would hurt to use it ! but if you have weight on the back you should not need it with them chains makes a 2 wheel in to a 4 wheel drive if you get stuck with them on i say you really got in to some thing big !!! LOL But have a Merry Christmas ! Kioti Curt :-)
Good morning and great to hear from you Curt! Thanks - So far I am pretty happy I chose that style. They weren't cheap though but I figured I should have them for life. Hope all is well and have a Merry Christmas Curt!
Another super helpful video GP! One thing I noticed though is that when comparing pros and cons you didn’t mention cost. While those chains offer killer traction THEY ARE PRICEY! I’m considering some for my 1025R as I’ve already noticed how pathetic R4’s are on snow and ice. But man the vbar chains pack a hefty price tag.
Merry Christmas! Cheers
Good day Matt. That's an excellent point. I will make sure to include it in the next update. Great idea. They were expensive! Cheers and thanks!
ALLO GP it seems like a small treat A bit of speed going up heels for the Comfort of knowing your going make it . I’m pretty sure if you need 4 wheel drive it would be ok I think you’re front wheel would slip before you break it.
Thanks Denis. I think so too. At some point I will try the 4wd as well. It feesl really good knowing I won't be getting stuck or not able to make it up those inclines now. Have a great weekend!
Once you chain up you never want to take them off lol. Chains will blow you mind to how much more efficient you will be. I bet it will cut your time down 25% on how long it takes you to clear your driveway. Mitch
Thanks Mitch. It has made a big noticeable difference already - can't wait till we get into the heart of winter. Cheers and thanks!
If i had to use chains , the way you are using this setup, 2 wheel drive, would be the way i would go. Joe's ,Case tractor proves that in spades. Just keep thinking , you have "Front wheel assist, not 4 wheel drive " imho. Take care over this holiday season and all the best !!!
Hey good day and great to hear from you Mr. Fixit. Thanks - always appreciate the advice and help. I will be mounting the front blower soon so we will see how it does, once we start getting a good snowfall to clear. Thanks again!
GP, there is only 1 issue to front chains and using 4wd on your tractor during warranty coverage. That is the opinion of your servicing dealer for warranty claims.
Once you are out of warranty coverage, the biggie then is the rolling circumference ratio of your rear tires to your front tires.
Since any damage will then be your dimes, I would recommend continuing to follow your dealers warranty guidelines, realizing that should be a recommendation to reduce the chances of drive line damage.
Thanks Coy! Some sage advice - Cheers!
I have a 1998 L3010 and live on the side of a mountain near Yellowstone Park. Trust me, you need chains on all four, Rimguard in the wheels and always in 4wd. Anything short of that is dangerous and stupid. So, I've been doing this for 22 years with this tractor, nearly always in medium range and have ever had a problem. Another commenter compared the real world with a laboratory world. I couldn't agree more and in my real world it's ballast, chains, 4wd and anything else I can think of.
Thanks GK! I appreciate you sharing your setup and thoughts on it. Greatly appreciated. All the best!
Nice, I guess the nex addition will be a cab with a heater😜
LOL Chris! One day. :)) Have a good weekend!
Just watched this video but am concerned about the chains, I was told by dealer don’t use them unless you keep updating your tractor (trading) because eventually you will have problems with the drive line, I also noticed you just traded tractors. Is that the reason? I also checked out the owners manual, on my BX2380) it says do not use ballast in tires and chains as well.
My dealer told me to use tire studs and they are easy to install,yourself. My set up is a bit different than yours though, I have a rear mounted snow blower, so will have about 500lbs on the rear which might make a difference and I will leave the loader on to stop any icy slides (hopefully). If things are real bad I will install the studs, was told it is easy to do yourself. Let me know what you think. I just got a tractor and love these channels just for this reason. Can talk to like minded individuals no matter where they are. Dean
Good morning Dean. Thanks for the great comment. No, not at all. No trouble at all using chains - in the manner I did. I did alot of research and fielded a lot of comments/opinions from tractor owners, including several discussions with several kubota dealers, over a period of several months. Bottom line (although some folks will disagree with this); it is safe to use the chains, but on the rear tires ONLY. Not all 4 tires, on this B2601. (many people feel I am wrong and that it is ok to use them on all four, but I am not so sure, based on my research). However it is recommended NOT to use the tractor in 4 wheel drive if you are going to put chains on the back. (again, many long time tractor owners also disagree with this - they believe it should be fine so long as you are on a surface that allows the tires to slip when necessary). So based on risk etc, and supported by several Kubota dealers, I chose to put chains on the rear only and to only use 2 wheel drive (even though I did try it a few times to see the difference, in snowy/icy conditions). With the chains, I never ran into a situation where I ever needed the 4 wd, so all good. The difference in traction with chains on my big steep hills was like night and day. No trouble with the tractor or trouble or interference with the difference in circumference between the rear and front tires, or differential etc. Please remember I am not an expert but perhaps it would be interesting if you asked your dealer if there is any issue with chains on the rear tires only and only to use it in 2 wheel drive. If he says it is not good for the tractor, ask him to explain exactly why. Not generally, exactly why. I promise I spent a good 6 months on this before I decided because I loved my tractor and wanted to ensure I didn't hurt it. Sorry for the long note but boy I did a lot of background work on this one. LOL. And I consistently never did anything with my tractor unless my dealer confirmed it was ok to do it. (Didn't want to void my warranty..:)) So, I hope this helps a bit. Good luck - always great to hear other opinions and share info on things. Helps us all, for sure. Take good care and all the best with your decision. Cheers!
@Ro Bear Morning Ro. Always enjoy your straightforward and honest comments. I just re-watched the video. And must respectively disagree with you. Those are some of the many reasons I had to consider through the significant feedback and debate from subscribers in the comments of many videos during that time, however as you go through further videos during the winter, you will see that I tested them in 2WD, 4WD and used diff lock as well. Although I don't have a lot of experience, I have learned that short of buying a simple set of standard cross chains, any chains with a studded or hook pattern, will offer some level of uneven ride or discomfort, when on flat hard surfaces. Once the snow comes then it's not so bad and since these new ones are already better than the H pattern, I am expecting them to be much better in the snow and ice. Lastly, and respectfully, I am too old to lie about anything- ever. :). Hope that helps to clarify. Thanks again for your honest feedback and for watching. Cheers!
4x4 with rear chains you can use it , I would when in woods for steering
Thanks Frank! Have a good weekend!
How's she goin'? With those chains on the rear, you should have no issues getting up or down your lane all winter, with or without a load. It's always tough to plow 'up' hill, but with the chains I bet you'll see a big difference when plowing up the lane. But like you say, for smooth terrain, the chains have to come off. In the woods, no matter the time of year, these chains will be fine. Thanks for the info and take care!!
Hey Grampie. I'm looking forward to getting the blower on the front and trying. Be interesting to see how it does. Have a great weekend!
I'm glad the chains are working out. That is interesting the tractor needs to be in a lower range in some cases. I know you added to the rotating mass of the rear wheels but I would think that should have made much of a difference. Maybe the chains are "chocking" the tires??? Nice jacket BTW.
Good morning Roger! Thanks for the comment. Can you describe what that means my friend? I have not heard that term before. Thanks!
@@GPOutdoors The heavier something is the harder it is going to turn. So it will take more HP to turn it. If you add rear wheel weights , you would notice that it would not pull hills as well.
I also said about the chains chocking the tires, a better way to put that would be, the chains increase the rolling resistance. For example, if you took a rear tire of the tractor and rolled it across a concrete floor it would roll easily. Then if you put the chain on the tire, you would see it rolled harder. I'm going to guess and say that chains with v bars roll harder than chains without but v bars increase traction.
Hey thanks Roger. I understand what you were saying now. Cheers and all the best!
Makes sense Roger! The least you can notice, the ice is crushed after you drive over it. This indeed takes some energy to do.
A little hint - now that you have chains, reserve 4 wheel to help you get out of what you increasingly will get into with 2 wheel drive. Does that tractor have a locking rear axle?
Hi Don! That's a pretty good idea. Yes, it has differential lock. Thanks again!
If you check with Kubota Canada , they will likely confirm not to use 4 wheel drive with chains only on one set of wheels.
Increased traction almost always comes with increased rolling resistance on all vehicles.
Thanks Don!
If you need 4x4 use it. Wont hurt a thing. Many peoples tractors never get taken out of 4x4... Mine is in all winter and 95% of the time the rest of the year... chains or not...
Thanks for sharing the info G! Really helpful to know. Cheers and have a good week!
Hey GP, I stumbled on your video while doing research for my snow removal needs on a steep driveway. What would you estimate the incline on the steep section in your videos ? Great content for getting educated beforehand.
Hi GP. Question for you. What do you think about installing chains on front tire on tractor. Im pushing lot of heavy snow and lot of corner so my tractor always slip. Do you think it can be hard on my front axel. Thank You in advance. Mike
GP, just received my B2601 rear wheel spacer kit, and will be buying chains within a day or two. my question: Would you buy less aggressive chains next time around, now that you know how bouncy the H\V hooks patterns are? tx Dan
Good morning Dan. Good stuff. Boy, that's a great question. With my steep hills on the driveway and ice and snow etc I would have to say I would get them again. It's tough driving on flat surfaces with them but it's a small price to pay for guaranteed traction in the middle of winter. I was able to drive up the steepest hill pushing that snowblower for the first time, and in 2WD. They bite. I don't have enough experience to know if a less aggressive chain would have worked as well, so for sure, for winter use, I'd buy them again. Good luck and all the best Dan!
@@GPOutdoors Thanks a lot for your inputs GP! much appreciated, take care, Dan
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Hi Gord. Great video! I have looked into the chains for my tractor. You didn't mention if you have the standard duty or heavy duty chains. I have to plow today only 2" over ice cover so I will see how it goes. Since it's my first winter I don't want to jump the gun if i don't have to.
Is your FEL similar in weight as your snowblower? If the blower is a little lighter it will also help with your traction in the deep of winter.
You mention having to use mid range on the hill. Could it be that without the chains there is some wheel slip reducing the bogging down effect on machine?
Have a good weekend.
Good day Alain. That's a really good approach I think. Try it without chains for a while, until you determine or start to find you may need to consider chains. The only reason I ended up with them is because of those inclines and ice. I am not sure of the rating on the chains but I know they are alot thicker than I thought they would be ( 60 lbs a piece). Enjoy the rest of the weekend and stay safe out there!
Now that you have tried the chains do you still think the v-bar is necessary or do you think regular h-pattern chains would have been sufficient?
Good day Jace. I honestly have not tried regular H pattern without a v hook, but I can tell, that the v-hook digs right into the ice while I am driving, so I kind of figured, that if I was going to get chains for the winter (only) that I should get a good aggressive pattern so I would not find out after, with a regular chain, that the traction was still an issue. Hope that helps explain it a bit - we get alot of ice on those hills through the winter. Cheers and thanks for the question.
Use 4wh drive anyway, helps you steer if nothing else.
Thanks Jim! Cheers!
Hi. Where abouts in Ontario?
Wow! My old sled. Nice to hear from you - been subscribed for many years. Haliburton area. Thanks for tuning in!
Morning I’d like to put a link to your video in my 300 hour review of my Bx.
Love your videos. Where did you get your chains?
Morning and thanks Tom! I got some new chains for this winter - Aquiline Talons - much smoother ride and great traction . I got them from tirechainsrequired dot com down in the US. The guy's name there is Bill. Good luck and stay warm!
@@GPOutdoors thanks for the reply. You know, I watch a lot of videos on RUclips, but your channel is one of the BEST out there. Keep them coming, especially any kind that are Tractor related. Thank you again, from a Subscriber...
Thanks very much Tom! Have a great weekend!
Great upgate there! BTW, I don't know if you have covered this but you may have at the beginning of your journey with the tractor...do you ever wish that you would have had a cab installed or are you happy as is?
Good morning Shaun. Thanks! Great question. I wish I had a cab this time of year and in the black fly season but being new to having a tractor, and because I spend the majority of the year driving through the forest, I chose no cab so I would have a smaller footprint weaving through trees and obstacles, and I don't have to worry about errant branches breaking through a window on the cab. My dealer told me it was about $1,000 CDN to replace a broken window panel on the cab model. Perhaps when I have a lot more experience I might reconsider. Thanks and have a great weekend!
@@GPOutdoors Wow! $1000 bucks?? For a window panel? Thanks for the reply!!!
Good morning GP just wondering if you used the Dif.lock on this test. Cheers
Hi david. No, I purposely did not as I wanted to see how they worked all on their own. I have used the diff lock a few times with the chains on when I was in that deep mud in the forest about a month ago but not on this test. Thanks for the question - have a great weekend!
Hey GP , did you remember wire up the kabota so you can plug in your sled helmet and stay warm and dry this winter?
Good day Rob. LOL. I have the heater plug parts but have not done so yet. Thanks for the reminder! Cheers!
GP Outdoors hi, GP and Rob! Aux power for a heated jacket is on my todo list also
Do you think that you will invest in another set of chains for front eventually or is the setup you have now good enough?
Hi Jace. It is still early for me to offer too much on the current setup. I am super happy so far - they dig great , but I always like to use equipment or things for a while so I can experience them in many circumstances. But so far so good. I doubt I will ever get chains for the front because (i) I have the subframe for the blower which I am 99% sure will "catch" the chains when I turn the wheels hard to the eft or right, and also, (ii) there is alot of debate on whether it is ok to put a set on the front as well. My dealer, as well as many other subscribers (and their dealers) have recommended against putting chains on all four tires on the compact tractor and using 4WD - something to do with strain or tension on the 4wd stuff. So for now, we'll see how the winter goes and then decide from there. But honestly, I have never been able to climb that hill without the need for 4WD and sometimes the differential lock on, to make it up in the winter. It's a really good sign, getting all the way up on ice, with those chains and in 2WD. Sorry for the long answer but hope that helps a little. Have a great weekend and stay safe out there!
GP Outdoors thanks very much. I have a 2650 and watch your videos for different ideas. I’ve been debating chains for awhile now. My dealer in Saskatchewan said nothing about only using 2wd.
Morning Jace. Maybe if you can, would you mind asking his opinion for us? It would be great to know his thoughts on it. And very helpful to share the information. Cheers!
So we need to know--were you locking the rear differential on the climb?
LOL! No sir. Not once. Just 2WD and fingers crossed. Cheers Pete!
What size are where did you get them
Good morning Martin! I got them online at candianchains dot com. You just choose your tire size after you click on whatever type of chain you click on, and the prices are all there. Cheers!
Great video as usual. I kept wondering what a V hook meant.
Thanks Allen. I probably should have showed it and explained it. I will on the next update. Hopefully you know now or have googled it. Cheers and enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Nice! Can you stop going up hill then go again?
You bet! Did that yesterday without any trouble. That would have been good to include. Will do so on the next update. Thanks! Have a good one!
Never change your front tires. If you put your tractor in four-wheel drive and you have chains front and rear you have no area to slip. A little wheel spin is what protects your drive line. Chain everything up and put in four-wheel drive and you'll just break expensive parts.
Thanks for the advice Mark! I am slowly starting to get an understanding of this need for wheel spin. Have a great weekend and thanks again!
Really like your Kubota coat! Was it purchased at your Kubota dealer?
Good day JP! Yes indeed. Cheers!
Я бы и без всяких цепей заехал в эту горку.
Good morning. Yes, I have driven into the hill for years but have always needed to use 4wd in the winter. Thanks for watching!
Great video, I am looking forward to pushing snow for the first time this winter with my Mahindra Max. Ive been watching your videos for some time now are really enjoy the content. If you are interested, follow me along at K6 Outdoors. Cheers my friend