ARE TIRE CHAINS NEEDED? JOHN DEERE 430 TEST PLOWING

In this video, we decided to test the John Deere 430s plowing ability without tire chains or extra weight with mixed results and the Massey GC1725 for backup just in case. Thanks for watching!

[@loutoolguy2644]

Yippie welcome back! Well that was fun all filmed in real time. I say find the combo that works in your situation for traction. New 42# weights are bout 61$ at Hartville Harware you can find them used for 50-65$. Yep people list them over retail, go figure. I noticed your rubber cutting edge is coming loose on the rt side. You can fill your rears with Rim Guard liquid ballast. There is a place closer than Ruegg to you. You’ll get another 260ish total lbs w/that alone. Don’t forget to put your 430 in neutral when pushing/pulling it, full disclosure I’ve done it. I doubt it but you could try your independent brakes to walk out of spots. Great video looking forward to more I say “Deere all the way”, to each his own.

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Thanks Lou! There is a rimgaurd dealer about 20 minutes away, I'm just procrastinating. You're right about the rubber edge. It tore away from the bolts on both ends actually. Guess I need to cut another strip. I think it was in neutral for the push but I'm not 100% sure on that. I keep hoping to find some 42lb suitcase weights at an auction but the ones I usually find are for much bigger tractors.

[@LivingOutHere]

Watching this makes me wish I had mine up here with me. They will be coming up here soon but the snow we got would have been a great video for me!! Love the power of the old 430 and the capability of them. I just need to learn how to make them move in the snow as you have seen in my past videos. Great work keep it up!!

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Thanks man. I dont know where you moved to but it was probably a bit far still for a collab plowing up there. Maybe, well see.

[@tylerkrieger912]

Great to see a new upload from you! I've been wanting to do a comparison when conditions allow. I switched from turfs on the back of my 318 to ags and want to see how it does without chains. Wish I had locking rear diff like your 430 but I'm running close to 500 lbs of rear ballast weight and it made a huge difference. I'm hoping I don't have to put the chains back on unless it's icy.

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Yeah, the chains aren't bad if you have an ideal time to put them on but when it's cold and blustery it's not fun at all. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Also, that is a LOT of rear ballast!

[@tylerkrieger912]

@@tractorstrailsandlivingfree Agreed! I don't want to mess with it if I can at all avoid it. It is definitely a good plenty of weight. Fluid in the tires, wheel weights and a few 42 lb weights would probably be better but I have 4 100lb JD weights and put a frame mounted ROPS bar on because it was far less costly to do so. But it does hurt the steering ability a little bit. I need to see if I can take some back off to dial it in.

[@rayarnett2249]

I'd do wheel weights and suitcase weights hanging off the 3 pt. hitch offset the blade and engine weight.

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

That's good thinking!

[@Crazy.Runner]

I don't use chains on my 332 when remowing snow. Great job 👍👍👍

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

They can be a bit of a bother to put on especially in the cold. But being completely honest, I did need them at times. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Crazy.Runner]

@@tractorstrailsandlivingfree Yes, sometimes the tractor can very easy loose grip, but instead of wheel chains, I recomand to you a rear extra weight on 3 point hitch, this will help you.🚜

[@stevekurtenbach1951]

I have chains on my 324 which was a 318 and I have wheel weights with a snow blade. I works great. Not much stops it.

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

That's what I keep hearing. The 430 is that way with chains due to its weight, but without them, more rear weight is needed for frustration free operation. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@davidsmathers5621]

All yea you need chains good video

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

I agree, you really do if your plowing anything significant. I used mine last year, but we only had one snow of any significance so I didn't feel like putting them on. With chains, the 430 is pretty much unstoppable.

[@jacobstenson6834]

Nice video, I would put a bunch of weight hanging of the rear of the tractor that would help a lot.

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

You're right about that. It's crazy what weights cost and I can never find the 42lb ones used. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@timhankins9245]

Looks like fun to me

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Same here. This was probably the only significant snow we've had this year so far.

[@ThatMowerMan]

Man, I hope we get snow this year, I got a whole plow fleet now. (2) lol!

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

I know what you mean, last year we had 1 decent snow (5 or more inches) nothing else was worth messing with.

[@ThatMowerMan]

@@tractorstrailsandlivingfree Yeah, the day I got my first plow. My grandpa plowed my driveway.

[@ThatMowerMan]

But he didn’t know, and there is more snow to come.

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

@@ThatMowerMan just missed it huh

[@MINItraktor196]

😎👍

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Thanks!

[@captainedc]

You need chains and about 300 lbs minimum of weights on the back plus wheel weights. And plow feet. At a minimum

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Dang that's a lot of needs! But I agree that some weights would help big time. Thanks for commenting!

[@denniscarter483]

Massey all the way !!!

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Well, it didn't get stuck did it. But it does weigh over 2x what the 430 does and has front wheel assist. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@davidsmathers5621]

Hey you might want to put on some wheel weights to cause I have chains and weights on mine also

[@rayarnett2249]

Might try leveling u'r bucket, wouldn't cut into the driveway as much.

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Yeah. With the blade moving in only 2 axis', the blade is only "level" when it is perfectly horizontal. Any angle at all brings one end closer to the ground than the other.

[@rayarnett2249]

I personally don't like chains. 4, 40lb suitcase weights hanging off the back and/or 50lb wheel weights is a better option.

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Thanks for the input. You're one of the few suggesting that method alone (without chains at all). But I can see the drawbacks of chains on pavement

[@davidsmathers5621]

Hey you might want to put some shoes on the bottom of that blade

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

There are factory ones I have, but for gravel they just seem to leave 2 additional furrows in the driveway.

[@lyman135]

Why don't you have any weights on the back? That would help more than chains....

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Fair question. Best answer is probably $70 per weight.

[@rogermorrill4700]

No chains works till you get packed snow or ice

[@tractorstrailsandlivingfree]

Agreed on every poinr!