Checking the tire pressure in loaded wheels

[new jersey mike]

I wanted to check the tire pressure in my rear wheels, they are loaded with windshield washer fluid. I made sure the stem was at the top of the rim and when I tried to measure the pressure all I got was a couple of drips of liquid but not indicator response.

I noticed what looks to me that the metal stem is a two part stem and I only took off the cap, I suspected the middle was part of loading the tire and did not want to fool with it and cause a tire issue.

So what am I doing wrong?

 

[RoyJackson]

Gravity isn't your friend, in this case...
Suggest you jack your tractor just high enough to get the tire off the ground, then rotate the valve stem to 12:00.
Then remove the cap and use your tire gage.
If you have a roll-around floor jack or a bottle jack, jack under the draw bar bracket. If you must jack one side only, just make sure you don't roll your tractor off the jack.
If you still get mostly liquid, it's possible your tires are overfilled, BTW. Also, I suggest you get an air/liquid type gage. They are spring loaded and push any liquid back out of the gage...not expensive at all and NAPA carries them, as do most tractor dealers.

 

[new jersey mike]

I had the valve at TDC but shouldn't I have registered something on the gauge?

If I don't jack up the tire what will the effect be and would it not be equal in both non raised tires?

 

[RoyJackson]

I had the valve at TDC but shouldn't I have registered something on the gauge?

If I don't jack up the tire what will the effect be and would it not be equal in both non raised tires?

You might be getting all liquid...
Try this: roll the tire to 12:00 (don't jack it), remove the cap and push in on the valve core (little spring loaded stem inside). You should get foamy liquid. The air inside is compressed...until you push that valve stem.
BTW, are you using a standard old pencil type gage?

When I checked mine the first time (10 or so years ago), I didn't jack it...all I got was mostly foam and no reading. I also found out how foul Calcium Chloride tastes, BTW (just a bit on my fingers, but that was quite enough!).
Once I jacked it, no problems...got my reading and I think I adjusted the pressure.

 

[deepNdirt]

I think Roy suggestion is to get the tractors weight off the tires so as to not push the liquid out when taking the reading, if the weight of the tractors is on the tires the water will tend to expand all the way to the top, The Tr-2 stem is a 2 pc. stem, an air /liquid valve stem, makes it easier to fill and drain,

 

[whodat526]

and the pressure will be the same jacked up or on the ground but you need to jack it up to stop the water from trying to come out

 

[RoyJackson]

I think Roy suggestion is to get the tractors weight off the tires so as to not push the liquid out when taking the reading, if the weight of the tractors is on the tires the water will tend to expand all the way to the top, The Tr-2 stem is a 2 pc. stem, an air /liquid valve stem, makes it easier to fill and drain,

Yeah...I thought I was clear enough, but I guess not.

 

[new jersey mike]

Thank you guys, next time up I will bring a floor jack. I have windshield washer fluid in my tires, filled by the dealer, so I do not know if the initial liquid will be foamy like calcium. And I will look for the spring loaded gauge and make sure the stem it tdc on the rim.

 

[deepNdirt]

Yeah...I thought I was clear enough, but I guess not.

It was clear to me from your first initial reply I hadn't realize you were making a secound reply to him, must have been during same time I was writting a reply in your behalf......

while being on the subject with winter coming up I'm thinking of filling my tires as well, what is the best/least expensive product to use? Something tells me Antifreeze is not of the least Plus here in Ga, not sure if even get cold and stay cold long enough to require the pure strength Antifreeze, and I do keep my tractor in an enclosed barn, is there a formula to be used? like say 1 gal of Antifreeze to xx-amount of water to hold if gets down to say 28-30* just to roughly get started with?
The tires on my tractor are relatively small 8.3 x 24" with inner-tubes, not sure how many gallons they each will hold...

 

[RoyJackson]

...while being on the subject with winter coming up I'm thinking of filling my tires as well, what is the best/least expensive product to use? Something tells me Antifreeze is not of the least Plus here in Ga, not sure if even get cold and stay cold long enough to require the pure strength Antifreeze, and I do keep my tractor in an enclosed barn, is there a formula to be used? like say 1 gal of Antifreeze to xx-amount of water to hold if gets down to say 28-30* just to roughly get started with?
The tires on my tractor are relatively small 8.3 x 24" with inner-tubes, not sure how many gallons they each will hold...

Just mix it per the instructions to whatever temperature you think is adequate. If you recall, straight antifreeze isn't as effective as mixed with water.
I'm using windshield washer fluid (winter blend) which is good to minus 30 degrees or so. This is in south central Pennsylvania.