Another liquid ballast question

[6011Artist]

I have a Yanmar 2200 grey market tractor that has no ballast in the tires. I want to put water in them and feel I need to add something with it to prevent corrosion. I have a neighbor that swears they only put plain water in their loader tires with no trouble. We don't have enough cold weather to really worry about freezing but to be on the safe side I wanted to use antifreeze. How much antifreeze would be needed to prevent corrosion and add a mild degree of not freezing in winter?

Another question. I have the right nipple/nozzle to fit the water hose to the tire but have never done this. How do I get the antifreeze and water to go in properly? Would a funnel and small hose fitted snugly together work for the antifreeze? I will jack up the tractor to remove the weight without collapsing the tire. Do I need to pull a vacuum to get the antifreeze in? Will the water hose with 40 lbs of pressure fill the tire? Do I need to keep taking the hose off to let the pressure reduce to get more water in? Someone give me a crash course on this please.

3rd question. What are the pros and cons of putting water in the front tires? My thought as to why I want to do this is to give the front end more weight. I very seldom haul it anywhere so the extra weight is not a problem.

If I use plain water, what can I expect? How full can I get them and still have good air pressure? Is head space needed to get air pressure?

Help needed from you guys with experience in this.

 

[Ken Cunningham]

I just bought the valve thats needed to fill my tires but havent done it yet. I am also in sc by the way. I asked the parts guy how to get the antifreeze in there and he said to pour it in the hose that you will be using to fill the tire with. Im not sure how much antifreeze is required, i also would like to hear some feedback on that. The valve part that you screw onto the valve stem should have a button to push to let air out of the tire as its being filled. You just shut the water off and hold the button down to let off the air, then repeat. The tires should be filled to the top of the rim, its my understanding that haveing the rim total submerged will help stop corrosion. I will be putting antifreeze in mine, but only for the anti corrosion properties.

 

[tulenutn2o]

Where did you get the valve needed?Thanks

 

[Bedlam]

Tractor Supply has them or if your handy you can use various hose scraps and reduce to a real thin hose that fits inside the valve.

Tractor Supply Company - Home

even search here ther are threads.

 

[tulenutn2o]

Next question, how long to fill and what type anti freeze? Thanks

 

[jinman]

Next question, how long to fill and what type anti freeze? Thanks

Using a non-toxic antifreeze is important. Many people fill their tires with windshield washer fluid for this reason. Another solution (very expensive) is to use Sierra brand propylene glycol based antifreeze at about $75 per gallon. I think several gallons of windshield washer fluid or RV antifreeze would be my choice where very cold temperatures were not expected like the OP's location in SC.

To add the fluid, start with the tire valve rotated to the top of the wheel and the valve core removed with all air out of the tire. Install the special filler valve onto the valve stem and install a short section of hose. I use a section of old garden hose with a male end. I insert a funnel into a cut end of the hose and pour in the antifreeze slowly. It may bubble back some, but should go into the tire without much trouble. Just be patient. When you get all your antifreeze in the tire and want to add water, just remove your funnel setup and install a water hose. Slowly fill the tire and stop when needed to let air out with the valve. When you have water start to run out instead of air, you know you have covered the wheel with water. Stop and remove the valve and replace the core. Air the tire up normally and you are done.

 

[Soundguy]

napa and walmart have their rv antifreeze ( non toxic ) on sale for about 4$ per gallon. a couple gallons of that in each tire might let you get a slushy.. but it won't freeze sloid. that and the tire burp adapter and you are good to go.

I use a piece of fuel line slid over the tire stem, sans core and then add int he ballast. i've found the pointy nozzle cap from a gear oil bottle also fits many 1g containers, like the ones the antifreeze comes in.. funnle will work too.

jack up the tires while filling.. and burp often to get rid of built up air..
fill the tires to about 80% then add air to proper pressure

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

post yer tire size and I can tell you the gallons it will take / weight for the water.

soundguy

 

[pat32rf]

I have a 12v water pump from a house trailer that I kept around in case of power failure (got genny now). I just dumped my jugs of wwaf into a 5 gallon pail and pumped it in, using a hose that fit over the valve stem (pulled the valve). Every so often I would pull the hose to burp it.

 

[Mace Canute]

This site lists the weight achieved by filling the tire 75% full (valve level) with water.