Front Range Kubota in Elizabeth, CO, my local dealer about 20-30 min away & where I got my tractor. The Bio Ballast was a bit cheaper than the local JD dealer, which I believe was dealing Rim Guard. I didn't realize it wasn't beet juice until afterwards, not that it would have made much difference.
Ballast Bio-Ballast?
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8N Ren
Gold Member
At Kal-Tire in Steinbach Manitoba, the guy there said they were using this instead of calcium. Sounded like you can still get calcium though, you just have to request it.
RBA50
Silver Member
I just got my 9.5-16 R-1s filled with Bio-Ballast at Les Schwab tires. I asked about how much it weighs per gallon. They had to look it up, but found a spec of 9.5#/gal. I think that is about right based on the table in the link above. With new air water valves, and 22 gallons of bio ballast, it cost just under $125, including tax. I hauled the tires in and back and reinstalled myself.
Over on Orange Tractor Talks, there is an article about ballast types. One of the comments was from a guy who claims to be the inventor of Bio Ballast. He says he is from the Pacific NW (probably WA, based on where he said he had distributors.) At that time (2010) his biggest distribution was through Les Schwab. Looks like he has expanded since then.
Over on Orange Tractor Talks, there is an article about ballast types. One of the comments was from a guy who claims to be the inventor of Bio Ballast. He says he is from the Pacific NW (probably WA, based on where he said he had distributors.) At that time (2010) his biggest distribution was through Les Schwab. Looks like he has expanded since then.
RBA50
Silver Member
Oh yeah, when I asked if they had a special gauge for checking ballasted tires, they gave me one at no charge! Low pressure, spring loaded to self purge, supposedly non corroding.
oosik
Epic Contributor
I went to the Envirotech site. They are tight lipped about the product. However - checking the MSDS sheets - - its made out of plant material - just not sugar beets. I was not able to find a listing for its weight per pound.
If it does weigh 9.5 pounds per gallon - that's right between water ( 8.34 ) and Rim Guard ( 10.85 ).
If it does weigh 9.5 pounds per gallon - that's right between water ( 8.34 ) and Rim Guard ( 10.85 ).
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oosik
Epic Contributor
RBA50 - after the first couple of times with calcium chloride in my first tractor I quit using tire pressure gages. I'd go to high noon, blow a couple puffs into the valve stem to clear anything - take measurement. For whatever reason I'd always get that crap coming back in the gage.
There is a much easier, cleaner, more representative method. I drive my tractor out on the hard sand surface of the driveway and check to see the the rear tires are making FULL CONTACT all the way across the bars. If I want to be really **** and do a more scientific approach - measure across each of the bar contract patterns on the driveway - make certain they are both the same.
The "right" pressure for my rear tires is right around 16 to 18 psi.
There is a much easier, cleaner, more representative method. I drive my tractor out on the hard sand surface of the driveway and check to see the the rear tires are making FULL CONTACT all the way across the bars. If I want to be really **** and do a more scientific approach - measure across each of the bar contract patterns on the driveway - make certain they are both the same.
The "right" pressure for my rear tires is right around 16 to 18 psi.
