Calcium in tires, no longer a fan......

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Ballast star is nothing more than calcium chloride with a twist. This they call "Citrastar". This is an agricultural oil that floats to the top of the calcium and coats the rim as it revolves protecting the metal from corrosion of the calcium. If this stuff is put in a tube (if they use tubes with this stuff) , how does the rim get protected? Might be enough to protect a valve stem .

 

[sixdogs]

For years on these threads I have argued against filled tires except all but the most severe slopes. Wheel weights and front end weights give nearly the same effect, are readily removable and no resale problems with rusty rims. All the liquids rust and I have posted rusty rim photos of a tractor I bought that had washer fluid in them. They all suck but to varying degrees. From what I have seen and experienced over the decades, I'll vote for weights.

 

[Oldoak]

I didn't know we were voting on anything. It's merely a discussion on different options for liquid ballast in the tires and the pros and cons of each. :confused3:

Front end weights and wheel weights have their advantages however liquid ballast has it's advantage of providing a lower center of gravity making the tractor more stable than rear wheel weights can.

"To each, their own" Whatever makes everyone happy. :dance1:

 

[ovrszd]

If money is in the equation, wheel weights are definitely the most expensive weight. Also in larger tires you can't stack enough weights to equal fluid.

As for inconvenience, I agree fluid sucks if you have to swap out a tire.....

 

[fried1765]

For years on these threads I have argued against filled tires except all but the most severe slopes. Wheel weights and front end weights give nearly the same effect, are readily removable and no resale problems with rusty rims. All the liquids rust and I have posted rusty rim photos of a tractor I bought that had washer fluid in them. They all suck but to varying degrees. From what I have seen and experienced over the decades, I'll vote for weights.

Think that tractor with the washer fluid might have had CaCl prior to the washer fluid?
I have had leaking washer fluid car reservoirs, but have never noticed any rust in the area.
Never any rust in the wiper relaxed area either.

 

[Oldpath05]

Ballast star is nothing more than calcium chloride with a twist. This they call "Citrastar". This is an agricultural oil that floats to the top of the calcium and coats the rim as it revolves protecting the metal from corrosion of the calcium. If this stuff is put in a tube (if they use tubes with this stuff) , how does the rim get protected? Might be enough to protect a valve stem .

Yeah that's what I've been reading what little I find about the stuff, lot different than what the sales guy was saying at the JD place, he said it's like beet juice, similar to Rimguard.
I think I'm under a Rimguard curse, 2-1/2 years ago I tried to get the Union Farm Kubota place to change my tires, the only place I know of that sells RG that's near me, I call, they tell me, real busy now, might be able in couple weeks, fast forward this week, I call, we'll the tire guy is sick might not be able to get to it till next week. I call other places, yup we can do the tires today or tomorrow, problem is sofar the places that tell me that, don't sell Rimguard,
makes me wonder if RG is the 8th wonder of the world, why isn't it more available, here there and everywhere, all everyone want to sell is the rim killing chloride stuff.

 

[Oldpath05]

For years on these threads I have argued against filled tires except all but the most severe slopes. Wheel weights and front end weights give nearly the same effect, are readily removable and no resale problems with rusty rims. All the liquids rust and I have posted rusty rim photos of a tractor I bought that had washer fluid in them. They all suck but to varying degrees. From what I have seen and experienced over the decades, I'll vote for weights.

Where does one who wants to join your wheel weight army and get away from the dark side, find wheel weights and for how much $$? As near as I can tell, 24 gal/tire = 240 both of my tires = 480lbs of ballast weight I need to replace with wheel weights.

 

[jbadkins7o]

Here is an interesting read from John Deere

Using liquid ballast in tires

 

[Oldoak]

Here is an interesting read from John Deere

Using liquid ballast in tires

Very interesting indeed. Sort of contrary to what is a common practice.

Particularly:
"IMPORTANT:Liquid ballast is not preferred in rear tires."
"IMPORTANT: A maximum liquid fill of 40 percent is recommended in rear tires for better tractor performance instead of the previous recommendation of 75 percent fill."

Copyright © 1994-2017 Deere & Company. All Rights Reserved.

 

[ovrszd]

Are you talking short term or long? You need to including the price of replacement rims, once the original ones rust away to make a fair comparison. Wheel weights will not degrade like the rims... :2cents:

Long term.

Show me one rim ruined by rust from WWF or Antifreeze or Rimguard.