Ballast Filling Tires Yourself

[pitt_md]

I know i have seen threads about loading tractor tires with rim gaurd, or whatever. I searched but didn't find anything. Is it possible to do this your self? I don't have a trailer to take it to the shop for them to do it and I NEED more weight. So with out spending a couple of hundred for them to haul my tractor back and forth can someone who has tried this let me know if its worth the time/effort?

I got a new farm king snow blower (740) and its great as long as I have traction but thats in short supply with a 4WD MX5000 and R4's.

 

[dcyrilc]

I know i have seen threads about loading tractor tires with rim gaurd, or whatever. I searched but didn't find anything. Is it possible to do this your self? I don't have a trailer to take it to the shop for them to do it and I NEED more weight. So with out spending a couple of hundred for them to haul my tractor back and forth can someone who has tried this let me know if its worth the time/effort?

I got a new farm king snow blower (740) and its great as long as I have traction but thats in short supply with a 4WD MX5000 and R4's.

I haven't actually done it myself, but from reading different posts it sounds pretty easy. I'll try to find some links for you.

 

[dcyrilc]

Here are a few I found.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/mahindra-owning-operating/161367-filling-tires-added-wieght.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/163047-another-tire-filling-post.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/mahindra-buying-pricing/149847-2-drums-washer-fluid-my.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/159580-tire-ballast-tc55.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/159059-tire-loading-kit.html

 

[MarkV]

Pitt it isn't very hard. You can get a $10 valve from Napa, TSC or many tractor dealers that screws on to the tire valve stem after removing the valve. It attaches to a garden hose fitting and has a pressure release button to bleed off air as you fill the tire with liquid. I used non toxic anti-freeze and water in my tires. An electric drill operated pump added the anti-freeze and water pressure did the rest. Some people use windshield washer fluid and some have been able to buy rim guard in bulk. Of course you need to support the rear of the tractor to let the air out of the tire and set the valve stem at 12:00 so when it bleeds liquid you know you are filled to the top of the rim.

MarkV

 

[beenthere]

I know i have seen threads about loading tractor tires with rim gaurd, or whatever. I searched but didn't find anything. Is it possible to do this your self? I don't have a trailer to take it to the shop for them to do it and I NEED more weight. So with out spending a couple of hundred for them to haul my tractor back and forth can someone who has tried this let me know if its worth the time/effort?

I got a new farm king snow blower (740) and its great as long as I have traction but thats in short supply with a 4WD MX5000 and R4's.

I am of the understanding that Rim Guard (the beet juice) is not available for DIY loading. Only some dealers can do it. If that is what you want.

 

[wedge40]

I am of the understanding that Rim Guard (the beet juice) is not available for DIY loading. Only some dealers can do it. If that is what you want.

Wrong. I filled my tires myself with rim guard last spring. I picked up the rim guard, brought it home and filled my tires. I used a pump from harbor freight. You may want to check around because some tire places have trucks they can send to your house to fill your tires. They usually use CaCl.
As far as worth it. Like night and day. I'm sorry I waited so long to do it.


Wedge

 

[carnochanm]

I just filled mine with the Tractor Supply fitting and had no problems and was really easy. Just takes a little time. I used 12 gallons of RV antifreeze in each tire and then another 10-12 gallons of water to top them off.

 

[bp fick]

FWIW, Non-toxic anti-freeze is commonly known as RV anti-freeze. WalMart and everywhere else. $4-$5 a gallon is typical. Windshield Washer fluid is cheaper, sometimes found for $1.69.

I cannot speak for the corrosive nature of either. Can say that Salt Water fluid will eat your wheel alive and should be avoided. It is also a ground sterilizer if you should ever spring a leak. RimGuard is reputed to be enviro-safe.

 

[KubotaSam]

I bought the adapter from Gemplers. I usead a 5 gallon pail with a bilge pump from a small boat in the bottom. I poured the windshield washer fluid into the pail. Hooked the power leads to the battery and pumped the fluid into my tractor tires. I needed to stop aprox every 5 - 10 minutes to let the air burp out of the tires. It was actually very easy.

 

[Big Bri]

Pitt it isn't very hard. You can get a $10 valve from Napa, TSC or many tractor dealers that screws on to the tire valve stem after removing the valve. It attaches to a garden hose fitting and has a pressure release button to bleed off air as you fill the tire with liquid. I used non toxic anti-freeze and water in my tires. An electric drill operated pump added the anti-freeze and water pressure did the rest. Some people use windshield washer fluid and some have been able to buy rim guard in bulk. Of course you need to support the rear of the tractor to let the air out of the tire and set the valve stem at 12:00 so when it bleeds liquid you know you are filled to the top of the rim.

MarkV

i wouldn't fill them that full i'd put the valve more like 10 oclock as you need to leave an air buffer.

 

[techwrtr2]

How hard is it to actually drain the liquid from a tire? Going to need to replace the rear turf tires one of these days and while I can do the tire change myself, I do have them filled which makes it more complicated for me. don't exactly want to drain it onto the ground for obvious reasons. can that valve be used for drain purposes?

 

[beenthere]

Wrong. I filled my tires myself with rim guard last spring. I picked up the rim guard, brought it home and filled my tires. I used a pump from harbor freight. You may want to check around because some tire places have trucks they can send to your house to fill your tires. They usually use CaCl.
As far as worth it. Like night and day. I'm sorry I waited so long to do it.


Wedge

Good to hear. Where did you get it? Tire shop? other? online?

Would be good info to have.

Thanks

 

[beenthere]

i wouldn't fill them that full i'd put the valve more like 10 oclock as you need to leave an air buffer.

Filling them "full" covers the rim, leaving less chance of corrosion of steel that is above the fluid. Usually why it is done that way (12 oclock).

 

[Big Bri]

Filling them "full" covers the rim, leaving less chance of corrosion of steel that is above the fluid. Usually why it is done that way (12 oclock).

i don't know. . . the wheel will be turning so the same steel isn't always out of the water. also water doesn't compress so if you hit a stump or curb with your tire fill to the top there will be no give in the tire which could pop the bead off the rim. I've always been told never over fill the tires.

 

[Big Bri]

sitting here thinking about what i posted and i guess with the valve stem at 12 you will still have air above the stem, i just don't know how much air is enough? I just remember my grandfather and my uncle telling me never over fill your tires.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

In my area you can have someone come to you to fill your tires, not much difference in price as opposed to taking them to some of the local dealers. Most people that come to you around here use the methanol & water mixture, and thats not what I had in mind, so I chose to have mine filled with Rim Guard which meant taking the tractor somewhere to have it done. The Rim guard was $2.00 per gallon (30 gallons each rear tire) which seemed reasonable to me. I have no way of weighing now that they are filled, but according to Rim guard their product weighs between 10 & 11 lbs per gallon. I will say it makes a big difference in the pushing, pulling & digging ability of the tractor.

 

[wedge40]

Good to hear. Where did you get it? Tire shop? other? online?

Would be good info to have.

Thanks

Not every farm store has Rim Guard. I called Rim Guard and got the location of dealers close by. The closest was about 40 mile away. I needed about 100 gals. The place I went to, I called ahead and they had two 50 gal barrels full and ready to put in the back of the truck. Paid for it and came home. I had extra barrels so I siphoned from the truck to the ground and then the next day I put the fluid in the tires. Took about two hours.

As far as how much to put in. Most people say about 75%. Rim guard has a chart you can use. Look up your tire size and it will tell you how many gallons you'll need.

Wedge

 

[beenthere]

Thanks
I will try that route.

 

[glc24]

One thing I haven't read (maybe I missed it) is anybody changing their tire valve to a water valve which is specific for fluid filling. It sure makes the job go easier and go alot quicker

Greg

 

[arrabil]

I used the Rim Guard chart from the website to figure out how much I needed. I bought one tire's worth at a time because I only have one barrel.

The amount specified by Rim Guard took the fluid level to exactly the valve at the 12 o'clock position. Literally, I pumped all the fluid I bought into the tire and no more would fit and only a couple spoonfuls leaked out when I was done. I thought it was a fluke but it was exactly the same way for the other side a day later.

The $12 Napa adapter and a $5 drill pump was all that was required.

Also interesting... the salesman told me I could only buy it in ten gallon increments because of the way the dispensing machine works, the guy in the service shop said he could fill any amount I specified no problem.

EDIT: I removed the valve core for filling to make it go faster.