Beet Juice Tire Ballast

[ruko]

I'm considering ballast for my tractor tires. Beet juice seems to be recommended most frequently. The literature states freezing point at -35 degrees F. for RIM Guard which appears to be the only juice source available for this application. Other literature about beet juice, not RIM guard, state freezing point at -6 degrees. I can imagine a giant slug of frozen juice in the bottom of my tire at -35 F. which happens frequently in northern Minnesota.

Is it really freeze resistant to -35?

Thanks

 

[Doughknob]

Would it hurt anything if it did slush up a bit?

 

[fruitcakesa]

I thought Rimguard was beet juice. See this:Rim Guard’s Beet Juice is the leading liquid tire ballast option | AGDAILY
My M came with loaded rear tires and assumed it was beet juice.
Unfortunately or fortunately, it has never been -35 here to be able to test it.
I do have a bucket full of the stuff to test if it ever gets cold enough to matter.

 

[grsthegreat]

ive gotten to -20 here in the past, no issues. thats cold enough. at -35 im staying indoors.

i used to work in northern montana back in the 1980's, where wind chills regularly reached -60F. NEVER again.

 

[oosik]

My M6040 came with RimGuard loaded rear tires. Like grsthegreat - I've seen -20F in the past. No problems at that temp. At -35F, you won't see me outside either.

Actually - at minus 20F or anything even close to that - - I won't be going outside. I've seen it once - that's enough.

 

[ljjhouser]

RUKO - did you check - do you have a Rimguard dealer close to you. I was considering Rimguars also, closest dealer was about 4 hrs away. Maybe they are closer there.

 

[John0829]

I checked on Rimguard a couple of years ago, nearest dealer was 2 hours away and they needed all day to fill the tires. That one was a surprise, guess the beet juice is thicker and the flow is slow. Anyway I could not see making two trips, 2 hours each way.

RV antifreeze while not as heavy works just fine and I can fill em' myself.

 

[jyoutz]

My dealer installed a new product in my tires that he called “bio-ballast.” He said it’s a new product made from corn and is non-toxic and not as messy as beet juice if you need to repair a tire. He said that it doesn’t freeze. You can find out more about this by calling the dealer. Southwest AG, Bayfield, CO. (970-884-4101).

 

[zzvyb6]

An amazing young woman I know bought a used JD4400 from the County that ha some mechanical and other issues, including worn turf (R3) tires. The R3's were filled with RimGuard. She was able to drain out the RimGuard into buckets (a LOT of buckets). Then she bought some R4s and proceeded to load them with the RimGuard from the buckets using only a 12V pump she bought on Amazon and some hardware store tubing. Got it all in ! Not sure of the fill level, we can wait for the first frost to show the fill line. The stuff is just under $4 a gallon and quite a bit more to have professionally installed. So that was a big success story. Pictures on my phone.

BTW: in spite of being told "not possible", the Titan R4s fit the R3 rims perfectly. Fronts & rears.

 

[grsthegreat]

doesnt take all day to fill. even Les Schaub tires can remove existing rim guard and refill the new tire during rear tire swaps. they probably meant leave it all day cause they have to find time to get around to it. its put in with a pump

 

[ruko]

doesnt take all day to fill. even Les Schaub tires can remove existing rim guard and refill the new tire during rear tire swaps. they probably meant leave it all day cause they have to find time to get around to it. its put in with a pump

ive gotten to -20 here in the past, no issues. thats cold enough. at -35 im staying indoors.

i used to work in northern montana back in the 1980's, where wind chills regularly reached -60F. NEVER again.

Thanks. I also have a Kioti. HST DK4210 cab. On a side note, how is Couer d'Alene lake doing? I visited the area a while ago and there was much talk about lake pollution with lead and zinc. It sure is a beautiful lake and it would be real shame to let it go.

 

[ljjhouser]

My dealer installed a new product in my tires that he called “bio-ballast.” He said it’s a new product made from corn and is non-toxic and not as messy as beet juice if you need to repair a tire. He said that it doesn’t freeze. You can find out more about this by calling the dealer. Southwest AG, Bayfield, CO. (970-884-4101).

I looked up the spec sheet on bio-ballast. It is interesting. Unless I missed it, there was no specific mention of the actual weight per gallon. I am not sure, but it seems to be mixed with water something like 70-30. But it is interesting.

And grsthegreat is correct, it does not take a day for the actual process. It is pumped in by a pump and bypass system that is provided (or sold by) Rimguard to the dealer.

I think it could be done by anyone. But it could turn into the biggest mess ever. But as far as installation, I was priced $3.89 a gallon installed. I asked about just buying the liquid (so I would not have to bring the tractor), I was told it is same cost - installation is included.

 

[Fallon]

My dealer uses bio ballast. No issues in Colorado where we get to -20 on occasion. Had planned on beet juice (Rimguard), but just went with what my dealer used. Allegedly similar weight, lack of toxicity & freezing points. Bio ballast claims to smell less & maybe be less sticky.

Both apparently turn into a slushy rather than ice cube. At least according to the manufacturer claims. If true, it should prevent damage if it does actually freeze.

Wind chill doesn't affect freezing. It will make things freeze a bit quicker, but not whether it freezes or not.

 

[ovrszd]

Wind chill doesn't affect freezing. It will make things freeze a bit quicker, but not whether it freezes or not.

Very few people understand this.

 

[grsthegreat]

Tell that to the boys….when its -60f

 

[grsthegreat]

Thanks. I also have a Kioti. HST DK4210 cab. On a side note, how is Couer d'Alene lake doing? I visited the area a while ago and there was much talk about lake pollution with lead and zinc. It sure is a beautiful lake and it would be real shame to let it go.

The lakes fine, as long as the Californian newcomers dont dredge the bottom to get their huge boats further inshore.
they keep suing trying to allow dredging, but keep losing. Thank goodness

if they ever succeed and allow dredging, they will bring up all the toxins from the silver mining from 100 years ago.

 

[Doughknob]

Actually windchill is an animal specific thing. Machinery only knows temperature. Wind make s no matter.

Well, slight caveat where somehthing is 'wet' and can evaporate, but then minor. In this case of fluid inside tires and cannot evaporate - windchill means nothing.

 

[jyoutz]

Here’s a link to information on bio ballast:

https://www.globalpreventivesolutions.com/sites/default/files/downloads/Global%20Preventive%20Solutions%20Bio-Ballast.pdf

 

[oosik]

According to the bio ballast web specs - about 9.7 pounds per gallon. About a pound per gallon less than RimGuard.

 

[llaass]

ive gotten to -20 here in the past, no issues. thats cold enough. at -35 im staying indoors.

i used to work in northern montana back in the 1980's, where wind chills regularly reached -60F. NEVER again.

Wind chill affects you and I; actual Temperature effects machinery.