Water filled tractor tires

[Sumboodie]

Isn't beet juice basically Evapo-Rust?

No

 

[Ed in Virginia]

Had dealer put anti freeze in rear tires of the Simplicity tractor I bought back in mid-2000.
I agree...U MUST ensure that the valve is at the TOP....12:00 position before adding air, and also to
put a little air in it before checking pressure, or you will ruin your air pressure gage!!

You can buy air gauges for liquid-filled tires: https://www.agrisupply.com/tractor-tire-pressure-gauge/p/11523A/

 

[Ed in Virginia]

You can buy air gauges for liquid-filled tires: https://www.agrisupply.com/tractor-tire-pressure-gauge/p/11523A/

 

[Blk88GT]

Might be a silly question as I've never done it - but how do you fill tires with fluid?

 

[Ed in Virginia]

Might be a silly question as I've never done it - but how do you fill tires with fluid?

How to Fill Tractor Tires with Water: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

A simple guide on how to maintain your tractor's tire pressureLiquid ballast is essential for maintaining your tractor's tire pressure and increasing its traction. Although of the most common liquid ballasts to fill a tire with is water,...

www.wikihow.com

Gempler's sells this to help: https://gemplers.com/products/haltec-quick-fill-tractor-tire-attachment

 

[junkyardwarrior]

tires were probably repaired at a shop somewhere and they didn't refill them.

did tractors for a long long time and this wasn't uncommon

something else people don't think about especially on bigger tractors, if the tire/wheel is not labeled as "filled" (or whatever) and the tech doesn't check them, that tire can fall on him and crush them. Had one fall right on me, broke a couple ribs. 2003 as I remember. Learned the hard way to check every single one of them. Of course that shop had no good way to stabilize a tractor when removing tires so when you remove one filled tire and both are filled, the tractor wants to tilt because of the uneven weight, other tech did this, shifted, and it slid right off the jack. Gotta be careful with these things.

On small tractors I don't see a need to fill them. The weight isn't far enough away from the axle to make that much of a difference. IF it's got a FEL and the back gets light, put a bush hog or a box blade on the 3ph, more effective than fluid filled tires.

windshield washer fluid often has methanol in it which is, of course, flammable. I don't know if the fluid itself is actually flammable but it's something I always thought about, because tractors were often used to push things into burn piles while the fire was going. Seen a few get burned up, none of the tires were filled on those but the batteries melted and such. Plastic hoods melted, radiator tanks melted, etc.

Like engine oil, everyone has their opinions on what to use. I've used washer fluid, beet juice, calcium, and rimguard. Rimguard was my favorite. Heavier, and does not hurt the tire or rim, or didn't in the years I was using it.

 

[Jim greengo]

I recently acquired a small used compact tractor with a front end loader. I have been doing some repairs to it and removed the tires and wheels. I found that the left rear large tire is filled with water and is very heavy, but the right rear is not filled. On the front its the opposite, the right front is filled with water but the left is not. So basically the filled ones are at opposite corners. Is this a normal thing not to fill both sides?

I thought they filled them with antifreeze?

 

[JeepYJ]

On small tractors I don't see a need to fill them. The weight isn't far enough away from the axle to make that much of a difference. IF it's got a FEL and the back gets light, put a bush hog or a box blade on the 3ph, more effective than fluid filled tires.

Small tractors can definitely benefit from filled tires. Filled tires are not replacements for three point ballast used for FEL work. They each have a different effect on the tractor.

 

[racecougar]

windshield washer fluid often has methanol in it which is, of course, flammable. I don't know if the fluid itself is actually flammable but it's something I always thought about, because tractors were often used to push things into burn piles while the fire was going.

Methanol is definitely flammable, but the concentration in windshield washer fluid is too low to light off with a flame. The 50/50 methanol/water mixture that many of us run in our methanol/water injection systems (to cool the compressed air charge in a supercharged or turbocharged application) won't light off when exposed to flame at normal atmospheric pressure, which is why companies like Snow Performance recommend and ship out that mixture. Most any windshield washer fluid rated for -20F to -32F will have a methanol concentration in the 20%-40% range.

All that said, windshield washer fluid wouldn't be my first choice for filling tires.

 

[JeepYJ]

All that said, windshield washer fluid wouldn't be my first choice for filling tires.

It’s not necessarily the best option but it’s readily available everywhere, available in bulk, offers very good freeze protection, is inexpensive, is non corrosive. It’s one of the better choices for DIY tire filling.

 

[ipgenie]

15 years or so ago I had some tires/wheels for my IH cub cadet garden tractor that were filled. I put them on my parents cub cadet on loan since they needed new tires. Dad mowed one time and I never got those tires back. He said with the heavier tires he could mow all of the sketchy spots that had been tippy or had poor traction without any problems.
It wasn't a lot of weight, probably 8 gallons per tire, but it's also a small tractor so it didn't need hundreds of pounds of ballast to make a difference.
I like the foam fill on the smaller tires. It adds weight and no more flats. It takes a looong time to wear out a little tractor tire, I have some that still hold air after 40 years, so I don't worry too much about changing them anytime soon.

 

[jollygreengiant]

Watch what product you use to fill your tires. My tractor currently has a back tire rim that is rotting out and now weeping because it was filled with a corrosive product.

 

[thomasfrank]

I use beet juice, sold commercially as Rimguard.

It, non toxic to animals, and the specific gravity is higher tHan WW fluid, annd also not as corrosive as calcium chloride.

Thanks for this opinion.

 

[JeepYJ]

Watch what product you use to fill your tires. My tractor currently has a back tire rim that is rotting out and now weeping because it was filled with a corrosive product.

Calcium chloride is heavy, cheap and easy to make. Downside is any leak in the tube that is not repaired will ruin your rim.

 

[jkeyser14]

Fair enough, but a "small compact tractor" probably won't be doing a lot of rear end heavy lifting, no?

I have my subcompact on 2 wheels, both front and rear on many occassions when moving heavy stuff or going up/down hills with a load. And that is with counterweight in the bucker or on the rear. It all depends on how hard you push your equipment. I push mine as hard as the hydraulics will allow, because that is what I bought it for.

 

[kj_mustang]

I have my subcompact on 2 wheels, both front and rear on many occassions when moving heavy stuff or going up/down hills with a load. And that is with counterweight in the bucker or on the rear. It all depends on how hard you push your equipment. I push mine as hard as the hydraulics will allow, because that is what I bought it for.

And that is a good way to kill yourself. I have pushed my hydraulics to the limit too but I never drive the tractor in a dangerous way.

 

[Copymutt]

Two reasons liquid ballast it used. One, the weight. Two, the weight is low in the tire right where it contacts the ground. Putting the weight right where it’s needed the most.
John Deere chart showing weight gains for different tires. My DB 1210 Carrie’s about 3000 pounds across both rear tires.

Soo, don't forget to take that extra weight into trailering load calculations.

 

[Ed in Virginia]

And that is a good way to kill yourself. I have pushed my hydraulics to the limit too but I never drive the tractor in a dangerous way.

 

[jkeyser14]

And that is a good way to kill yourself. I have pushed my hydraulics to the limit too but I never drive the tractor in a dangerous way.

It is not dangerous. I keep the loads low and move slow When the wheels come up the load hits the ground and stops the tractor from tipping more.

Edit: I also use the bucket and backhoe to reposition a tractor when trenching. And I also use the bucket and backhoe to lift my tactor into the air so I can slide jack stands under the axles when it needs maintenance. These are all perfectly safe ways to use a tractor that all involve using the hydraulics to get wheels off the ground.

 

[like2wheel]

And that is a good way to kill yourself. I have pushed my hydraulics to the limit too but I never drive the tractor in a dangerous way.

That's very true.
Many people don't realize that since the front axle freely pivots in the center with no springs, you are basically operating a tricycle.
Things can go south very quickly when both rear wheels are in the air.

 

[jkeyser14]

That's very true.
Many people don't realize that since the front axle freely pivots in the center with no springs, you are basically operating a tricycle.
Things can go south very quickly when both rear wheels are in the air.

Tractor front axles do have hard stops between the frame and axle to limit the pivoting though. Mine will only pivot about 10 degrees before the hard stops are hit.

 

[Sumboodie]

Might be a silly question as I've never done it - but how do you fill tires with fluid?

Pump it in. They make a garden hose to valve stem adapter.
Last ones I used my M18 pump. Put about 450 gallons in 2 tires.
I used PG antifreeze "flush", got it free at work.

 

[like2wheel]

Tractor front axles do have hard stops between the frame and axle to limit the pivoting though. Mine will only pivot about 10 degrees before the hard stops are hit.

Ok, but a 10 degree pivot at the front axle equals a lot of swing at the rear when its off the ground, and that can carry a lot of momentum.
Enough to take the tractor over in the right conditions.

 

[Firebrick43]

Tractor front axles do have hard stops between the frame and axle to limit the pivoting though. Mine will only pivot about 10 degrees before the hard stops are hit.

In most conditions by the time the hard stop is engaged you are already going over.

That’s why ROPs w seatbelt is so important.

I don’t know about ford but JD offerers rops kits at cost. It was the first thing I did when I bought my 2020 JD. It’s been 10 years now but it was 650$

 

[jkeyser14]

In most conditions by the time the hard stop is engaged you are already going over.

That’s why ROPs w seatbelt is so important.

I don’t know about ford but JD offerers rops kits at cost. It was the first thing I did when I bought my 2020 JD. It’s been 10 years now but it was 650$

That just isn't true. I have very hill property and my hard stops get used all the time.

 

[racecougar]

That just isn't true. I have very hill property and my hard stops get used all the time.

While the rear tires are in the air? That isn't a game I'd suggest playing repeatedly.

 

[gungatim]

Is windshield washer fluid OK for animals to drink a little bit?

Is it more poisonous than plain water mixed with the appropriate amount of methanol? Ethanol would be safe but more expensive unless you have a secret source. (Moonshine)

Moonshine is Ethanol, not Methanol. Animals aren't going to drink windshield washer fluid, the reason they drink antifreeze is because it's so sweet.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Washer fluid will evaporate

 

[racecougar]

Washer fluid will evaporate

Evaporation through a sealed tire will take quite awhile.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Evaporation through a sealed tire will take quite awhile.

Yes, but they were worried about animals drinking it if it leaked out. The stuff evaporates off my windshield in about 10 seconds, so I don't think animals drinking it is much of an issue

 

[KEH]

See post #26 on how I fill tractor tires.

KEH