Filled tires on Zero Turn

[firefighter9208]

Anyone filled the tires on their zero turn?

On the old John Deere that I had I could shift my big butt over on the fender if needed. On my new 223 Grasshopper I find myself spinning in some places. Of course the grass is usually wet and I'm probably trying to cut areas that I should be weed eating.

My dealer told me he would fill them if I want, but I haven't decided yet. I thought I would see what everyone here says.

Chris

 

[AlanB]

You have to be careful when filling the tires on ZTR's.

there are several formulations of the "fill" material, if you get one that is too dense, you will lose the shock absorbtion that the tires give you (and on my Gravely, that led too bent front forks, and cracked frames)

If you are saying fill with CC or WW fluid etc. like a tractor, for added weight, I would not consider it.

J-thomas has some already filled tires available for many mowers. We have debated those, but so far, tubeless tires are on the front of both my exmarks, and tubes are on the front of the dixon. All rears are tubeless.

 

[J_J]

Anyone filled the tires on their zero turn?

On the old John Deere that I had I could shift my big butt over on the fender if needed. On my new 223 Grasshopper I find myself spinning in some places. Of course the grass is usually wet and I'm probably trying to cut areas that I should be weed eating.

My dealer told me he would fill them if I want, but I haven't decided yet. I thought I would see what everyone here says.

Chris

A short story.

I rode a Zero turn Dixie Chopper down a 30 ft wet hill in full reverse. It slid all the way to the bottom, and then dropped off a 4 ft wall. I dove out out of the seat at the last moment. I still hurt myself, but not as much as staying with the machine. After that, I cut with a walk behind. A ROPS would help, but do not wear a seat belt cutting around water. I had 50 extra lbs on the front to help me from tipping over backward. I would make all turns up hill.

Don't know if the filled tires would help. Let me know if it gives you good results.

 

[Bob999]

I used wheel weights on the rear tires of my ZTR and it improved traction. I would think that using calcium cloride (heavier) or antifreeze to fill the tires would provide similar weight and help.

Using fluid (or weights) allows control of tire firmness because the tire is not entirely filled so pressure is controlled with air.

I would be reluctant to try foam filled tires on a ZTR because the ride would likely be very harsh.

 

[firefighter9208]

Ok, I wasn't talking about foam. Wouldn't even consider it. I was talking about Calcium Chloride and water. Not for stability, but for traction. The dealer that sold me my Grasshopper tried to get me to go with Tractor type tires on the back, but I didn't want those for fear of tearing up the yard.

What I have now works fine for 95% of the cutting that I do. The other 5% I do could use more traction. If I make sure I don't cut too late in the day (before the dew falls) I really don't have any problems with these areas either.

BTW, I was not talking about filling the fronts, only the rears.

Chris

 

[firefighter9208]

I used wheel weights on the rear tires of my ZTR and it improved traction. I would think that using calcium cloride (heavier) or antifreeze to fill the tires would provide similar weight and help.

Using fluid (or weights) allows control of tire firmness because the tire is not entirely filled so pressure is controlled with air.

I would be reluctant to try foam filled tires on a ZTR because the ride would likely be very harsh.

Bob,

Where did you get the wheel weights. What brand of mower. I didn't see them listed as an option on Grasshopper's website.

The only issue that I was worried about with CaCl is that the tires are tubeless and I didn't know if I would have a problem with leakage.

Chirs

 

[Bob999]

I used weights on the rear wheels on a Toro Z 62" mower. I purchased them at a lawn and garden dealer--they were not a Toro brand item but fit the wheels on the Toro.

In my opinion you don't want to use calcium cloride without a tube--but tubeless tires can be tubed and I strongly recommend installing tubes if you go with calcium cloride. Even with a tube corrosion from minor leakage at the valve stem is a problem over time.

 

[AlanB]

I would think the problems with CC would far outweigh any benefit.

I would strive to cut that 5% when dry.

 

[firefighter9208]

Alan,

Actually my dealer uses Methanol instead of Calcium cloride. I have had it in my tires on my Kubota M4800 for almost 5 years with no ill effects. What's your opion on loading with water and Methanol.

Chris

 

[AlanB]

For me, and the situations we find ourselves in, I would not load it with anything. (and we don't do ours) BUT

We are probably in a different situation than you in that we are always cutting someone else's area, and doing it during normal work hours (lawncare / landscaping business)

The problems I would have with filled tires as you describe would be that I would have some liability issues if I spewed that material (beet juice, alcohol, nasty water whatever) on a customers yard.

Filled tires are a flat out bugger to repair (and we do it a lot) 5 plugs last week.

and I guess in the end, I just don't see it being that much benefit.

Before I did it, I would try and guess at the weight that it would add. Lets guess and say 9 lbs per gallon, then guess at your tire volume, and how full you are going to fill them, lets say, 20 lbs per tire, for 40 lbs total.

If it was me, I would tie (as in with rope or something simple) 40 lbs of weight on the back of my machine and go mow in the situation where you feel you need the traction and see if it makes a difference.

I don't see it, but, have not tried it so maybe it would be substantial and worth the problems / cost / issues. But it shoudl be easy to tie on a small bag of concrete, or a couple old weight set weights, or some cinder blocks etc. etc. to simulate and see if it makes that 5% easy.

I hope it works for you.

 

[Bob999]

If you do a search fo lawn tractor wheel weights you will find many alternatives available and you can get substantially greater weight than would be available with filled tires on a ZTR. If you really need more weight you can fill the tires and add wheel weights.

 

[Dargo]

What first turned me to Grasshoppers many years ago was seeing our local school corporation mowing the sides of some extremely steep banks surrounding a football field that is considered in a bowl due to the surrounding hills. However, these were all front mount Grasshoppers. I'd tried nearly every brand of ZTR available including JD, Exmark, Hustler, Ferris, Scag etc. and none of the mid mount mowers would come even remotely close to being to mow the hills that a front mount mower could. I can back up hills on my front mount Grasshoppers that I can't hardly walk up. With the front mount ZTR Grasshopper mower, the front wheels of the mowing machine are the drive wheels; not the tail wheels. This type of mower also rides better than even the Ferris mid mount mowers that have suspension.

I know that doesn't help you, but the part that may answer your question is what the dealer I bought from (who also sells the mowers to our local school corporation and county highway department) told me. That is that the school corporation not only tried filling the tires on mid mount ZTR machines (which made very little difference) but also made wheel weights for them in addition to filling the tires. What they ended up with then was an extremely dangerous mower. He said that the mower had enough traction to go up hills steep enough to easily flip the mid mount mower over backwards. When a worker tried to mow across a slope the rear tires started so spin, which caused them to slide downward, and then the machine flipped over backwards. So, from their trials and experiments before going with front mount mowers, I'd be extremely hesitant to modify a mid mount mower for use on slopes. If it doesn't work as it is stock, I'd use a different mower.

 

[Bob999]

I know that doesn't help you, but the part that may answer your question is what the dealer I bought from (who also sells the mowers to our local school corporation and county highway department) told me. That is that the school corporation not only tried filling the tires on mid mount ZTR machines (which made very little difference) but also made wheel weights for them in addition to filling the tires. What they ended up with then was an extremely dangerous mower. He said that the mower had enough traction to go up hills steep enough to easily flip the mid mount mower over backwards. When a worker tried to mow across a slope the rear tires started so spin, which caused them to slide downward, and then the machine flipped over backwards. So, from their trials and experiments before going with front mount mowers, I'd be extremely hesitant to modify a mid mount mower for use on slopes. If it doesn't work as it is stock, I'd use a different mower.

I agree with your caution! I added weights to the rear wheels to deal with the loss of traction going DOWNHILL. In my experience a characteristic of the mid mount ZTR is very poor traction downhill becuase of the weight transfer to the front wheels. Toro literature rated the mower to 15 degree slopes but I found that when going downhill with even a slight amount of moisture that I had traction problems on 15 degree slopes. Conversely, traction going uphill was great and climbed 15 degree hills, even wet, very well.

 

[LBrown59]

traction going uphill was great and climbed 15 degree hills, even wet, very well.

Nothin like climbin up a tree ya can't get can't get back down?

L B

 

[asylum575]

We should have a rule that old threads can only be bumped up with new information of value.

Just saying.

 

[zzvyb6]

Why not consider tires with increased traction. My JD935 can even be equipped with ag tires (R-1). There's no traction problem with these. When I was looking for replacements for my old F-525, I found quite a few different tread block tires. Cost of new tires is a factor in traction as is wear (in hours or miles). Just turn on cement and you can see the marks. The shorter the wear life, the better the traction.

 

[firefighter9208]

Thanks for all the replies guys!!! I've decided to just leave well enough alone. As I stated earlier the traction with the factory turf tires is acceptable 95% of the time. As I increase my experience on the Grasshopper (35 hours now) I don't feel that it's an issue any more.

Chris