VERY expensive beet juice!

[k0ua]

Freezing Point of Methanol based Water Solutions
Freezing Point
Methanol Concentration
(%) by mass 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
by volume 0 13 24 35 46 56 66 75 83 92 100
Temp oF 32 20 0 -15 -40 -65 -95 -215 -225 -230 -145
Temp oC 0 -7 -18 -26 -40 -54 -71 <-73 <-73 <-73 <-73


I used the $6 drill pump at Home depot. It aint much but it works and has simple garden hose fittings. Bought the burp valve at TSC for $9. I had the junk garden hose pieces, and the bucket. 35 percent = -15F or -26C by volume

James K0UA

 

[canoetrpr]

Looks like I will be needing 40 gallons or so. Pretty expensive at 10 bucks a gallon. Lets see if I can find it in bulk vs WWF.

 

[Charolais]

Ok found an alternate as per Short Game's post. The local TSC sells a gallon of Methanol - Methyl Hydrate for $9.99. It's basically pure methanol.

I'd have to get a 55 gallon drum of some sort I guess to dilute it with water but a 9/1 mix of water and this stuff should be adequate. So we are talking 14 or 15 gallons of this stuff mixed with water or $150 + the cost of a drum + burp valve and whatever other gizmo is required to fill (pump perhaps??).

Probably about $250.

I don't know if this stuff has any rust inhibhitors and am a tad concerned about what it does to rubber but don't have enough information to worry about it yet.

You won't have any problems with Methanol reacting with rubber tires. In my area we've used it for over 30 years. I had a 574 IH tractor with methanol in the tires for over 20 years and no problems.

If you know anyone that's races go-carts they can point you in the right direction to buy Methanol by the gallon. Here you can take a 5 gal. bucket with a top on it and they'll fill it with no problem.

 

[Scooby074]

All these posts, and NO mention of that old classic- calcium chloride. Farmers have been using that since rubber tires replaced steel. Is corrosion really that big a problem? (they keep their machines for decades)
Also, most farm tractors around here have weights, front and back, but they are tillage machines.

Yep.:thumbsup:

I went through this same debate http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/213241-source-name-canadian-rimguard-copy.html. When i looked at the costs of beet juice and service charges... Plus the fact that pretty much nobody around here has heard of it or is set up to handle it when the inevitable leak happens... it was a no-braner to fill with calcium for $30. Its just the way its been done locally forever. Beet juice is an expensive solution looking for a problem.

 

[300UGUY]

I have Rim guard in my Kubota. One thing I like is that it is non toxic. I wouldn't have antifreeze in a tire, if one of my dogs died from licking it up, I'd feel terrible. My wife would probably kill me. I had chloride in a previous tractor. A small leak around the valve destroyed a rim. I won't go there again.

 

[canoetrpr]

I talked to my local tire guy who filled my current tires with Calcium 5 years ago. He has ballasted before with WWF but was unsure where the guy he did it for sourced it. He has heard if beet juice but never used it. He said if I went this route and had a leak he would have to bring an empty tank for me to pump the fluid into. Of course it would be best if I had my own containers.

I'm likely to pay my tire guy which ever way I go so he is in on the program for whenever there is a leak. He is a great guy and always shows up promptly so I figure I should throw him some business and save myself a couple of hours.

I've not gotten too much input on weights. Do they really not provide a benefit over fluid? I mean having a tire filled with air so that it can deform must have some value? Is fluid that much more stable than weights?

 

[Short Game]

Is fluid that much more stable than weights?

It will always have a lower center of gravity.

I have a nice juicer. How much is beet seed?

 

[johnk]

Thank God I put Beet juice in my rears 2 years ago. 110 gallons cost me 325 and they did the filling. Prices on everything are out of hand. In still feel beet juice is the best filling because of tyhe weight per gallon and the non corrosiveness of the solution. If everyone was sure they wouldn't get flat I feel this is the way to go...

 

[k0ua]

I've not gotten too much input on weights. Do they really not provide a benefit over fluid? I mean having a tire filled with air so that it can deform must have some value? Is fluid that much more stable than weights

The tire is still 1/4 air so it compresses, and the tire can still deform. And a large amount of the fluid is below the axle, some it way below the axle so CG is lower. How much this matters I cannot say for sure, but I would think it helps.

James K0UA

 

[Short Game]

The tire is still 1/4 air so it compresses, and the tire can still deform. And a large amount of the fluid is below the axle, some it way below the axle so CG is lower. How much this matters I cannot say for sure, but I would think it helps.

I would say it (CG) would help considerably. If the body of the fluid extended any lower, it would be under ground. It is putting weight in the best place possible.

Anyone filled their tires with mercury? (Just kidding.)