What a difference! Roller Chain Steering!

[DennisThornton 4,770]

My little 8HP C-85 has been my main goto for pushing snow for years.  I was so happy to mount my first ever 48" blade and eager to push the first snow until I found that it really wouldn't push much snow.  So chains!  And then it would push some snow but I lost some steering.  Filled the tires and pushed heavier snow but lost more steering.  Added rear weights and could now for the first time hear most of the 8 horses getting into it, but steering really sucked!  Then I added roller chains!  OMG!  First time ever now I can push the snow banks back with an angled plow!  Unbelievable!

 

Thank you @wallfish!!!  I don't know if you came up with this idea or just passed it on but WoW!  What an idea that I don't think I would have ever come up with!  I should have done it long ago but it was just recently that I finally got around to adding the rear weights and could really push but still no steering against an angled load.

 

Great idea John!  I think another category or FAQ with top shelf ideas like this would be incredibly handy for all Wheel Horse AND all GT owners, especially newbies!

 

Sidenote:  Both of mine fell off within the first few minutes when aired as the picture shoes.  I should have taken another picture...  Got to have more air pressure to form a recessed area to retain the roller chain.  I fitted them as tightly as I could empty then aired up to 25 PSI.  Not enough for mine.  This time I watched the tire depression the chain was causing as I aired and stopped when it was noticeable.  50 PSI!  I released air down to 40.  Old hard tires!  New ones might not need that much and I've heard success stories at 25 PSI.  I was going to grind a shallow recess into the tread if this didn't work at 40 PSI but I just ran it through a torture test and they are both on.

 

Thank You!

[oldlineman 1,492]

Yes Dennis I plowed with my 1979 c-101 for all those years up to about 2 or 3 years ago and yes what a difference great improvement and very affordable.Bob   

[ebinmaine 69,843]

When I put the set in Trina's 867 a few weeks ago I took the valve stem right out. 

No pressure even possible. 

Wrapped it with a ratchet strap and reduced the tire diameter. 

Shortened the chain 2 or 3 links and using leverage, brute strength, some creativity and several colorful sentences I got them put back in wicked tight mode. 

Aired up to about 15 or 20 psi and they've been ok. 

 

[pfrederi 18,206]

Hang some weight on the front end to help press those chains into the packed snow/ice you will be impressed...

[DennisThornton 4,770]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

When I put the set in Trina's 867 a few weeks ago I took the valve stem right out. 

No pressure even possible. 

Wrapped it with a ratchet strap and reduced the tire diameter. 

Shortened the chain 2 or 3 links and using leverage, brute strength, some creativity and several colorful sentences I got them put back in wicked tight mode. 

Aired up to about 15 or 20 psi and they've been ok. 

 

I:

took the valve stem out

wrapped the chain around and cut where it was 1/2 link too small

tried putting the chain loop on

thought about using a ratchet strap

used leverage, moderate strength, both hands and knees, considerable creativity with a hammer and few colorful persuasive sentences and got them back on somewhat tight.  Which was my goal, figuring the air would do the rest.

Aired up to 25 psi and they came off in minutes... BUT long enough to convince me this was going to happen one way or another!

Ordered new ags

retried this morning and aired to 40 psi.

 

Maybe my dry rotted, need to be replaced anyway tires were just too hard to depress by 25 psi?  Too hard to retain the chains?  Don't know but I'm happy now and have 2 new ags coming as a backup!  I'll turn them backwards and put the roller chains on them.  AFTER I compare performance.  I really don't see how ags alone can compete.  It's really impressive to see the chain grove tracks!  And to finally hear all my 8 horses working together.

Edited February 19, 2021 by DennisThornton

[DennisThornton 4,770]

11 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

Hang some weight on the front end to help press those chains into the packed snow/ice you will be impressed...

Pretty darned impressed now!  But, I do have wheel weights for the fronts too.  I was going to do several improvements at once but I'm glad that I've done it step by step to see what works.

[midpack 938]

Roller chain around the front tires is night and day difference in steering!

Think I'm using 99 #40 links for mine. Work them on with a pry bar  and run about 15 psi in the tires. They usually stay on pretty well

[ebinmaine 69,843]

11 minutes ago, DennisThornton said:

Pretty darned impressed now!  But, I do have wheel weights for the fronts too.  I was going to do several improvements at once but I'm glad that I've done it step by step to see what works.

The front bracket on that same 867 has 85 pounds on it. 

It could be more. 

 

Keep in mind we have pretty tough terrain. 

[BeninCT 451]

29 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

Hang some weight on the front end to help press those chains into the packed snow/ice you will be impressed...

 

Do they mark up the asphalt though?  Seems like a lot of weight in one tiny area and if you turn without rolling I just imagine it digging in. 

I need these and want to make a set but have been waiting to ask this question.

[Ed Kennell 39,855]

I just added 50 lbs to the front of my plowers.   I could see a diff. in the steering.    I will add the roller chain.   Thanks Dennis.

[DennisThornton 4,770]

7 minutes ago, midpack said:

Roller chain around the front tires is night and day difference in steering!

Think I'm using 99 #40 links for mine. Work them on with a pry bar  and run about 15 psi in the tires. They usually stay on pretty well

I thought about prying but was nervous about these old tires.  Prying on and using a ratchet strap are my next tools of choice.

[DennisThornton 4,770]

3 minutes ago, BeninCT said:

 

Do they mark up the asphalt though?  Seems like a lot of weight in one tiny area and if you turn without rolling I just imagine it digging in. 

I need these and want to make a set but have been waiting to ask this question.

Won't get an answer from me.  Haven't had asphalt for 30 years.  I would think that it might mark a bit but not like chains spinning and NOTHING like v-bars spinning.

[DennisThornton 4,770]

5 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

I just added 50 lbs to the front of my plowers.   I could see a diff. in the steering.    I will add the roller chain.   Thanks Dennis.

Ya just gotta do it!  I mean WOW!

Where did you add the weights?  Wheels?  I'm guessing my front weighs are about that.

[DennisThornton 4,770]

13 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

The front bracket on that same 867 has 85 pounds on it. 

It could be more. 

 

Keep in mind we have pretty tough terrain. 

???  What's you mean?

[ebinmaine 69,843]

8 minutes ago, BeninCT said:

 

Do they mark up the asphalt though?  Seems like a lot of weight in one tiny area and if you turn without rolling I just imagine it digging in. 

I need these and want to make a set but have been waiting to ask this question.

I'm gonna guess they'd scar it up some yes. 

We have a PT wood deck out back at the entry to the basement workshop. 

It's chewed up a bit by the roller chain. 

 

Not a big deal to us.  

 

[JoeM 7,889]

This was the old worker a couple year back, 40 pounds of wheel weight. 

 

Chains will mark the concrete,  but by the time summer came, the marks were gone. 

 

 

[Ed Kennell 39,855]

3 minutes ago, DennisThornton said:

Ya just gotta do it!  I mean WOW!

Where did you add the weights?  Wheels?  I'm guessing my front weighs are about that.

I made a weight  bracket that attached to my  plow side load stabilizer.     I did try the roller chain years age when I was still using a blower.   One came off while blowing.  

I made a set of 2 link fronts instead, but I will now try the roller chain again.

 

[DennisThornton 4,770]

4 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

I made a weight  bracket that attached to my  plow side load stabilizer.     I did try the roller chain years age when I was still using a blower.   One came off while blowing.  

I made a set of 2 link fronts instead, but I will now try the roller chain again.

 

I'm pretty pleased as is but I will add the wheel weights IF needed.  They really aren't now so I doubt I will need any additional as is.  However, I am considering a set of HD v-Bars which might overpower my steering.  First time I'm not been able to overpower my steering!

[rjg854 11,734]

Ed, I never had much luck with that style of tire. I use the chain on the older 5.50 x 16's they seem to hold on the groove better than the 6.50 turf tire.

 

[ebinmaine 69,843]

21 minutes ago, DennisThornton said:

???  What's you mean?

Dennis check out this post. 

The bracket has TWO of those weights on it now.  

 

This is before I mounted the chains correctly so don't pay much attention to the pics. 

 

 

[DennisThornton 4,770]

4 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Dennis check out this post. 

The bracket has TWO of those weights on it now.  

 

This is before I mounted the chains correctly so don't pay much attention to the pics. 

 

 

The link just took me to the begginging and you know how long that thread is...  So I search and 

 

Looks good!  Don't need it yet.  HD V-bars might change my mind.

[littleredrider 409]

Ag/V tires tend to suck in snow lol. I have them on my tractor with either the blower or plow. If the tire gets to blacktop, dirt, grass, whatever, they work good. But with anything else they just spin. Where the garage is, there is a slight grade downhill. We had 3' of snow day they built it so much of the snow got packed down, now it's a solid sheet of ice. Course it's been snowing non-friggin' stop, but even with the ice, lil bit of snow on top, going up hill with the blower raised, it went up no problem. But if I stopped, and took off too quick, it would just spin. I have the tires loaded, and has the plastic weights on it. I forgot when I bought the loader that it had some "round stock" weights, prolly 60-70lbs each, barely able to lift with one hand, but putting those 2 on the back very rudimentary lol, just that made a big difference. I need to do the front chains BAD. Even with whatever is on the tractor, it doesn't wanna steer. Those are filled as well, tri ribs. Looks good, steers great (reduction too) but slides all over. Bout how many feet per tire is needed? I think the tri's are 16"...

[rjg854 11,734]

I'm not sure if roller chains will work well on tri ribs 

Edited February 19, 2021 by rjg854
Spell check

[wallfish 17,224]

3 hours ago, DennisThornton said:

Thank you @wallfish!!! 

Not my idea but like you I was very impressed with the results so I've been sharing the idea at every chance. 

Makes a HUGE difference.

My driveway is asphalt but I would much rather deal with a few scratches in it which disappear anyway rather than freeze my nuts off longer slipping around in the snow.

 

16 minutes ago, littleredrider said:

Those are filled as well, tri ribs. Looks good, steers great (reduction too) but slides all over. Bout how many feet per tire is needed? I think the tri's are 16".

It's typically bought in 10ft lengths so that's plenty to do 2 tires. Just buy an extra master link.The chain would need to higher than the rib to work and may still slide to the side. Maybe a second set of tires to use for winter would be best

[DennisThornton 4,770]

15 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Not my idea but like you I was very impressed with the results so I've been sharing the idea at every chance. 

Makes a HUGE difference.

My driveway is asphalt but I would much rather deal with a few scratches in it which disappear anyway rather than freeze my nuts off longer slipping around in the snow.

 

It's typically bought in 10ft lengths so that's plenty to do 2 tires. Just buy an extra master link.The chain would need to higher than the rib to work and may still slide to the side. Maybe a second set of tires to use for winter would be best

 

If these stay on now AND the tires don't blow, I MAY keep these as is until they fail and mount the ags on other wheels as spares or summer dirt pushing.

 

Thanks for sharing!