Ballast BioBallast vs Rim Guard

[TractorNH]

"calcium is only slightly more than water"

Yah think....???

Water weighs 8.33 lbs. per gallon.
Calcium Chloride weighs 11.3+ lbs. per gallon.
36% more = "only slightly more"?

I am NOT advocating CaCl......I hate the stuff!

Thanks, corrected. That's what happens when I try to do 3 things at once...LOL.

 

[BRMyers]

Why Bio-Ballast? Because Bio-Ballast is biodegradable it is completely safe to use around humans, animals and plants. It is formulated to coat the inside of tires and wheels and will not cause rust or rim failure, keeping the inner liner of the tire soft. These characteristics make the product perfect alternative for agriculture and industrial uses.

Non-Toxic- will not harm plants or animals
Bio-Ballast is a product of refining agricultural crops
Can also be mixed with other liquid tire ballast products with no viscosity issues
Non-Corrosive and inhibits rust

BioBallast - EnviroTech Services

 

[Cumbres]

I have BioBallast in mine. It's what my Kubota dealer uses. I still havent figured out what it is, but they claim it's not beet juice. It performs similarly to beet juice for weight, freezing & being non-toxic. I'm happy with it & have stopped caring what's the differences are.

How long have you been using BioBallast? Presumably you are happy.

It appears that Rim Guard is becoming less an option. I heard back from them that their nearest dealer is 45 miles where the BioBallast is 15 miles. Note: The bioballast quote is from a local ag and tire company. They do very little outside of farm equipment.



Thank you all for your input!

 

[herm0016]

I just got a tractor with bioballast in it. sounds like its between 9 and 10 ppg.

 

[POC]

I just called my local place, they have RimGuard, it's $2.75/gallon. I've looked for the other but don't know that we have a dealer local.

 

[Fallon]

How long have you been using BioBallast? Presumably you are happy.

It appears that Rim Guard is becoming less an option. I heard back from them that their nearest dealer is 45 miles where the BioBallast is 15 miles. Note: The bioballast quote is from a local ag and tire company. They do very little outside of farm equipment.



Thank you all for your input!

3 years on the L3200 & not quite 3 years on the L4060 that replaced it.

I hear some of the difference in availability between RimGuard & BioBallast is the regional crops than end up making it. It probably doesn't make sense transporting it across the country. Either way both seem to work well.

I speared a loaded rear on the L3200 with a stick. It leaked a bit but was able to rotate the hole up & plug it a couple days later. Held for a year or 2 after that until I sold it. I'd guess it's still holding. It does make checking tire pressure harder in theory. I subscribe to making sure you have a good traction patch contacting the ground method rather than sticking a pressure gauge on method though.

 

[oosik]

The local Kubota dealer installed Rim Guard in my rear tires when I bought my new 2009 Kubota M6040. They said that at that time they were charging $1.50 per gallon - installed. We have a large sugar beet processing plant less than 75 miles from Spokane.

 

[Cumbres]

3 years on the L3200 & not quite 3 years on the L4060 that replaced it.

.

Thank you, I think you are one of the few on here with actual experience with this product.

I do appreciate everyone's opinions and information. It is very much appreciated.

I am going to get the tires filled next week weather permitting. As I speak we are under another thunderstorm. At least we had about 4-5 days with no rain:thumbsup:

Cumbres

 

[Rock Crawler]

I'm kind of surprised that no one has asked about what you are hanging from the 3-point for actual ballast?

While I run RG, it is not "ballast" in the respect of helping to protect the front axle at near full lift load weights. Bio or RG will help add tractive force, slope stability and assist in preventing rear axle lift, but it does not meet the machine manufactures intent of ballast in any way.

Ballast is intended to create a fulcrum at the rear axle and provide needed lift on the front axle to reduce load forces for the relatively smaller and weaker front axle. It reduces the likelihood of front axle damage by doing this and facilitates a much longer service life.

As an example, I run a near 300 lb 60" wide rear box blade with 400 lbs of steel plates added to it most of the time, other times I will hang a rear finish mower or brush hog on the rear. The lightest thing by far is my 72" rear grader blade. All of these provide some amount of actual ballast, something that is called out in the manufactures operating manual as needed for loader use.

I am not suggesting that you do not add Bio/RG/WWF, but I am suggesting that you consider what you have back there and if it is sufficiently weighted to be an effective ballast for your front axle while you are lifting near the loader weight capacity limits.

Good luck in your research. I am sure that anything that you do will add desired capability and safety.

 

[Cumbres]

I'm kind of surprised that no one has asked about what you are hanging from the 3-point for actual ballast?

While I run RG, it is not "ballast" in the respect of helping to protect the front axle at near full lift load weights. Bio or RG will help add tractive force, slope stability and assist in preventing rear axle lift, but it does not meet the machine manufactures intent of ballast in any way.

Ballast is intended to create a fulcrum at the rear axle and provide needed lift on the front axle to reduce load forces for the relatively smaller and weaker front axle. It reduces the likel

I normally have either my box blade 54" or a 6 foot back blade on the machine. My best ballast is a large bush hog style cutter. I don't have extra weights attached to any of them. I never do loader or other work without something on the rear. Most of the time when doing loader work I am also using the attachment for grading after dumping.

I do hear your advice on more rear ballast and after the tire ballast will look into that more.

Thank you,

Cumbres