DIY Loaded Tires

RobJ · Jun 2, 2008

All this talk about loaded tires and then someone mentioned the adapter to fill your tires from Gemplers. I got the part and had some time this weekend. I'm down south so it's just water. Boy was it easy. The process with pics....

Figured I needed my schrader valve removal thingy, found it! JAcked up the rear wheel and remove the valve, grabbed the filler tool and WTH!!!??? What do I have a none standard thing here. I keep a spare tube in the cabinet and pulled it out. OK figured out you have to take off this outter piece. Ok that works.

So I basically just hooked up the hose and let her rip. The little bleeder hole works great. I have the stem at about 11:00. Took about 5 minutes to get water comming out. It'll spit some water at first. It seems the tire gets sort of pressurized so once it's full It takes some time to drain level. Not much air went back in when I was done. Bummer I didn't have a bathroom scale. Probably a good thing figuring it could go 300# or better.

After that a switch over the the other side and I was done. So I took it out to a test hill and promply rolled my tractor on it's side!! Ok that last part isn't true.

Really I could not tell any difference. I go on a hill by sight and feel. Maybe the filled tires will save me if I hit a hole or something. But I have filled tires now! Oh the Gemplers tool was about $18 delivered.

Thanks,
Rob

Bedlam · Jun 2, 2008

Good post, I'm sure it makes a difference, possible not as heavy as you thought, Like when the tractor lifts a heavy ballast box.
I did basically the same thing but scrambled together a sort of garden hose reducer to a small hose just shy of the inside diameter .Used a gravity fed funnel to add some non freezing liquid, and then topped it with water. Worked great,mine is in a heated basement , and no problems in the winter, if it were stored outside I hear there could be troubles.
every little bit helps, and my feeling is the weight is where it should be, and as someone earlier mentioned its not depending on the lift or anything to hold it in place.

twodogs · Jun 2, 2008

Don't be fooled - you have a lot of weight in those tires! I had my b7800 filled with windshield washer fluid when I bought it (Pittsburgh - freezing to consider). They filled them 3/4 of the way full, leaving about 1/4 of the tire with air to allow for compression for bumps, etc. Keep in mind the fluid wt - approx 8.3 lbs. per gallon - and you probably have at least 50 gallons per tire in the back - and you have a substantial amount of weight. Good luck! Good job with the photos!

wushaw · Jun 2, 2008

You should be able to tell a difference when you go to pullin your BB or disk.

ChrisHyde · Jun 2, 2008

Is this such a good idea?

soarkrebel1 · Jun 2, 2008

You didnt mention if you put anti freeze in your tires?

I added 4 gallons per tire on my L3000DT to protect from freezing.

Chris Hyde this a great idea!!

Bedlam · Jun 3, 2008

I myself, because its garaged almost all the time chose to use the anti freeze method. After consulting with some people with experience, I chose to go with a gallon and half in each tires. Id call them average size tires In the past, after having some leaks , I used straight water, and did leave the tractor outside in the cold a couple of times and no problems.
I'm sure in Arkansas you'd be more than fine with that mixture,Not sure if you even need to have any really.
At one point I used straight water thinking that in the winter I couldn't just drain it off and air up.
So you could range from None to the full strength.Finding a spot in-between that gives the protection you feel you need.
My source, said that one morning her felt a chuck of ice had formed, and he then added some more anti-freeze.
good luck ..

wushaw · Jun 3, 2008

If Robj was not just a little north of Houston Texas then yes some kind of antifreeze would be helpfull.

I am just south of Dallas and have straight water in my Mitsubishi just because if it is cold enough to freeze the water in the tractor tires I don't need to be on it.

RobJ · Jun 3, 2008

soarkrebel1 said:
You didnt mention if you put anti freeze in your tires?

I added 4 gallons per tire on my L3000DT to protect from freezing.

Chris Hyde this a great idea!!

Like a few others said, it just doesn't get that cold down here. It may hit the teens for a short time but it quickly warms up. And I keep it in a garage although it's not heated.

I'm going to be worried about many more things freezing long before my tractor tires freeze!!

soarkrebel1 · Jun 3, 2008

I did it for insurance you might say.

Mine stays in a shop but you never know when it might get that cold.
I have seen several days of below freezing temps and I sure don't worry freezing and busting my tires.

The anti freeze is cheaper than new tires.......