pfrederi 17,741 #1 Posted January 4, 2021 This is 1-3 inches of snow...according to guys who get paid for wrong predictions....By my math it is 8.5 inches.... Cleared 98% with the Charger 12 and steel chains no problems, all tye way down to teh barn. Have another charger set up with rubber chains and plastic plow edge for the pavers in front of the garage. She only has wheel weights 65lb each and did not do well on the pavers as there was sleet underneath. Wouldn't push much and had wheel spin just starting up not even pushing yet. Rubber chains on icy surface not so good. I know some members use them but they have bunches of weights on the stern. Can't really justify the $$$ for a hundred pounds of weight to plow 50 feet. 8 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,165 #2 Posted January 4, 2021 Maybe the guys doing the predicting were using the metric system! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike'sHorseBarn 2,999 #3 Posted January 4, 2021 I used rubber chains 2 times and now they sit in the corner of the garage, just a pile of wasted money lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,703 #4 Posted January 4, 2021 1 hour ago, squonk said: Maybe the guys doing the predicting were using the metric system! I was wondering if there was some sort of exponential multiplication that would get you from 1 - 3 up to 8.5. Or maybe that "New math" that we hear mentioned..... @pfrederi Paul do you have any scrap steel or old bits of chain or anything that maybe you could hang off that tractor or put in a box? Hang the box off the hitch? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shallowwatersailor 3,213 #5 Posted January 4, 2021 I was always pleased with using my rubber chains on an asphalt driveway. If your storm starts with sleet and ice, not much will cut through except chemicals and warmer temperatures. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwell-8 4,277 #6 Posted January 4, 2021 (edited) 3 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: I was wondering if there was some sort of exponential multiplication that would get you from 1 - 3 up to 8.5. Or maybe that "New math" that we hear mentioned..... @pfrederi Paul do you have any scrap steel or old bits of chain or anything that maybe you could hang off that tractor or put in a box? Hang the box off the hitch? I put my ex-wife on the back hitch, work is done in no time! srry for the stupid joke Edited January 4, 2021 by Maxwell-8 1 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,608 #7 Posted January 4, 2021 Don’t use chains or supplemental weight. I do three flat drives each storm - 2 asphalt and one concrete - and never any issues... standard turfs. Typical Michigan slop... snow to sleet... My set up: 6 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwell-8 4,277 #8 Posted January 4, 2021 (edited) 6 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Don’t use chains or supplemental weight. I do three flat drives each storm - 2 asphalt and one concrete - and never any issues... standard turfs. Typical Michigan slop... snow to sleet... My set up: And you even have the carbon light weight hood! Nice idea to store your snow shuffle there. +1 on visibility! Edited January 4, 2021 by Maxwell-8 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,315 #9 Posted January 4, 2021 24 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Don’t use chains or supplemental weight. I do three flat drives each storm - 2 asphalt and one concrete - and never any issues... standard turfs. Typical Michigan slop... snow to sleet... I use tires that are about the same as yours on my plow tractors, but do add wheel weights. They work rather well here in PA. On my two stage snowblower tractor I use the rubber chains and 75lb. wheel weights because of the heavy blower unloading the rear. Yes, the rubber chains do not perform great on ice and have little sideways traction. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c-series don 8,730 #10 Posted January 4, 2021 I have an asphalt driveway that is relatively flat. I’ve always used two link chains, with no damage to the asphalt. This year I tried four link V-bar chains and right away I noticed it scratched the heck out of the driveway if the wheel spun even a little. I was thinking about rubber chains but after reading these comments I’ll probably go back to the two link non V-bar. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oilwell1415 563 #11 Posted January 4, 2021 I wish we got enough snow here to justify having anything more than a $10 shovel. 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwell-8 4,277 #12 Posted January 4, 2021 2 minutes ago, oilwell1415 said: I wish we got enough snow here to justify having anything more than a $10 shovel. Same here 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,922 #13 Posted January 4, 2021 1 hour ago, Maxwell-8 said: And you even have the carbon light weight hood! Nice idea to store your snow shuffle there. +1 on visibility! Not all black hoods are fiberglass... not saying you’re wrong about Jim’s tractor... just a reminder that they had steel ones too. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronhatch 406 #14 Posted January 4, 2021 (edited) This is 1-3 inches of snow...according to guys who get paid for wrong predictions....By my math it is 8.5 inches.... Hind sight is 20 - 20. On my 867 w/ a 42" plow, I use cable chains plus 2 solid cement blocks (#110 total) hung on the hitch. The blocks are the kind used for building retaining walls. No problems on my level black top drive. Edited January 4, 2021 by ronhatch 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,165 #15 Posted January 4, 2021 (edited) I have a gravel drive and have my 953 weighted down with Ed Dog chains on the rear. Heavy front nose with wheel weights, and about 120lbs. a side with the inside rear weights. When the tractor stops moving forward the tires just keep digging until I start smelling Moo Goo Gai Pan and I push the clutch in! Edited January 4, 2021 by squonk 9 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,741 #16 Posted January 4, 2021 My primary plow gets the job done on gravel, dirt even sod, uphill and downhill. 67 lb weights on each wheel 75 on the rear hitch 40 on the front. The zigzag chains bite constantly and ride smoothly. But she will leave scuff marks on the pavers. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haydendavid380 759 #17 Posted January 4, 2021 Don't know if you have lake effect in your AO, but when the wind is out of the north here they forecast between a dusting and 4'. No one knows until it comes. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,608 #18 Posted January 4, 2021 3 hours ago, pullstart said: Not all black hoods are fiberglass... not saying you’re wrong about Jim’s tractor... just a reminder that they had steel ones too. Mine’s metal... I think the plastic was reserved for the rear fenders and the fiberglass hoods were on the electric / battery versions... 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwell-8 4,277 #19 Posted January 4, 2021 26 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Mine’s metal... I think the plastic was reserved for the rear fenders and the fiberglass hoods were on the electric / battery versions... Oh hahaha my bad Somebody had problems with his lights on those blackhoods but did have a gas engine. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tom2p 2,394 #20 Posted January 5, 2021 (edited) no rubber chains no steel chains no problem smh Edited January 5, 2021 by tom2p 2 2 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,608 #21 Posted January 5, 2021 8 minutes ago, tom2p said: no rubber chains no steel chains no problem smh Outstanding!!! And tough enough to have the only manual lift FEL on this site!!! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,623 #22 Posted January 5, 2021 4 hours ago, squonk said: I have a gravel drive and have my 953 weighted down with Ed Dog chains on the rear. Heavy front nose with wheel weights, and about 120lbs. a side with the inside rear weights. When the tractor stops moving forward the tires just keep digging until I start smelling Moo Goo Gai Pan and I push the clutch in! I like those tires ! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wh500special 2,188 #23 Posted January 5, 2021 2 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Mine’s metal... I think the plastic was reserved for the rear fenders and the fiberglass hoods were on the electric / battery versions... ...fiberglass also on the C161-twin...and the vertical shaft Lawn Rangers from 68 to 72(?). steve 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,100 #24 Posted January 5, 2021 20 hours ago, c-series don said: I have an asphalt driveway that is relatively flat. I’ve always used two link chains, with no damage to the asphalt. This year I tried four link V-bar chains and right away I noticed it scratched the heck out of the driveway if the wheel spun even a little. I was thinking about rubber chains but after reading these comments I’ll probably go back to the two link non V-bar. I've always used 2-link steel on my 76 blower tractor with 23-8.50's and my 05 blade tractor with 23-9.50's with good results but I didn't want to use them on the 250' asphalt drive we have now. I got a set of rubber for the 05 just before last winter set in and I love them. I have 75# on each wheel as well as one of Lowells receiver hitches and a weight box which weighs a fair amount itself but I found that I didn't need to add any more. A couple weeks ago I was clearing some new paths through the woods and I got to try it out in the dirt. I was very impressed. I didn't put the steel chains on the blower tractor because I wanted to see how I liked the rubber and again because of the asphalt. It has 55# on each wheel and that's it. I only used it once last winter and that was because I just felt like it. We didn't get all that much snow. I haven't decided if I really need chains on it but if I do it's definitely rubber. The 8.50 and 9.50 2-link steel chains are wall decorations in the barn now and likely will stay that way. Another thing that has baffled me is the ride quality. I've heard some say that rubber chains will jar your teeth out. Nah. I've had 4-link steel in the past and they are pretty rough. 2-link steel are somewhat better and rubber are even better. Often I jump on the 05 to fetch the mail and even on dry asphalt the best way I can descried it is something like a tire out of balance. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kligan 2 #25 Posted May 9, 2021 I always use rubber chains for the pavement, and it works great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
