Time to get the chains on and the plow on the 1620

MNGB

MNGB

Tractorologist
Senior Member
Member
Wednesday night we had rain then snow\plenty of rain not that much snow but also had wind so it piled it up in front of the shop door, didn't do anything at the shop yesterday so this morning went in and got the 76 PK with the 60" plow blade out and started plowing had a time of it I kind of got lazy and haven't put the chains on yet keep reading about these guys saying they never need chains well that's BS in my area finally got smart and got the GT5000 out with the blower and got it cleaned up this afternoon the chains will go on the 1620 along with the 60" plow blade, the hydro is just so much nicer to plow with

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Got the snow plow blade switched from the 76 PK to the 89 1620, installed the chains, ran the tractor outside and tried it out worked good except that the RH skid shoe came off and the LH mt decided to bend so that shoe was doing nothing really let the blade scrape the snow down to the concrete but on the grass it tripped the blade, got the shoes back in place and its ready to go for tonight's and tomorrow snow

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MNGB said:
haven't put the chains on yet keep reading about these guys saying they never need chains well that's BS in my area

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I agree with the chains 100% If chains are not needed why are they selling thousands of pair a year. I tried it one time with out chains. Got about 30' on grass with 75 lb weight on each wheel. Put the chains on in the show after I was stuck.Don't have any concrete or black top so frozen ground isn't bad at all. Don't drive like you stole it and they ride a lot better too.
 
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I run 2 link chains and the ride is not bad at all. Like I said prior - slow down a bit if the ride is to rough for you. I run the big heavy link field chains on my IH 400 for winter. Little rough but had no traction issues what so ever. Had chain under the tire all the time. Lower the air pressure in the tires a little helps also.
 
Hi Chris with front wheel assist you can probably get by without chains, I put a set of cable chains on the Country Squire and they work good I'm satisfied with how they are working, they have toe rollers on the cross bars and I thought maybe you wouldn't noticed much but oh no you feel them.
Yesterday when I had the CS out to clean up the dribble's etc it ran prefect still wondering if it wasn't carb icing last time out
 
4getgto said:
The tires look good.
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I wish tires works on ice. They don't unless they are studded. Because the trees shade the front of the house and driveway it turns into a skating rink. It got so bad one year that I put down 250 lbs. of salt to keep us from breaking our necks. Driveway is only 150 ft. long but getting to the mail box can be very treacherous. Had to put screws and hardware cloth on the wheels of the spreader or it would just slide. :mad:
 
chieffan said:
I run 2 link chains and the ride is not bad at all.
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Garden tractor chains never bothered me. I left them on year around.

As far as I know no one makes 2 link chains for a tractor. Mine used to be this type of chains. 1639949388760.png
They rode so rough I couldn't stand it so I took the short connector links out and that helped
a lot but on hard surfaces it still hurts my neck. They actually ride better the faster I go. I've let
air out of the tires and that helped but when it's cold the tires stay pretty stiff.
Life is so complicated.
 
The size of the shin makes a difference also. I have some hanging on a nail that are 5/16" chain. The ones on the tractors are 1/4". Just don't spin them. When they start to slip - stop. Most of my chains are made up from car chains I picked up at garage sale or auctions. All 2 link. Even have a pair for RAM.
 
when the g-kids were younger I would clear the snow off the dugout for skating, I easily pushed the 54" plow thru 3-4" of snow, and if over 4" I would need to take half wide swipes, or less, at it but it still did the job on glare ice without chains.... I'll admit 10 years ago I was just as skeptical as many of you are but I wont put tire chains on a GT now, they are hard on my back and my equipment. One broken axle can send an antique GT to the scrape yard.
 
Think my snow removal will be with the Sotah loader and walk behind 24" blower. I have several pair of 23 x10.5 - 12 GT chains. I may see it two end to end will be long enough for the 11 x 23 on the Sotah. I has 53# weights on the rear and with front wheel assist may not need them.
 
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