Lawn Tractor - Need Chains for Snowblowing?

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Sure, plow/snowblow downhill. What happens when you need to go back up so you can plow/blow downhill again? Will you be able to make it back up the hill?

Our lawn tractors (one is an old Montgomery Wards model, if that dates it at all) both require chains for virtaully any traction in snow conditions. The turf tires just don't cut it in the cold and snow conditions alone. That being said, I'm not worried about surface damage as they are used on a gravel surface.



It's a driveway. Not a hill. Not Mt. Everest.

Let some more air out of the tires if need be.

The proper way to handle this situation for both man and machine is to let gravity work for you.

Drive or back up the drive. Do it in halves if it makes you feel better.

Plowing/blowing uphill is dumb. There is no reason to do it.


You obviously have a very small driveway or burn about 1/2 tank of gas just backing up. If a tractor can pull heavy loads, pushing a snowblower (which is less taxing on the driveline than pushing a plow) will be easy. I've used a few garden tractors with snow blowers. Even with the "tractor lug" type tires there is no comparison to chains. Just go slow and you won't rip up the driveway. I currently snowblow with a John Deere G110 and 42" 2 stage blower. Great setup and runs circles around the old Toro walk behind blower we had. That 18 hp will surely throw some snow.

 

[Oil Changer]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Sure, plow/snowblow downhill. What happens when you need to go back up so you can plow/blow downhill again? Will you be able to make it back up the hill?

Our lawn tractors (one is an old Montgomery Wards model, if that dates it at all) both require chains for virtaully any traction in snow conditions. The turf tires just don't cut it in the cold and snow conditions alone. That being said, I'm not worried about surface damage as they are used on a gravel surface.



It's a driveway. Not a hill. Not Mt. Everest.

Let some more air out of the tires if need be.

The proper way to handle this situation for both man and machine is to let gravity work for you.

Drive or back up the drive. Do it in halves if it makes you feel better.

Plowing/blowing uphill is dumb. There is no reason to do it.


You obviously have a very small driveway or burn about 1/2 tank of gas just backing up. If a tractor can pull heavy loads, pushing a snowblower (which is less taxing on the driveline than pushing a plow) will be easy. I've used a few garden tractors with snow blowers. Even with the "tractor lug" type tires there is no comparison to chains. Just go slow and you won't rip up the driveway. I currently snowblow with a John Deere G110 and 42" 2 stage blower. Great setup and runs circles around the old Toro walk behind blower we had. That 18 hp will surely throw some snow.


Quote:
You obviously have a very small driveway or burn about 1/2 tank of gas just backing up.


Wrong on both accounts.

However, I have been operating equipment for about 10 years, cutting my teeth on the [real] hills of SoCal then later in the snow and muck of Michigan.

 

[TWG1572]

Thanks for the comments everyone! Never thought I would have had this robust of a discussion on the subject of tire chains! It's all good...

I decided to drop the $60 and pick up a pair. I figure that I'd rather have the pain now buying them, than have the pain later of burying my tractor in a drift in 30 below weather... There is still a chance of that, but less so.

 

[HM12460]

TWG, it's good you got the chains. Your Deere 116 is NOT a heavy framed garden tractor, but a light duty lawn tractor. It will need all the help you can possibly give it. The blower you need to fit is a model 338. These guys saying you won't need chains are not familiar with this model of John Deere, or winter weather in this part of the country. Weights would also be a good idea unless you're relatively large sized.

 

[TWG1572]

Well, I've got about 90 lbs of weight hanging off the back and i'm about 250. Hopefully that keeps the rear planted. I've got no illusions this will run with a larger garden tractor with a two stage blower, but sometimes you have to dance with who you brought.

I love older iron, and would snap up the right 318 in a heartbeat but don't want to drop the coin yet. Add a zero to the end of what I have in this setup, and it still wouldn't buy that tractor probably.

 

[yeehaw1960]

Chains are very necessary. Just don't get off the paved driveway. On a rock driveway, you'll get about 2 feet before your tractor will go no more! My father-in-laws' $3500.00 Deere with snow blower works like a muther as long as the way is paved. He has to use a much cheaper, two-stroke Toro snow blower to make a path to the pavement from his shed though. It's kind of funny. I remember the "Key Stone Cops like” deal when I got a plow for my mower. You find very quickly there isn't any place to push all the snow when you manage to finally push it. I miss the four-wheeler with plow I had a few years ago. I could push the snow off my driveway and 20 feet into the yard. Pretty handy for Nebraska.