Checking tire pressure with liquid ballast

[Blue Mule]

They say there are no dumb questions. We'll see about that.

My rear tires were filled as a part of my new purchase agreement. When I got the tractor home I wanted to verify the tire pressure to make sure it's where I want it to be, but as soon as I put my tire gauge on the valve stem the washer fluid comes spraying out. Surely this is not going to allow me to get an accurate reading. And yes, the valve stems are close to 12 o' clock when I'm doing this.

What do you guys do in this situation?

 

[s219]

Put the stems at 12 o'clock and then burp the valve with a fingertip or tool to get the liquid out of the valve. Some people will instead put some air in the tire, to clear liquid out of the valve. Either way, once you do that it should be clear enough to put your gauge on.

The liquid should not be higher than the top of the rim -- it's very important for the top of the tire to have an air cushion. If you find that you can't quickly clear the valve stem of liquid, then the tires may have been overfilled, in which case you can hold the valve open (at 12 o'clock) until no liquid comes out anymore.

 

[RickB]

Holding the valve open at 12:00 without jacking the wheel up will result in draining too much fluid.

 

[Peter 315]

You need this air/water tire gauge ..........Amazon.com: Milton (S-928 Air/Water-Filled Tire Pencil Pressure Gauge: Automotive

 

[Blue Mule]

Thanks I'll give this a try tomorrow after the freezing rain passes.

 

[ericm979]

You need this air/water tire gauge ..........Amazon.com: Milton (S-928 Air/Water-Filled Tire Pencil Pressure Gauge: Automotive

I have one of those. My tires are filled with Rimguard which is a dark sludgy beet juice product. I have to keep a pan of warm water handy when I check the tire pressures so I can immediately rinse the gauge out. Otherwise it clogs.

 

[Oldpath05]

Last year I forgot to rinse my air gauge out and Rimguad ruined it, next time pay attention. For those that dont like Bezos, Milton (S-928 Air/Water-Filled Tire Pencil Pressure Gauge | eBay

 

[user.69169]

When a tire is filled with liquid machine is off de tire, either on jack or blocks and tire bellys down as liquid fills. Proper fill of Rim Guard will put liquid over top of wheel to minimize oxidation of wheel.

Dis means you got good chance of gettin liquid squirting out when you check pressure wid machine sitting on ground. Best to take weight off tire before testing. Also real good idea to give tire short shot of air after testing. Blows contamination out of Shrader.

 

[oosik]

I have 775# of RimGuard in each rear tire. I've never had problems using my air gauge. I DO put a puff or two of air into the stem to clear out any RimGuard. I will run 15 to 16 psi in the rear tires. It's right at the point where I get full "bar" contact all the way across the chevrons.

 

[Oldpath05]

I have Rimgard in one and Ballast Star in the other, quite sure the Rimgard is the one that messed my tire gauge up. Although not sure if Ballast Star would mess one up, if not that would be a thumps up for Ballast Star....