Kubota B26: Winter Ops! Why I need chains to plow snow

[@bagheerab278]

Is anyone else getting video freeze near the beginning of this??

[@raymince1513]

Yes!

[@PavementEndsOverland]

That's the second video in a row YT has done this to. I will investigate...

[@PavementEndsOverland]

OK, can't figure out the glitch. So doing a new upload and if it works right, it'll be up early Sunday morning!

[@mikebirch5421]

Stay safe out there (and warm too)!

[@PavementEndsOverland]

Thanks! It was -18F with wind chill (beginner stuff for you, I know!) but I definitely stayed warm with my heated insoles.

[@Morpheen999]

Beautiful tractor! The industrial tires are not very good on hard pack snow/ice..The plow does a nice job! Such a gorgeous place that area you live in!! The mountains look amazing, keep up the good work!

[@PavementEndsOverland]

Thanks! It is a great machine; very fortunate to have it in such a beautiful setting.

[@bonnieacostasecretary5683]

Fabulous! I felt like I was there, and you brought back memories of having to install the not so nice old school chains, Those ones look SO much better! The video did stop near the beginning. I just clicked a tiny bit further along and restarted to watch the rest.

[@kennyp507]

Keep checking your fluid in the front axle.

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

new subscriber here. I own an L2501 Kubota. I thought that I wanted the R4 Industrial tires but my dealer talked me out of them. Glad that he did. I have the R1's otherwise known as ag tires. I have no problem getting around with those. I thought originally that the R4's would be a lot more puncture resistant. That may not be entirely the case. Good job on this video. Full watch and a thumbs up.

[@bluesman97]

B 26 is the best toughest little tractor around.

[@PavementEndsOverland]

Amazing what it can do for its size!

[@concernedpatriot9314]

I use a Sipe tool on my tires and it works AWSOME ! Sipes work on my garden tractor too ! It allows me to make turns on hills. When sipped my Kubota tires I don’t get stuck on snowy hills. The inventor of sipping was a USN Sailor by the name of Sipes. Sipes was tired of slipping on the ships wet decks falling all the time so he took a knife and cut lines in his shoes. Ie Sipes !

[@PavementEndsOverland]

Good idea! I've heard of it, but never tried it. Cool backstory too!

[@AldoRaineoftheBasterds]

Awesome entertainment, footage and editing!! And educational!!👊🏽👊🏽🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@mikes2020]

R14 tires may have provided better results in the snow. No issues on my LX2610. Since you have the R4s, siping/grooving the lugs has proven quite and improvement on those tires.

[@PavementEndsOverland]

I think you're right, but my biggest issue is the slick ice that forms after everybody keeps driving on it before I get there. My older tractor does have the better tires, but the ice defeats them too! Good point to discuss in a future video, thank you!

[@CW1116]

I had the same lack of steering ability while snow plowing... especially when the temp was in the upper 20's or low 30's. The snow was greasy slick. The chains that I then bought to alleviate that problem made nearly zero difference. I see that the cross links on your chains look larger than the sidewall links but - more importantly - the cross links look like they're flattened on the sides to make square corners rather than round links. I'd bet that's why your traction improved and mine didn't. My next purchase will be the type of crosslinks that have the triangular (cross-section) welded to most of them. They are a little more expensive than my cheap ones but everyone told me that they are worth every penny.

[@Mongoswede]

They usually recommend not putting chains on the front wheels because it’s really hard on the front steering and driveline. Kubota does sell spacers and chains for the rear and suggests spikes/studs for the front. Maybe just running fronts and no tears keeps the driveline from binding up and works? Dunno. First I have seen someone only run fronts

[@PavementEndsOverland]

Kinda thought about that binding up since I've basically increased the front tire diameter. I usually don't engage the 4WD when getting decent traction with rears only, but the fronts still steer better. I'll look into the spacers again, tho, when my budget can handle yet another mod or attachment!

[@thegreatnorthwoodswithbb2863]

Too much down pressure.... Some people say to use float ... That works for a while till the blade gets really full.... I myself just keep my hand on the joystick and adjust as I need never had a problem without chains ever

[@PavementEndsOverland]

Yeah, down pressure is definitely the culprit. Not too bad on the first fluffy snow, but after that ice layer builds up, even the lightest pressure sends the tires zooming off course no matter the finesse. Some of my customers have steep driveways, too. Rough going without chains!

[@PeeWeeHenson]

I'M SHOPPING A B26 FOR OUR FAMILY HOMESTEAD. I OWNED A B21 MANY YEARS AGO AND THAT MACHINE DID EVERYTHING I ASKED. WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN SELLING A CHAIN SET THAT YOU'VE PRECUT TO FIT THE FRONT WHEELS?

[@PavementEndsOverland]

Oh man, sorry to say I have sold all those chains in the past year. Only ones left are for dually trucks....

[@PeeWeeHenson]

@@PavementEndsOverland UNDERSTOOD. YOU GOT PAID TO HAUL OFF A PALLET OF SOMEBODY ELSE'S HEADACHE

[@gwest3236]

Any idea what size they actually are? Selling any?

[@PavementEndsOverland]

If I'm remembering correctly, the chain size before cutting was 235-85R16. Some of them were modified before I bought them (from county road dept.) but there were so many different sizes on the pallet! And yes, if you're ever in the Bellingham area, I've been selling a few sets here n there for $35 a pair.