Dealer Dealer offering to put fluid in

[Sumosized]

I had new ag tires and fluid put on my 3240 before they brought it home. Wanted the extra weight for traction and slopes. Mowed for the first time today and had no problems, even in the wet areas of my yard.

If I remember correctly, the fluid they put in tires now-a-days is some sort of non-corrosive, non-toxic, anti-freezing stuff. The calcium chloride of old was hard on steel. Antifreeze was hard on live stock when you punctured a tire. Windshield washer fluid--I don't know about.

As far as weight goes, you cna't beat fluid in compact/farm tractor tires if you have slopes or wet terrain. As far as gardern tractors go, depending on the size of the tire, you can get more weight from a loaded tire than factory wheel weights. There is a point where it becomes equal or less, depending on the tire size. I think my wheels are something like 75-90 pounds a piece (according to the dealer.) Tire fluid does weigh more than water, but I'm not sure how much more.

 

[jay25rs]

Good thinking, but you couldn't possibly get enough 'liquid' in a stock tire or bolt enough rim weight on one for this to be an issue. Loaded farm tractor tires are a different animal. They have a huge amount of volume.

Joel

Liquid wouldn't really add much to the rotational inertia because it is a flowing substance it's not physically attached the to spinning of the wheel, kinda just sits there. I just don't like the idea of bolt in weights because that is definitely a lot of rotational mass.

 

[Fordlords]

At the very slow moving speed of a tractor, the liquid inside the wheels would not develop any appreciable inertia. (Nor would you want it to.) As you move with liquid in the wheels, it all just stays at the bottom of the wheel, adding weight for traction- and weight is weight, be it inside the tire or bolted to the wheel. The rotational mass of wheel weights is not of much concern for the tractor either, also because it moves so slowly- it puts little if any strain on the tractor's driveline. Now if we were talking about a vehicle like a car or truck, it would be a whole different story.

-Fordlords-

 

[drifter2518]

I have 2 CC bought new that I filled with windsheild washer fluid. the first one is a 2160( new in 95) and the second one a 2518(new in 04). The 2160 has over 500 hours on it and never had a problem with the tires being loaded. I believe when I loaded each tire (broke the bead off the rim and filled it and then reinflated to seat the bead) it took 7 or 8 gallons of fluid. I put as much as I could so there isn't much space left over. My driveway is over 500 feet long all uphill that with either tractor, it didn't matter if I had blower or plow on, I never got stuck. I did find that I can clear driveway quicker with the plow. I have been wondering if I filled the front tires if it would help with steering also. I might try it on the 2160. Sometimes when plowing snow on an angle the front likes to slide sideways when pushing a big pile of snow.

 

[joelaudi]

There is a new type of fluid you can get. It is made from a veg. beet by-product and quite harmless if it spills out. It weights almost as much as the old cal. chloride solutions, and will not freeze in the winter. A friend as work just did this to his Kubota and loves it. When it comes time for my Ford 8n to need any tire work I will change the cal.chlor. out and put in the new beet stuff. It may be a little more costly but well worth the peace of mind.

 

[Fordlords]

Any amount of fluid in the tires will help considerably. Even one gallon of a water based fluid will add about 8.5 lbs of weight, so if you get 6 gallons in to a tire, you are up around to what a 50 lb wheel weight is doing for you, any more and you are doing better. As there is still going to be air inside the rim, I would not use calcium chloride or any other fluid that is corrosive to metal.
-Fordlords-